BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — University of Michigan rising senior Isabelle (Issy) Jackson (Auckland, New Zealand/Diocesan Schools for Girls), Hartwick College Hall of Fame member Megan Thomson and rest of the New Zealand squad led for the majority of the game, but host Germany pulled off a 9-8 victory in the semifinals of the 2025 International University Sports Federation (FISU) World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany.
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Thomson – who was inducted to the Hartwick Hall of Fame in 2022 – is serving as New Zealand’s head coach for the World University Games.
Jackson shot one-for-one during the game by burying a center shot with 2:36 left in the second quarter to push New Zealand in front by a 6-4 score.
New Zealand acquired 1-0 and 2-1 leads in the first quarter prior to Germany tying the game at two-all and the Kiwis pushing back in front at 3-2 with four minutes remaining in the second quarter. However, Elena Ludwig blitzed New Zealand with penalty shot (1:13) and counter attack (45 seconds) strikes in the final minutes of the first half to stake Germany to a 4-3 at the contest’s midway point.
New Zealand responded with a three score outburst to commence the third quarter as Riann Bryant (5:04) and Emison Styris (4:35) swished action shots prior to Jackson connecting from center at 2:36 to put the New Zealanders ahead 6-4. Germany chipped away at its deficit to shrink the gap between the teams to 6-5 and 7-6 prior to conclusion of the quarter.
The Germans marched down the tank for the equalizer as Ludwig converted a man-up opportunity at the 7:13 mark to square the squads at seven-all. Bryant returned the lead to New Zealand via a center shot at 6:56, but the Germans escaped with a one-goal victory thanks to Emma Seehafer (4:51, man-up) and Ioanna Petiki (1:16, counter attack) finishing the game with back-to-back markers.
New Zealand will return to the water on Saturday, July 26, at Noon local/6:00 a.m. Eastern/3:00 a.m. Pacific against Italy in the Bronze Medal game. Italy dropped its semifinal against the United States by a 10-9 score in a penalty shootout.
