Blanked by Britain, Canadian field hockey women in tough at Olympic qualifier

Canadian goalkeeper Rowan Harris shone in a losing cause Saturday as the Canadian women's field hockey team fell 2-0 to Britain in its opening match at the FIH Olympic Qualifier tournament.

The British women have won medals at the last three Olympics, earning bronze in London and Tokyo and gold in Rio.

The 16th-ranked Canadians in contrast, have sat out the last seven Olympics, last taking part in 1992 in Barcelona where they finished seventh. They were fifth in 1984 and sixth in 1988.

The top three finishers at the eight-country tournament in Spain will book their ticket to Paris this summer. There is a simultaneous eight-team women's tournament in India with the identical format and qualification path.

Canada is in a pool with Great Britain (7th), Spain (8th) and Malaysia (18th). Like their male counterparts, the Canadian women have to beat two of the three teams in their pool to advance to the semifinals. 

Then they'll have to win one of their last two games to qualify for Paris.

The 17th-ranked Canadian men start their qualifier on Monday in Oman.

Saturday's game was a reunion of sort for Canada coach Danny Kerry, who previously coached both England and Britain, and assistant coach Kate Richardson-Walsh, a former Britain captain.

Tessa Howard, in the 18th minute, and Anna Toman, in the 36th, scored for Britain. No. 8 Spain blanked No. 18 Malaysia 7-0 in the earlier Pool B game.

Howard beat Harris via penalty stroke with the second goal coming on a penalty corner shot that deflected through defenders.

"We can be proud of what we put out there, today"<br>- Natalie Sourisseau