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News for 04 August 2015

All the news for Tuesday 4 August 2015


India Men Hockey Team posts 2-0 win against France in their First match

New Delhi: Playing an aggressive game, India Men Team defeated France by 2-0 in the first match of the Europe Tour, being played at Le Touquet today. Chinglensana Singh and SV Sunil helped India to dominate through-out the match and kept the European team in pressure. France came back strongly after third quarter but they failed to breach Indian defence-line.

In the first quarter, both the teams attacked aggressively on each other half and tried score the first goal for their team. After series of attacks from both sides, India’s midfielder Chinglensana Singh sneaked into French half and hit the ball in the goal-box to score the first goal of the match in the 18th minute. With this early lead, Indians took control of the match and put French players in tremendous pressure. Indians didn’t allow France to take control of the ball and the opponent struggled in rest of the quarter. After intense tussle from both sides, first quarter ended at 1-0 score in favour of India.

In the second quarter, Indians came on the field with more confidence and maintained their control over the match. Led by captain Sardar Singh, midfielders SK Uthappa, Danish Mujtaba and Devinder Walmiki displayed a high-level hockey skills and kept their team attacking. Forward players SV Sunil, Ramandeep Singh and Akashdeep Singh kept on charging on the French side and played the ball in their half. After continuous attacks, SV Sunil dribbled past French defenders and sent the ball into the nets for the second goal in the 26th minute. Leading by two goals, Indian continued their domination on the match and maintained the score-card at 2-0 by the end of second quarter.

In the third quarter, host team France stepped in with aggression and surprised India with their quick passes. French players were desperately looking for opportunities to score goals and reduce the margin. They attacked on Indian side and tried hard for goal-scoring chances, which brought pressure on Indian side. In few occasions, they came very close to Indian goal-posts but Indian defence-line restricted their attacks. In the last few minutes of the quarter, France earned a penalty corner, which successfully thwarted by India goal-keeper PR Sreejesh and maintained the score-line at 2-0 by the end of third quarter.

The fourth quarter seen the closely-fought battle as both the teams pushed each others to score more goals. French players played with more aggression and they managed to earn two back-to-back penalty corners. But both were saved by Sreejesh with his brilliant moves. Indians counter attacked on France’s half and tried hard to increase the score-sheet. However, as the match got closed to the final whistle, both the teams challenged each other and fought hard for the ball possession and score more goals. After a neck-to-neck battle, the match finished at 2-0 in favour of India.

India will play their second and last match against France on 5th August 2015 at 18:00 IST at Wattigies Sports Centre.

Stick2Hockey.com



India beat France 2-0 in first hockey Test

NEW DELHI: Chinglensana Singh and SV Sunil scored a goal apiece as India defeated France 2-0 in their opening Test match of the two-match series in France on Monday.

Chinglensana opened the scoring for India while comeback man Sunil slotted the second goal to give India a morale-boosting win in their opening match of the European tour.

India were leading 2-0 at half-time as they maintained their lead till the end to emerge triumphant. Once again Indian custodian PR Sreejesh excelled under the bar to deny France any chance of scoring whatsoever. India had recently beaten France in the World League Semifinals in Belgium where they eventually finished fourth.

Team India, which has seen foreign coaches come and go far too often, will play one more match in France before travelling to Spain for three games.

High Performance Manager Roelant Oltmans has doubled up as the chief coach of the team after the sudden sacking of Dutchman Paul van Ass, who had just completed five months of his three-year contract.

The Times of India



India down France in opener


India looked sharp in their 2-0 win over France on Monday. HI

Le Touquet (France): The Indian hockey team, it seems, has moved on pretty quickly after the sudden and controversial exit of Paul van Ass, their head coach.

Playing their first match after his exit, India blanked France 2-0 in the first match of their European tour here today. Chinglensana Singh and SV Sunil sounded the board to help India dominate the hosts in the first of their two-match series.

Both the teams started off on an attacking note, looking to draw the first blood. After a series of attacks from both the sides, India's midfielder Chinglensana Singh sneaked into the French half and sounded the board in the 18th minute.

Having taken an early lead, the visitors took control of the match and put the hosts under tremendous pressure. In the second quarter, the Indians hit the field looking even more confident. Led by captain Sardar Singh, midfielders SK Uthappa, Danish Mujtaba and Devinder Walmiki did well to keep the attacks coming. The forwards, SV Sunil, Ramandeep Singh and Akashdeep Singh, kept the French defence on its toes. In the midst continuous attacks, Sunil dribbled past the French defenders and sent the ball into the net in the 26th minute, giving India a 2-0 lead.

In the third quarter, France stepped up the pace and surprised the visiting team with their quick passes. They attacked the Indian citadel every now and then, putting enormous pressure on the defenders. On a few occasions, they came close to scoring but the Indian defenders stood firm, denying them any opportunity.

In the fourth quarter,  France earned two back-to-back penalty corners but Sreejesh again foiled both the attempts

The Tribune



Chinglensana, Sunil score as India beat France 2-0

The Sardar Singh-led team dominated the proceedings throughout in their opening game, held yesterday.

Talented Chinglensana Singh and seasoned S.V. Sunil struck a goal apiece as Indian men’s hockey team started their tour of Europe on a bright note with a 2-0 win over hosts France.

The Sardar Singh-led team dominated the proceedings throughout in their opening game, held yesterday.

The Indians drew first blood in the 18th minute (3rd minute of second quarter) when the opportunistic Chinglensana capitalised on the defensive lapse to enter the D and the powerfully struck hit found the back of the net.

The favourites increased the pressure on the French side with repeated raids in the opposition attacking third, which resulted in the second goal by SV Sunil.

Sardar, SK Uthappa, Danish Mujtaba and Devinder Walmiki were instrumental in India enjoying the better of exchanges and ball possession. Sunil, Ramandeep Singh and Akashdeep Singh kept French defence on tenterhooks throughout the second quarter.

The highly skillful Sunil scored a brilliant field goal as he did the spadework dribbling past a host of French defenders before slotting the ball home in the 26th minute (11th minute of second quarter).

Indian team held onto their lead till the end of the game. France upped the ante in the third quarter but the India defence foiled their goal-scoring bid.

In the last few minutes of the third quarter, France earned a penalty corner, which was successfully thwarted by India goal-keeper PR Sreejesh.

The fourth quarter was a closely-fought battle as both the teams pushed each others to score more goals. French players played with more aggression and they managed to earn back-to-back penalty corners.

But both were brilliantly saved by Sreejesh before Indians went on the counter but could not increase the tally.

India will play their second and last match against France on Wednesday at the Wattigies Sports Centre.

The Hindu



Europe's elite ready to make their mark at EuroHockey Championships

World Class Hockey returns to London


Germany will be looking to defend their title at the Unibet EuroHockey Championships

World class hockey returns to London as the Unibet EuroHockey Championships 2015 get under way on 21 August at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Teams from around Europe will be going head to head with an added incentive at this year’s event. Not only will they be crowned European Champions, the winners of the men’s and women’s competitions will also guarantee qualification for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as Continental Champions.

With less than three weeks to go until the opening games, men’s teams from Belgium, England, Spain, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands and Russia along with women’s teams from Belgium, England, Spain, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland and Scotland are busy preparing for what is set to be an extremely competitive event.

In the men’s event, reigning European champions Germany are heading into the tournament following some excellent form at the Hockey World League (HWL) Semi-Finals in Rosario, Argentina.

Markus Weise’s side proved tough opponents in the pool stages, scoring 21 goals in four games, including a 9-0 win against Canada.

The Netherlands recovered from their disappointing defeat to Germany to beat Canada 6-0 to take third place in Rosario. Notably, the Dutch last won this title in 2007 when it was last held in England.

Belgium, runners up in 2013, will also fancy their chances off the back of a solid HWL Semi-Final tournament in their homeland, losing the final 1-0 to world number one ranked Australia in the last minute of the game.

Also playing in Antwerp, an all-English Great Britain squad came up short against Australia in their semi-final clash. However, with Olympic Qualification assured, they turned on the style to defeat India in the 3/4th place play-off. Having last won this event in 2009, they will be looking to take that form into this competition backed by the home support.

Spain started slowly in HWL Semi-Final in Rosario, losing four out of the first five matches. A shootout win over Korea however, inspired a 3-1 win over New Zealand to take fifth place, which means they still have a chance of qualifying for Rio 2016 even if they don’t win this event.

Ireland matched Spain’s fifth place finish but at the other HWL Semi-Final in the Antwerp. The world number 14 ranked nation matched higher ranked sides such as Great Britain and Belgium, losing narrowly to the hosts having removed their goalkeeper in search of a winner.

France captain Tom Genestet expressed his disappointment at his side’s seventh place finish at the HWL Semi-Final in Antwerp. After a heavy defeat to Australia they recovered to take a point from Pakistan and a win against Poland before eventually overcoming Pakistan in the 7/8th play-off.

Russia did not qualify for the HWL Semi-Finals but gave some indication of their abilities in the previous round in March.

A strong pool stage saw them win against Canada, Trinidad and Tobago and the USA before they were eventually overcome in the semi-finals after Austria won their shootout.

With the men’s competition beginning on 21 August and concluding on Saturday 29 August, the men have a lot to play for in London. With so much on the line, the competition is set to be exciting for everyone involved – players and fans alike.

FIH site



38 invited to national camp

Best of Australian hockey talent to take part in women's national camp



Thirty-eight athletes have been invited to be part of Hockey Australia’s women’s high performance camp in Perth later this month as national head coach Adam Commens brings Australian hockey’s brightest talent together ahead of a busy end to the year.

The camp will provide an excellent opportunity for the athletes to train together in the national squad’s home environment and will play an important role in the ongoing drive to increase the strength in depth of Australian women’s hockey.

With Asian Games champions Korea, ranked ninth in the world, providing high quality opposition in a series of practice games for two Australian training squads - A and B - the athletes will also be exposed to quality international competition as part of the camp.

Following the conclusion of the camp, a Hockeyroos team will be selected to face Korea in three matches in early September.

Making up the 38 invited athletes are the 21 available members of the national senior squad, the 15 available members of the national development squad and two members of the national junior squad. Those two, Kaitlin Nobbs and Grace Stewart (both NSW), have been invited on the back of strong performances at the U21 Australian Championships in Hobart last month.

Two-time Olympian Casey Sablowski (née Eastham) will miss the camp while recovering from knee surgery, as will World Cup winner Kellie White, who continues her long-term rehabilitation, also from knee surgery. National Development Squad goalkeeper Elizabeth Duguid is also unavailable; she will be competing in the national weightlifting championships. 

With the Australian Hockey League taking place in late September and the Hockeyroos set to compete at the Oceania Cup in October and World League Finals in December it is a busy end to 2015 before attentions turn to the selection of the Olympic training squad.

Details of the matches against Korea will be released in the coming weeks.

Athletes invited to women’s national camp
Athlete (Hometown, State) [national squad]
Murphy Allendorf (Mount Gravatt, QLD) [development]
Teneal Attard (Mackay, QLD) [senior]
Laura Barden (Kew, VIC) [development]
Jocelyn Bartram (Albury, NSW) [development]
Madonna Blyth (Brisbane, QLD) [senior]
Edwina Bone (Evatt, ACT) [senior]
Mathilda Carmichael (Willoughby, NSW) [development]
Jane Claxton (Adelaide, SA) [senior]
Jacqui Day (Mountain Creek, QLD) [development]
Kirstin Dwyer (Mackay, QLD) [senior]
Madison Fitzpatrick^ (Cabarita Beach, NSW) [development]
Savannah Fitzpatrick^ (Cabarita Beach, NSW) [development]
Anna Flanagan (Canberra, ACT) [senior]
Kyra Flynn (Hillarys, WA) [development]
Kate Hanna (Constitution Hill, NSW) [development]
Jordyn Holzberger (Ipswich, QLD) [development]
Kate Jenner (Tamworth, NSW) [senior]
Jodie Kenny (Wamuran, QLD) [senior]
Stephanie Kershaw (Townsville, QLD) [development]
Rachael Lynch (Warrandyte, VIC) [senior]
Karri McMahon (Berri, SA) [senior]
Georgina Morgan (Armidale, NSW) [senior]
Gabrielle Nance* (Kingscliff, NSW) [senior]
Georgia Nanscawen (Melbourne, VIC) [senior]
Ashleigh Nelson (Wagin, WA) [senior]
Kaitlin Nobbs (Newington, NSW) [junior]
Hayley Padget (Hurstbridge, VIC) [development]
Georgie Parker (Berri, SA) [senior]
Brooke Peris (Darwin, NT) [senior]
Kathryn Slattery (South Stirling, WA) [senior]
Audrey Smith (Wynnum, QLD) [development]
Emily Smith (Crookwell, NSW) [senior]
Amelia Spence (Hobart, TAS) [senior]
Penny Squibb (Tambellup, WA) [development]
Grace Stewart (Gerringong, NSW) [junior]
Renee Taylor (Everton Park, QLD) [development]
Ashlee Wells (Morwell, VIC) [senior]
Mariah Williams (Parkes, NSW) [senior]

*Gabrielle Nance is an athlete at the South Australian Sports Institute but grew up in Kingscliff, NSW.
^Madison & Savannah Fitzpatrick are athletes at the Queensland Academy of Sport but grew up in Cabarita Beach, NSW.

Hockey Australia media release



MHL champions Terengganu look to bounce back this weekend

By S. Ramaguru


One of Terengganu's imported players, Nicolas Cicileo from Argentina in action during the MHL opening match against KLHC on Sunday. - CHAN TAK KONG/ The STAR

KUALA LUMPUR: Double champions Terengganu are not pushing the panic button yet despite losing their opening Premier Division match in the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL).

The east coast side, winners of the league and overall championship last season, were whipped 6-2 by Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Sunday.

But they will look to bounce back in the upcoming matches - against Maybank on Friday and Tenaga Nasional on Sunday.

“Now, we need to get back on our feet. We need to work harder to rectify our game,” said Terengganu team manager Roshali Taha.

“Our next match against Maybank is crucial as we need to win full points to get back on track,” he added.

With five South Korean imports, Terengganu were a class above the rest last season. But this year, they opted to use four Argentinians and one Pakistani. And with six Malaysian internationals in their ranks, one would have expected them to be a top-notch side.

Roshali said they knew it would be a tough opener, but did not expect to lose by such a big margin.

“The team were assembled just a few days before the start of the MHL. It’s obvious the foreigners have yet to gel with the local players.

Last year, Terengganu also started on a losing note. They were beaten 2-1 by Tenaga.

KLHC coach K. Dharmaraj, however, believes things will get tougher as the league progresses.

“I don’t think any team of the six teams in the league can win all the matches. They are all evenly-matched at the moment,” said Dharmaraj.

“It’s going to be a close affair until the end of the league,” added Dharmaraj.

KLHC were runners-up in the league and overall championship last year, losing both titles to Terengganu. They now plan to win at least one of the titles this season.

“We have a balanced team and we can build on this winning start. But we are not going to be carried away by the opening win.”

The Star of Malaysia



New Rules presentation for upcoming European season



Surrey County Umpires Association in conjunction with World Panel umpire Hamish Jameson and Sportplan have put together an outstanding presentation on the new rules of Hockey in place from January 2015. The presentation is also mobile friendly. I can highly recommend it for Umpires, Players and Spectators.

http://www.sportplan.net/drills/Hockey/present/rules



SAI breaks rules, offers Rani Ramphal coaching job

K. Arumugam



A department known for its rigid regulations and stupid bureaucracy has, for once, shown some modern human resources skill and offers one of the most accomplished Indian women hockey players, Rani Ramphal, a coaching job even as she is still playing for the country.

Rani is already employed with Indian Railways

Sports Authority of India has today announced that it offers to Rani Ramphal, 21, a asst coaching post considering her international feat. Such offer from rule book SAI is a first of its kind.

Normally, eligible candidates have to apply, go for trial for getting into SAI jobs that too when if there is a vacancy. And then they are supposed to have coaching diploma.

With new Director General in place, SAI seems to have woken up to new HR skills and also throws open job opportunities for established players, that too when they are still in the service of the nation.

Rani Ramphal is presently in the India camp, and has done extremely well in the recent HWL SF at Antwerp where her scoring prowess played a big role in India getting close to eluding Olympics.

The official press release:

Rani Rampal to dawn the Hat of a Coach for Sports Authority of India

3rd August:- Born on 4th December 1994 Ms Rani Rampal a forward position hockey player and star scorer from the well known Dronacharya awardee Sh Baldev Singh's Academy SHAHBAD, Haryana came to limelight when she became part of Indian Team to 2010 World Cup at the age of 15 years . Before that in 2009 she stormed India to win finals in Champions Challenge Tournament in Kazan, Russia by scoring 4 goals and was adjudged -The Top Scorer and Young player of the Tournament.

She has been the only Indian player to be nominated as FIH Women Young Player of the Award 2010. Her outstanding performance enabled India win a bronze medal in the Junior World Cup 2013 . Undoubtedly, Ms Rampal is one of the most accomplished hockey players of current times. She has also played an important role in the performance of Indian Team at the recently concluded World League Semi-Finals which has almost assured an Olympic berth of the Womens' Team,

Considering her achievements and keeping in view that her presence will immensely motivate budding women hockey players, Sports Authority of India has decided to offer post of Asstt Coach in SAI in relaxation of the Recruitment Rules. Her appointment in SAI will certainly inspire the next generation of Hockey players. She will be given required and relevant inputs/courses for honing her skills as a coach whenever she has time during off-camp and off-competition period.

Stick2Hockey.com



Olympians Gurbax, Joaquim to fight Mumbai Hockey Association elections

MUMBAI: The elections to the Mumbai Hockey Association (MHA) on August 12 will see Olympians Gurbax Singh Grewal and Joaquim Carvalho contesting for top posts to regain their positions in the city hockey officialdom.

"Gurbax Singh (1968 Olympian) has filed his nomination for the president's post, against Manga Singh Bakshi (the incumbent), while Joaquim (1984 Olympian) will contest against me for the honorary secretary's post," MHA secretary Ram Singh Rathor told PTI.

Among the contestants for the one of the two vice president's posts is another Olympian and Carvalho's ertswhile teammate, Merwyn Fernandis, who was part of the 1980 gold medal winning Indian team at the Moscow Games.

Other internationals like Gavin Ferreira, also an Olympian, Raja Bagade and Ramesh Pillay are also contesting the elections from the players' side.

The last date for withdrawals is August 8, Rathor informed.

The players are fighting on the plank that hockey development has taken a back step at the MHA under the ruling group.

But Rathor asked how some of the the players' group members, who had initiated steps to put a spanner in the extension of the ground's lease by the Maharashtra government, can now talk of developing hockey.

"How can the same set of people, who had gone to the authorities to end the ground's lease, develop hockey without the ground," Rathor wondered.

The Times of India



Secrecy surrounds identity of red-carded Canterbury hockey player


Canterbury Hockey chief executive Rod Templeton says red-carded players are "entitled to privacy". John Kirk-Anderson

Canterbury Hockey are refusing to reveal the identity of a representative player red-carded in a practice match.

It is understood the player was a member of the Canterbury Cavaliers national league squad, who was sent off by the match umpires after an altercation with a member of the Canterbury Beavers B team at Marist Park on Sunday night.

Canterbury Hockey chief executive Rod Templeton said the player had received an automatic one-week suspension and the incident was being investigated further.

He described it as "on-the-ball incident" that "reflected the very competitive spirit between the two teams".

"I can categorically say that the umpire's report had no indication of any wild behaviour. It was an incident that happens in games and has been dealt with by the umpires."

Templeton said the fracas was nothing like the case in 2013 when a Canterbury club goalkeeper flung punches at team-mates and opponents before being tackled to the ground by his brother.

He declined to name the player dismissed on Sunday, saying he was entitled to "natural justice" until the judicial process was completed.

He would also not confirm which team the offender was playing for.

A letter outlining the judicial process was sent to the player today.

Appropriate action would be taken under Canterbury Hockey's code of conduct, Templeton said. Incidents are graded from level one to level four, with level one being at the minor end of the spectrum and Level Four for more serious incidents.
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Templeton said Sunday's incident appeared to be in "the level one to two" range.

While a red-carded player is automatically banned from club and representative hockey for a week, Canterbury Hockey can impose further sanctions, if merited. It can also decide that the red card, and subsequent one-week ban, was sufficient punishment.

Templeton said players could challenge the awarding of the red card and were "entitled to privacy" until the judicial process was completed.

Suspended players' names were published in circulars to clubs and other affiliates.

Templeton said Canterbury Hockey had only had two red card offences this season. "That's a pretty good measure of where we are, in terms of compliance with our code [of conduct]."

The other red card resulted in a female division one player banned for a week for verbal abuse of an umpire.

Stuff



How 19-year-old hockey player Suraj Karkera is making a mark on the international stage

Mumbai's 19-year-old caught the eye in India junior's recent outing in Holland with his goalkeeping skills

Rutvick Mehta


Suraj Karkera at the Mumbai Hockey Association Stadium on Monday. Salman Ansari, dna

In recent times, the honour of representing Mumbai in international hockey rested purely on the shoulders of the Walmiki brothers, Yuvraj and Devinder. Now, there's another young lad who's making a mark at the international stage, albeit in the junior category.

Meet 19-year-old Suraj Karkera, who was part of the Indian junior team in the recent six-nation Volvo International Tournament in The Netherlands. It was the first time the young goalkeeper broke into the national team, and despite making some good saves in the six matches that he played, he had an honest admission.

"I cost India the bronze medal," Karkera said, sitting on the stands of the Mumbai Hockey Association ground on Monday and reflecting on India's 0-3 loss to England in the third place play-off. "I played well against The Netherlands and Belgium, but let it slip against England," he added.

It is this honesty that stands out about Karkera, who is a prime example of a boy making his way up from the grassroots. Picking up a hockey stick during Class 4 in the Children's Academy (Malad), Karkera went on to play for Rizvi College. He was selected in the Mumbai team for the junior nationals in 2014 and then the senior nationals this year. The India call came last month on the basis of his good show in the nationals.

Incidentally, though, hockey and goalkeeping came by chance to this five-foot-nine-inch boy. "I used to play football as a kid. My school team didn't have a hockey goalkeeper. I got attracted to those goalkeeping pads and told the coach I'll do it. I played hockey just for fun in school. It was only after I entered college that I became a little serious," he said.

A product of renowned coach Mezbaan Patel, Karkera received training from the likes of Conroy Remedios and Edgar Mascarenhas during his college days. His life-altering moment came in 2013, when he was dropped for the junior nationals in Haryana.

"After that, I told myself that I had to become professional. I became serious about hockey after that. I worked on my technique and started enjoying the sport," he said.

Karkera has watched numerous videos of his favourite sportsman, Cristiano Ronaldo, and how the Portuguese football star focussed on various aspects like training and diet. "I am a huge fan of Ronaldo. I have more than 2,000 pictures and 50 videos of him," Karkera, who calls himself a "fitness freak" and loves to hit the gym, said.

The national call-up last month left Karkera both happy and nervous.

"I had only seen that kind of level, not played in. I was really nervous about my performance. Maybe that showed in the match against England," Karkera said.

The Walmiki brothers' ritual of talking to younger players after coming back from each of their tours has left an impression on Karkera.

"Every time they came back from a tour or a camp, they used to talk to us about all different aspects of the game. I would like to do the same," he said.

Karkera also met senior goalkeeper PR Sreejesh during this year's Hockey India League in Mumbai.

"I didn't interact with him much. But I went up to him while he was here for the shooting of HIL. He told me how to approach the game, the preparation and the mindset required to be a good goalkeeper," he said.
However, it is another Mumbaikar who Karkera idolises as far as goalkeeping is concerned.

"I look up to Adrian D'Souza. My teammates here refer to me by his name only. They call me Addu," he said.

Like every junior player, Karkera is hoping to represent India at the senior level too. "It will take time. A player needs to be part of the camp for at least 10 years, only then can you have a chance. I have a long way to go," he said.

That honesty again.

DNA



Community Mourns Loss of Beloved High School Coach

POCOMOKE, Md.- A community is mourning the loss of a longtime high school coach who passed away Sunday.

Pocomoke High School field hockey head coach Susan Pusey passed away at the age of 56 from a blood clot. According to family, Pusey had knee surgery on Friday.

Pusey was named the varsity head coach of the Pocomoke field hockey program in the fall of 1991. In her 22 seasons with the Warriors, Pusey won 16 state championships, which is the second most in Maryland public school history.

Dr. Jerry Wilson, Superintendent of Worcester County Schools, said, “Learning about Ms. Pusey's sudden passing has been devastating and shocking. It is painful when we experience a loss in our school family. Our focus will be to help our students and staff cope with this loss, assisting the family in any way we are able, and remembering Susan as a coach and educator well loved for her dedication to the students at Pocomoke High School and the Worcester County community.”

Pocomoke High School Principal, Annette Wallace, said, "Today we lost a gem in our Triple Crown Byrd family coaching dynasty, Susan Byrd Pusey and her passing has left us devastated.  The magnitude of the impact Mrs. Pusey had on our school community and the greater field hockey community across the state and nation are immeasurable.  Mrs. Pusey’s reach and spirit is difficult to capture with words – she was a magical combination of smarts, spunk, and tenacity – that when mixed together brought out the very best in every student and athlete.  Susan brought an energy and passion to the students and athletes at Pocomoke every day. Today we mourn and we will continue to shed tears of remembrance and sorrow because we lost Mrs. Pusey far too many seasons too soon. But we will march on together; we will overcome this adversity and be stronger because that is what Coach Pusey would want us to do. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family as they come to grips with this unspeakable loss.  Susan was a very special lady and her legacy will be forever heralded in the halls and athletic fields at Pocomoke High School, as well as, the hearts of all those she coached, taught, and worked with.  Mrs. Pusey fiercely loved her family and her hockey girls and because we know it is what she would want us to do, we promise to stay #PuseyStrong.”

Pusey was a giant in the sport of field hockey; not just on the Eastern Shore, but across the state and on Delmarva.

Courtesy of WBOC 16 Delmarva's News Leader

USFHA media release

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