News for 15 February 2015
All the news for Sunday 15 February 2015
USWNT vs Argentina series remains tied while two make their debut
LANCASTER, Pa. - After a hard fought match on Friday night at Spooky Nook Sports, USA and Argentina were back battling in the world-renowned dome arena again Saturday night. A sea of red coated the stands as the crowd cheered for the U.S. Women’s National Team. The final score of the second game ended with another tie USA 1, Argentina 1.
Argentina came out strong in the first quarter. During the fourth minute, Argentina’s Delfino Merino fired a shot for Las Leonas and scored to put her team up 1-0. USA returned with great ball movement down the pitch. Paige Selenski’s (Shavertown, Pa.) goal for the USA was retracted by officials in the 10th minute keeping the score USA 0, Argentina 1.
In 41st minute of play, USA was awarded another corner. The red, white and blue's Lauren Crandall (Doylestown, Pa.) scored from the top of the circle to the left corner of the cage to tie the game. At the end of the 60 regulated minutes, the score remained tied USA 1, Argentina 1.
U.S. Women’s National team Coach, Craig Parnham is taking what he learned from the first two Argentina games into the second half of the series.
"This is a relatively new group of Argentina players," said Parnham. "We are looking at their new players and their system. We are understanding a little bit more of what they are doing and we are going to try to implement that into our game.”
Team USA athletes Alyssa Manley (Lititz, Pa.) and Kelsey Harbin (San Marcos, Calif.) made their debut for Team USA today and celebrated their first caps. Stefanie Fee (Virginia Beach, Va.) also earned her 50th cap in today's match.
Harbin was excited to make her first senior international appearance. “The team has improved during the past year and the level of play with this team is so much higher,” said Harbin. "Coming in now and playing against the third best team in the world is amazing. I couldn’t be more honored.”
Join Team USA Monday night at 6:30 p.m. EST as they continue their four game series with Argentina at Spook Nook Sports.
Watch the games live by visiting usafieldhockey.com!
USFHA media release
Hockey team leaves for Uruguay without accommodation money
By BRIAN YONGA
Tracy Karanja trains with the national women’s hockey team at City Park Stadium on February 7, 2015 ahead of the World League Two series in Uruguay. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
The national women’s hockey team finally left the country on Saturday morning for the World League two series in Montevideo, Uruguay.
The travelling party of 18 players and 10 officials, among them including a government representative, jetted out of the country at 5.35 am, aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight.
They team was to fly to Addis Ababa en route to Sao Paolo before picking a connecting flight to Montevideo, a journey of about 22 hours.
This means the team will arrive in Montevideo early Sunday. The trip had looked in doubt because by Friday evening, the Government had yet to release the Sh5 million to cater for the team’s food, accommodation and allowances. The team, however, jetted out without the money following a firm assurance from the government that it would be sent before the squad arrives in Uruguay. Kenya Hockey Union vice chairperson, Elynah Shiveka, told Sunday Nation Sport that Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario called her personally to inform her about the decision after waiting for the money for hours.
LONG WAIT
“At one point, I was ready to tell the girls that their government had abandoned them at this time but the minister (Wario) gave me his word that the money would be sent and we believe him otherwise we shall be stranded in Uruguay,” Shiveka said.
The team held light training session on Friday morning at City Park Stadium ahead of the departure and players were confident they would perform well despite the challenges.
Coach Jos Openda remained optimistic the team will turn the challenges into positives.
“These challenges are usually there but we are mentally prepared for everything, the girls can’t wait to take to the pitch and show what they can do. We want to leave a mark in the event and move to the next round,” he said.
The International Hockey Federation agreed to reschedule Kenya’s opener against France which was to be played yesterday at 8pm. The team will now open their account against Trinidad and Tobago at 1am tomorrow Kenyan time.
Kenya will then come up against France tomorrow night before taking on Azerbaijan on Tuesday in their last Pool B match. Wednesday will be rest a day before the knock-out stage commences on Thursday.
Daily Nation
Delhi Waveriders outplay Ranchi Rays 2-0 in HIL
NEW DELHI: Defending champions Delhi Waveriders came out strongly to earn a comprehensive 2-0 win over Ranchi Rays in a Hero Hockey India League (HIL) encounter at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here on Saturday.
Two field goals from Lloyd Norris-Jones (26th minute) and Akashdeep Singh (53rd) sealed the deal for the home team that solidified their position in the standings. Five points from the match meant that they are strongly positioned at fourth with 22 points.
On the other hand, though the Rays lost, they got two points for losing by two goals or less which helped them earn two points to go top of the table with 31, ahead of Jaypee Punjab Warriors.
The first quarter was totally dominated by the Rays who kept most of the possession. Though the Waveriders' defence was under pressure but it did not crumble as the game was more or less played in their half. However, some good passing enabled the visitors to finally earn a penalty corner. But a straight hit to the Waveriders' German custodian Nicolas Jacobi diminished any chance of Rays taking the lead and the match remained goalless at the end of the first quarter.
The hosts came out stronger in the second quarter and this time they dominated possession. Though Waveriders captain Sardar Singh did not look in his prime, his boys did a good job of fluently passing the ball to each other.
Their hard work finally bore fruit when South African Norris-Jones provided the nudge required to see the ball enter the Rays goal in the 26th minute as Waveriders went into half-time with a 1-0 lead.
The third quarter was more or less about counter-attacks as the defence of both the sides blunted any attack of their opponents. A couple of penalty corners were also earned by both teams but they were wasted.
Rays goalkeeper Tyler Lovell, however, stood out with a brilliant performance. His most stunning stop came in the last minute of the third quarter when drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh tried to slide past the ball during a penalty corner. Tyler stuck out his leg acrobatically to make a stunning save.
The last quarter looked like it was going to go goalless until Akashdeep Singh struck a brilliant reverse-flick goal in the 53rd minute to put the game beyond the reach of the Ranchi-based team.
The score remained the same till the hooter, handing Waveriders their third victory in eight outings. Waveriders defender Rupinder was awarded the Man-of-the-Match.
Waveriders take on Kalinga Lancers here on Sunday, while Rays will next be in action in their 10th and final league match against Warriors at Mohali on Tuesday.
The Times of India
Delhi bests Ranchi
Delhi Waveriders gave a good account of its tight defence as it defeated Ranchi Rays 2-0 and moved closer to the Hockey India League (HIL) semifinals at the National Stadium here on Saturday.
Lloyd Norris Jones put Delhi ahead in the 26th minute when he stunningly hit home with a reverse stick after Jason Wilson’s shot came off the Ranchi Rays’ goalkeeper Tyler Lovell’s palm. The home team, boosted by comeback man Nicholas Jacobi under the bar, maintained its composure and doubled its lead in the final quarter.
Matt Ghodes relayed a Simon Child pass from the right to Akashdeep Singh and the young Indian stunningly hammered a goal from the edge of the circle.
DWR’s Rupinderpal Singh was adjudged the player of the match for his solid defence.
The result: Delhi Waveriders 2 (Lloyd Norris Jones 26, Akashdeep Singh 53) bt Ranchi Rays 0.
The Hindu
Waveriders host Lancers in HIL
NEW DELHI: Riding high on their win against Dabang Mumbai, Kalinga Lancers are all set to clash with hosts Delhi Waveriders in the Hockey India League here on Sunday.
In the previous clash between the two teams, defending Champions Delhi Waveriders had made a brilliant comeback to hold Lancers to a draw.
With just two wins out of nine games, Lancers have 16 points and will now play their last pool match against Waveriders with an intention to better their standing in the table before the League enters the semi-final phase.
Speaking ahead of the match, Lancers head coach Jude Felix said: "I am happy with the way the team has performed in their last match. We managed to draw against the Waveriders in our previous encounter. This is also going to be a crucial game for us and I hope the boys will play similarly with utmost coordination and give their best. Delhi is a strong team and has been performing really well in the League so it's going to be challenging for us."
Meanwhile, in Lucknow, Dabang Mumbai will clash with Uttar Pradesh Wizards at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium on Sunday.
Comfortably placed at the third position in the league, the Uttar Pradesh Wizards, who defeated Dabang Mumbai 5-1 when the two teams had met at Mumbai's home turf, will be looking for a repeat performance.
On the other hand, having lost to Kalinga Lancers on Friday, Dabang Mumbai will be hoping to come back strongly as a unit and win Sunday's match. They will aim at getting their coordination right on the field and get the all important penalty corners.
The Times of India
Inverleith's European ambitions take a huge blow
Inverleith's chances of securing promotion from the EuroHockey Indoor Club Trophy are all but gone after a gut-wrenching 5-4 loss against HC Olimpiia Kolos-Sekvoya Vinnitsa in Lyngby today.
In the final Pool B match this morning, Inverleith had got off to a great start against SC Strotel Brest with Adam MacKenzie dispatching two penalty corners to give his side a 2-0 lead at half-time.
However, two goals from Artem Ozerskyi either side of a Vitali Zyshchyk strike left the capital outfit defeated and sweating on the officials working out the pool permutations with three sides deadlocked on seven points behind Pool B winners WKS Grunwald Poznan.
The rules were found to favour the Purple Robes, and as a result they squeezed through to the promotion stage courtesy of a better goal difference and head-to-head against HC Valenciennes, plus a better goals scored record than their Belarussian opponents.
Taking on HC Olimpiia Kolos-Sekvoya Vinnitsa in the first promotion pool stage contest, the National Indoor League Division 1 champions looked in good form.
Derek Salmond opened the scoring from open play in the sixth minute before Anrdii Koshelenko equalised in the 15th minute.
Andrew Malcolm put his side back in front two minutes later before two goals from Dmytro Luppa and Iurli Moroz in the two preceding minutes before half-time left Inverleith trailing 3-2 at the break.
MacKenzie was back in the goals after his double earlier in the day, scoring a penalty stroke in the 25th minute before adding a field goal three minutes later to make it 4-3.
However, Moroz secured his second strike of the match in the 32nd minute to level the scores yet again at 4-4.
A real blow for Inverleith in the last minute, as Mykhailo Yasinskyi netted right on the full-time hooter to snatch victory and leave the Edinburgh side crestfallen, with their target of promotion looking all but lost now.
For more information please visit the EuroHockey Indoor Club Trophy website
Scottish Hockey Union media release
Surbiton march on in Premier Division
Chloe Hobson and Aly Billington of Buckingham fight for the ball www.chrishobsonphotos.co.uk
SURBITON continued their fantastic run of form in the Investec Women’s Hockey League Premier Division with a 3-1 defeat of Buckingham on Saturday.
Georgie Twigg got them off the mark in the 29th minute, forcing the ball home from a penalty corner. Julia King added a second after the break.
Although Zoe Shipperley pulled one back for Buckingham, Sandra Frankland killed the game off with Surbiton’s third 13 minutes from time.
Clifton are doing their best to challenge Surbiton for top spot and are equal on points but have a game less to play and an inferior goal difference. However, they continued their push with a 2-1 win over Leicester courtesy of strikes from Els Mansell and Zoe Leach.
Holcombe and Reading are two of the teams battling for the all-important fourth place at the moment and although there’s a long way to go, both took a step towards securing the final play-off berth with convincing wins.
Nicola White, Lucy Wood, Lauren Osborn and Tamsyn Naylor were all on target for Holcombe as they beat struggling Beeston 4-1.
Reading are only behind Holcombe on goal difference but kept in touching distance with a 3-0 defeat of Bowdon Hightown as goals from Georgie Blackwood and Elizabeth Hunt added to Helen Richardson-Walsh’s opener.
Canterbury edged out University of Birmingham 2-0 with goals in either half from Susannah Townsend and Anna Baker.
Investec Conference West
With leaders Slough out of action Swansea City closed the gap at the top of the Investec Conference West with a 2-1 win at Bristol Firebrands, courtesy of goals from Danielle Docherty and Natalie Blythe.
Cheltenham lost further ground at the bottom after they were beaten 4-3 by Olton and West Warwicks. Two goals from Kerry Thompson-Moore helped Olton on their way to a slender victory that moved them up two places to seventh, despite a brace from Gayle Pearce for bottom side Cheltenham.
Gloucester City stayed third after a Jess Deane hat-trick helped them to a 6-2 win over Oxford Hawks, whilst Trojan beat Isca 3-2.
Investec Conference North
Wakefield maintained their slender lead at the top of the Investec Conference North after Heather Stafford’s brace helped them on their way to a 6-2 victory over Ben Rhydding.
Goals from Sally Walton, Hannah Norman, Rosie Tootell and Gwen Smith added to Wakefield’s haul as they remain top on goal difference.
Brooklands Poynton kept pace with the leaders with a 4-0 win over Kendal. Two goals from Helen Turner helped keep the pressure on the leaders as Brooklands consolidated in second place.
Jane Sixsmith led the scoring with a brace as Sutton Coldfield romped to a 6-0 win over Whitley Bay and Tynemouth.
Cannock edged a point closer to safety with a 1-1 draw with the University of Durham, whilst second bottom Liverpool Sefton lost at Loughborough.
Investec Conference East
East Grinstead picked up a slender 1-0 win at Harleston Magpies to keep their eight-point lead intact at the top of the Investec Conference East. Eleanor Keefe scored the game’s only goal in the second half to leave Harleston in fourth.
Sevenoaks remained on East Grinstead’s coat tails with a 3-1 win away at Horsham, courtesy of goals from Jet Van Zalen, Georgina Barker and Kate Hornsby. The home side slipped to the bottom of the table despite Fran Crossley’s consolation goal.
Bedford moved up to ninth after they picked up a 3-1 win at St Albans with goals from Andrea Mason, Claire Bettie and Kate Costin, whilst Ipswich won 3-1 at Chelmsford and Wimbledon beat Maidenhead 1-0.
Investec Women’s Hockey League (Saturday, February 14 2015):
Investec Women's Premier Division: Holcombe 4, Beeston 1; Buckingham 1, Surbiton 3; Clifton 2, Leicester 1; Reading 3, Bowdon Hightown 0; Canterbury 2, University of Birmingham 0.
Investec Women's Conference West: Bristol Firebrands 1, Swansea City 2; Gloucester City 6, Oxford Hawks 2; Olton and West Warwicks 4, Cheltenham 3; Trojans 3, Isca 2.
Investec Women's Conference North: Brooklands Poynton 4, Kendal 0; University of Durham 1, Cannock 1; Loughborough Students 2, Liverpool Sefton 0; Wakefield 6, Ben Rhydding 2; Sutton Coldfield 6, Whitley Bay and Tynemouth 0.
Investec Women's Conference East: St Albans 1, Bedford 3; Chelmsford 1, Ipswich 3; Harleston Magpies 0, East Grinstead 1; Wimbledon 1, Maidenhead 0; Horsham 1, Sevenoaks 3.
England Hockey Board Media release
PJCC drop two points
By Jugjet Singh
PETALING Jaya City Council (PJCC) dropped two crucial points when they drew 1-1 with KL Sports School in Division One of the MHC-Milo-NSC Junior Hockey League at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
The draw put paid to their quest of finishing second in the League, as UniKL with two matches in hand are snapping at their heels.
PJCC's haikal Zanri gave them the lead in the eighth minute, but KLSS drew level off a Hariz Syazani goal in the 33rd minute and held on for the remainder of the match.
In another Division One match, Olak PKT Tigers claimed their second win of the tournament when they beat Politreknik 1-0 with an Ammirul Hafiz goal in the 54th minute.
Double champions Thunderbolts are champions in waiting as they only have one more match against their juniors next weekend to seal the title.
PJCC team manager Zanal Abidin rued their missed sitters: "We had many chances to seal three points but failed to convert. Now we only have an outside chance of finishing second, provided we win our final match against UniKL (next Friday). But I believe its going to be a tough match going by UniKL's form this season."
RESULTS -- Division One: PJCC 1 KLSS 1, Olak PKT Tigers 1 Politeknik 0.
Division Two Group A: SM Sains 0 1MAS Pahang 4, BJSS Jnrs 4 MSNT-THT 1.
Group B: MSS Kedah 0 ISMO PHA 6, Nur Insafi PHA 0 1Mas Perlis 3, Larut matang 0 1Mas Penang 13.
Group C: Datuk Taha 0 1Mas Malacca 10, SMSJ Kinghts 4 1Mas TBSS 6.
TODAY -- Division One: KLHC v BJSS (KLHA), SSP-MSP-Thunderbolts v Politeknik Malaysia (Temerloh), SSTMI Juniors v UniKL Young Guns (Taman Daya).
Division Two Group C: 1Mas Johor v SMK Tun Hussien Onn (Batu Pahat).
Note: All matches at 4.45pm.
DIVISION ONE
P W D L F A Pts
THUNDERBOLTS 7 6 1 0 29 9 19
PJCC 7 5 2 0 22 7 17
UNIKL 6 5 0 1 27 9 15
PSS T'DERBOLTS 6 3 0 3 14 13 9
KLSS-KLHC 6 2 2 2 9 10 8
OLAK 8 2 0 6 10 27 6
POLITEKNIK 6 1 1 4 6 15 4
BJSS 5 1 0 4 5 16 3
SSTMI JNR 5 0 0 5 2 18 0
Jugjet's World of Field Hockey
Junior hockey title chance in tatters for MBPJ after draw
By Aftar Singh
MBPJ’s Mohd Haikal Zamri (in red and white) celebrates his goal against KLSS-KHC during the match at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil. MBPJ could only chalk up a 1-1 draw. – M. AZHAR/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Former champions Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) blew their chance of winning the MHC-Milo-NSC Junior Hockey League Division One title after they only managed a 1-1 draw against KLSS-KLHC at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
The PJ team have 17 points from five wins and two draws with one match remaining to wrap up their league fixtures.
The result will be good news for defending champions SSTMI-Thunderbolt as they have 19 points from seven matches and just need a win in the last match against their junior team – SSTMI – next week.
MBPJ, who needed three points to stay in contention in the title race, started off well by taking the lead in the eighth minute through Mohd Haikal Zamri but failed to capitalise on the numerous chances that came their way.
KLSS-KHC fought back to equalise in the 33rd minute through Hariz Syazani Ezani off a field goal.
MBPJ team manager Zanal Abidin Ismail was disappointed his players failed to collect full points.
“Our hopes of winning the league title is virtually over after the draw,” said Zanal.
Zanal hopes his boys would be able to put up a better performance against Politeknik Malaysia on Sunday.
“It will be good if we can finish as runners-up in Division One. I hope my players will not take the encounter against Politeknik lightly. It is a different ball game altogether as we will be playing against much older players.
“We’re in for a tough match and the players cannot afford to drop any more points,” said Zanal.
The Star of Malaysia
Men's hockey back after 36 years
Shalveen Chand
Divesh Sharma (right) shows some of his agility while dribbling past his much older opponent during the 5-a-side hockey tournament at the National Hockey Center yesterday. Picture: JONE LUVENITOGA
AFTER a lapse of 36 years, men's hockey will once again become part of the Pacific Games, however, it will be in the abbreviated five-a-side format.
It was in Suva in 1979 when the men last competed in hockey and then the sport was not part of any Pacific Games until Suva introduced the sport again in 2003 but only in the women's division.
This year both men and women's hockey will be part of the Pacific Games but in the shorter, faster and more furious code.
Rated as one of the best hockey players in the country and hockey's nomination for the Fiji Sports Awards Adrian Smith believes the faster and fitter team will have the upper hand in the shorter code.
He said Fiji had never played five-a-side hockey at national level.
"The shorter game is faster. There are more open spaces and players can score from anywhere on the field," Smith said.
"The game's faster nature means that players will have to be faster. This abbreviated code is similar to what sevens rugby is compared to the 15-men game."
Smith agreed that competition for a spot in the national team would become more aggressive.
"I know getting a spot in the team will be more than difficult. It is a five-a-side game, so only nine players will be going," he said.
Meanwhile Suva Hockey has organised its off-season games in the five-a-side format so players vying for national spots can familiarise themselves with the game.
The Fiji Times