# 1998 Women's Hockey International Challenge

The 1998 Women's Hockey International Challenge was a women's field hockey tournament, consisting of a series of test matches. It was held in Sydney and Adelaide, from 26 March to 5 April, 1999.
Australia won the tournament, defeating Argentina 3–2 in the final. Germany finished in third place after winning the third place match 4–3 against the United States.

## Competition format

The tournament featured the national teams of Argentina, Australia, Germany and the United States. The teams competed in a double round-robin format, with each team playing each other twice. Three points were awarded for a win, one for a draw, and none for a loss.

## Officials

The following umpires were appointed by the International Hockey Federation to officiate the tournament:
* Peri Buckley (AUS)
* Renée Chatas (USA)
* Ute Conen (GER)
* Laura Crespo (ARG)
* Gina Spitaleri (ITA)

## Results
### Preliminary round

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Australia (H) | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 4 | +11 | 13 | Advanced to Final |
| 2 | Argentina | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 11 | Advanced to Final |
| 3 | Germany | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 6 | +2 | 10 | |
| 4 | United States | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 19 | −17 | 0 | |

#### Fixtures

* 26 March 1998 18:00 (AEDT)
| Australia | 4–0 | United States |
| Andrews 22' Dobson 33' Hawkes 42' Mitchell-Taverner 64' | Report | |
* Homebush Hockey Stadium, Sydney Umpires: Laura Crespo (ARG) Gina Spitaleri (ITA)
* 26 March 1998 20:00 (AEDT)
| Argentina | 0–0 | Germany |
| | Report | |
* Homebush Hockey Stadium, Sydney Umpires: Peri Buckley (AUS) Renée Chatas (USA)
* 28 March 1998 12:00 (AEDT)
| United States | 0–4 | Germany |
| | Report | Lätzsch 22' Reiter 25' Becker 46' Ernsting-Krienke 62' |
* Homebush Hockey Stadium, Sydney Umpires: Gina Spitaleri (ITA) Peri Buckley (AUS)
* 28 March 1998 14:00 (AEDT)
| Australia | 1–1 | Argentina |
| Dobson 23' | Report | Oneto 35' |
* Homebush Hockey Stadium, Sydney Umpires: Renée Chatas (USA) Ute Conen (GER)
* 29 March 1998 12:00 (AEST)
| United States | 1–3 | Argentina |
| Lucas 48' | Report | MacKenzie 8' Castelli 11' Aymar 22' |
* Homebush Hockey Stadium, Sydney Umpires: Ute Conen (GER) Gina Spitaleri (ITA)
* 29 March 1998 14:00 (AEST)
| Germany | 1–0 | Australia |
| Lätzsch 38' | Report | |
* Homebush Hockey Stadium, Sydney Umpires: Laura Crespo (ARG) Renée Chatas (USA)
* 1 April 1998 18:00 (ACST)
| Argentina | 1–3 | Australia |
| Stepnik 7' | Report | Langham 46' Annan 52' Mott 55' |
* State Hockey Centre, Adelaide Umpires: Renée Chatas (USA) Peri Buckley (AUS)
* 1 April 1998 20:00 (ACST)
| Germany | 2–0 | United States |
| Ernsting-Krienke 38' Suxdorf 59' | Report | |
* State Hockey Centre, Adelaide Umpires: Laura Crespo (ARG) Gina Spitaleri (ITA)
* 2 April 1998 18:00 (ACST)
| Argentina | 2–0 | United States |
| Gulla 50', 62' | Report | |
* State Hockey Centre, Adelaide Umpires: Ute Conen (GER) Peri Buckley (AUS)
* 2 April 1998 20:00 (ACST)
| Australia | 3–0 | Germany |
| K. Powell 12', 30' Free 33' | Report | |
* State Hockey Centre, Adelaide Umpires: Gina Spitaleri (ITA) Laura Crespo (ARG)
* 4 April 1998 12:00 (ACST)
| United States | 1–4 | Australia |
| Reeve 65' | Report | Annan 2' L. Powell 6' K. Powell 26' Langham 40' |
* State Hockey Centre, Adelaide Umpires: Laura Crespo (ARG) Ute Conen (GER)
* 4 April 1998 14:00 (ACST)
| Germany | 1–3 | Argentina |
| Reiter 47' | Report | Rognoni 9' Pando 43' Oneto 65' |
* State Hockey Centre, Adelaide Umpires: Peri Buckley (AUS) Renée Chatas (USA)

### Classification round
#### Third and fourth place

* 5 April 1998 12:00 (ACST)
| Germany | 4–3 | United States |
| Kauschke 9' Dickenscheid 12' Klecker 16' Becker 35' | Report | Fuchs 21', 52' James 49' |
* State Hockey Centre, Adelaide Umpires: Peri Buckley (AUS) Laura Crespo (ARG)

#### Final

* 5 April 1998 14:30 (ACST)
| Australia | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | Argentina |
| Annan 24' Mitchell-Taverner 58', 72' | Report | Rognoni 30' Masotta 40' |
* State Hockey Centre, Adelaide Umpires: Gina Spitaleri (ITA) Ute Conen (GER)

## Statistics
### Final standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Status |
| | Australia (H) | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 6 | +12 | 16 | Tournament Champion |
| | Argentina | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 9 | +3 | 11 | |
| | Germany | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 9 | +3 | 13 | |
| 4 | United States | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 23 | −18 | 0 | |

### Goalscorers

There were 47 goals scored in 14 matches, for an average of 3.36 goals per match.
3 goals
* Alyson Annan
* Claire Mitchell-Taverner
* Katrina Powell
2 goals
* Alejandra Gulla
* Vanina Oneto
* Cecilia Rognoni
* Louise Dobson
* Bianca Langham
* Britta Becker
* Nadine Ernsting-Krienke
* Heike Lätzsch
* Cornelia Reiter
* Tracey Fuchs
1 goal
* Luciana Aymar
* María Castelli
* Sofía MacKenzie
* Karina Masotta
* Gabriela Pando
* Ayelén Stepnik
* Michelle Andrews
* Kelly Free
* Rechelle Hawkes
* Nicole Mott
* Lisa Powell
* Tanja Dickenscheid
* Katrin Kauschke
* Denise Klecker
* Philippa Suxdorf
* Kelli James
* Antoinette Lucas
* Jill Reeve