Ashleigh Nelson (field hockey)

Ashleigh Jayne Nelson (born 5 March 1987) is an Australian hockey player, a striker for the Australia women's national field hockey team (the "Hockeyroos").

Nelson made her international debut in 2007 against Japan and at the start of the 2011 season she had played 71 games for Australia, scoring 33 international goals. She has played in many international tournaments, including the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, where she secured a field goal from lying on the ground as well as a penalty flick. Australia defeated New Zealand for the gold medal in penalty flicks 4–2 after drawing with them 2–2 after 15 minutes of extra time.[1]  She also played in the World Cup in Argentina in 2010 and the Champion's Trophy in Sydney in 2009 where she scored her first goal against China.[2] Nelson is sponsored by Grays and wears the number 8 for the Hockeyroos.

When not playing for Australia she wears the number 14 for the Smokefree WA Diamonds. She has been part of a very exciting period for the Diamonds, debuting in 2006 and winning 4 out of 5 AHL finals. She was voted best on ground in the 2010 final against Queensland and was the highest goal scorer in 2010 for both the AHL and Australian Hockeyroos.

Nelson grew up in Wagin, in rural Western Australia. She attended boarding school at Santa Maria College for her high school years and was honoured with the title of Head Girl of the college in 2004. She graduated from Curtin University 2010 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy. She now enjoys a very busy lifestyle combining a growing career and her hockey commitments for Australia.