BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Former Indiana University star Shae Fournier (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Grant Park) posted a pair of markers with a steal and a field block in 18:52 of playing time, while current Hoosier Kelly Matthews (Sr., Roxboro, Quebec, Canada/St. Thomas) notched a solo strike with a steal in 7:10 as Canada slipped against Japan, 12-11, in both teams’ fourth game at Taipei Songshan Sports Center in Taipei City, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) during the 29th Summer Universiade/University Games.
It marks the second time in as many games the duo combined for three goals as Fournier scored twice with a steal and Matthews chipped in single marker in an 8-5 defeat of Hungary on Tuesday, August 22.
Fournier, who posted a hat-trick in a 15-4 defeat of New Zealand to open the tournament on Friday, August 18, prior to notching another three goal output in a 17-11 loss to the Russian Federation on Sunday, August 20, now has 10 goals, one assist, three steals and a field block in 80:47, while Matthews, who notched a single goal against Hungary in 17:39 to go along with a goal and a field block versus New Zealand, has three goals, a steal and a field block in 47:19. Matthews did not post a statistic against the Russian Federation.
Canada gained an early lead in the game jumping out in front 1-0 and 2-1 in the first quarter prior to Japan ticking off back-to-back-to-back tallies in the final 3:30 of the opening frame to build a 4-2 margin.
The spread expanded to 5-2 with 6:30 remaining in the second quarter prior to Fournier flushing a shot 15 seconds later (6:15) to pull Canada back within two at 5-3. Following another Canada goal to chip its deficit down to one at 5-4 with 2:50 on the clock, Japan responded via a volley to return the margin to a pair at 6-4. However, Fournier struck again in the closing seconds of the first half by rocking the cage with her second goal with two ticks on the clock to inch the Canadians back within a marker at 6-5 going into halftime.
Canada pulled even at the 6:25 mark of the third quarter to even the damage at six-all, but Japan hammered in another go-ahead tally at 4:35. The Canadians went ahead for the first time since a 2-1 lead with 4:16 to go in the first quarter courtesy consecutive strikes by Elyse Lemay Lavoie at 4:12 and 3:22 to turn the tide and make it 8-7.
Japan answered to reknot the score at eight-all with 2:56 left in the third quarter, but Lavoie hooked in her third goal of the quarter with 26 seconds to go in pushing Canada ahead once more at 9-8 entering the fourth quarter.
Lavoie appeared to drive in the final coffin nail by connecting on another goal at 7:38 of the fourth quarter to put Canada in front by a 10-8 score. However, back-to-back man-up tallies by Japan at 6:15 and 5:29 tied the score at 10-all and would prove to be the undoing of the Canadians.
Matthews attempted to reinvigorate Canada’s offense by collecting a steal at 4:28 and burying the ensuing fast-break with 4:22 to go in returning her homeland to the lead at 11-10.
Japan rebalanced the scoreboard at 1:21 prior to Matthews field blocking a shot with 44 seconds left to give Canada a shot at breaking the deadlock. For Canada, however, the final possession would prove to be for naught as Japan regained the ball with 23 seconds left, called a timeout, drew an exclusion on Axelle Crevier and found Yuri Kazama with a player advantage for the deciding factor with 10 seconds on the clock for the 12-11 final score.
For Japan, Yumi Arima led the way with five goals, while Akari Inaba and Kazama put away three and two markers, respectively.
Lavoie keyed Canada with five goals with Fournier (two), Matthews (one), Kyra Christmas (one), Emma Wright (one) and Gurpreet Sohi (one) also finding the back of the cage.
The loss evens Canada’s record at 2-2 as the squad will close out Group A play against Great Britain on Friday, August 25, prior to the Quarterfinal (Saturday, August 26), Semifinal (Sunday, August 27) and Championship (Tuesday, August 29) rounds.
