BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Former Indiana University star Shae Fournier (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Grant Park) drilled two-of-six shots and grabbed a steal in 17:35, while current Hoosier Kelly Matthews (Sr., Roxboro, Quebec, Canada/St. Thomas) shot zero-for-two in 12:27 as Canada dispatched Italy, 16-13, to earn a date with Australia in the Fifth Place game of the 29th Summer Universiade/University Games in Taipei City, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan).
The victory advances Canada into a 4:30 p.m. local time showdown on Tuesday, August 29, against Australia and Indiana sophomore Mollie Williams (Sutherland Shire, Australia/Meriden) of Indiana. Williams and the Aussies punched their ticket into the Fifth Place clash courtesy a come-from-behind 6-5 win versus France.
Following a 13-7 loss against the United States in which both Fournier and Matthews were held off the scoreboard, Fournier drew first blood for Canada against Italy by collecting the rebound from her first shot after a save and banging in a put-back attempt 51 seconds into the game to put her homeland in front.
The margin expanded to 3-0 by the 4:06 mark of the opening frame prior to the Italians and Canadians trading scoring blows over the final four minutes of the first quarter to set the scoreboard at four-all with 12 seconds remaining on the clock. A marker by Emma Wright with two seconds left on the scoreboard returned the lead to Canada at 5-4 through eight minutes of action.
Fournier expanded the gap to 6-4 38 seconds into the second quarter as she rifled in a man-up opportunity with 7:22 to go until halftime.
However, Italy stormed back by lining in back-to-back opportunities at 6:57 and 6:02 to once again pull even at six-all.
The tie was short-lived as Canada closed out the first half by heaving in four consecutive strikes at 5:23, 4:29, 3:16 and 13 seconds to turn a deadlock into a death-grip on Italy’s victory hopes.
The North Americans continued to pull away in the dawning moments of the third quarter as tallies at 6:43 and 5:44 helped Canada double Italy’s offensive output at 12-6.
Italy chipped away at its deficit to move within 12-8 with 2:55 left in the third quarter, but Canada stopped the bleeding with 48 seconds on the clock prior to the Italians answering 19 seconds later (29 seconds) to inch within 13-9 going into the fourth quarter.
The lead, combined with three goals of their own in the fourth quarter, allowed the Canadians to hold off a resurgent Italian offense which punched in four more markers over the final eight minutes for the 16-13 final score.
Fournier’s two goals and steal raise her tournament totals to 16 goals, five assists, eight steals and three field blocks. Matthews, who will square off current Hoosiers’ teammate Williams in the Fifth Place game, with has six goals, an assist, a steal and a field block.
