News for 08 October 2017
All the news for Sunday 8 October 2017
Indoor USWNT Edges Australia in Game Five Shootout
SPRING CITY, Pa. The U.S. Women's National Indoor Team and Australia's Women's National Indoor Development Team went toe-to-toe once again in the fifth game of a six-game series at The Training Center in Spring City, Pa. Unlike previous matchups in this series, Saturday night's game needed a shootout to decide the victor after a 4-4 tie at the end of regulation, where USA ran out a 2-0 victory.
Both teams traded goals throughout a fast and exciting game before Mary Beth Barham (Fairfax, Va.) and Hannah Prince (Gorham, Maine) ultimately scored for USA in the shootout.
“We tried a couple of different things today and I was pleased with how the players adjusted,” said Jun Kentwell, Indoor USWNT Head Coach. “We were not seeing the passing lanes as well as we have been, we need to pre-scan earlier so we can find the seams.”
USA took the lead four times only to see Australia pull the goal back each time. It was Sammy Popper (Blue Bell, Pa.) who opened the scoring in the 2nd minute with a strong reverse flick. With both defenses denying shots, the partisan crowd had to wait until midway through the half for the next clear cut opportunity which fell to Australia who scored through Isabelle Peskett, catching the USA defense stretched thin. USA reclaimed the lead just before half time when Katherine Gerzabek (Springfield, Pa.) found the net off the team's first penalty corner.
Both squads started to create more scoring opportunities in the second half. Australia kept the pressure on while keeping USA at bay on defense. In the 25th minute Kizziah Plumb tied the game for Australia with a well taken goal, only to see Barham restore the USA lead moments after a crisp pass from Anarose McDonough (Kenneth Square, Pa.). Australia responded with a goal by Nicole King on a penalty stroke. USA countered in the 35th minute with another tally by Popper putting the red, white and blue back on top, 4-3 on a penalty corner. Just a minute later, Australia's Amelia Leard pocketed her shot to tie the game 4-4.
In the shootout, USA scored from their first two attempts from Barham and Prince, while goalkeeper Samantha Carlino (Kennett Square, Pa.) denied attempts by Zoe Parlamentas and Leard, giving USA the 2-0 win.
The U.S. Women's National Indoor Team concludes the six-game series with the Australia Women's National Indoor Development Team on Sunday, October 8, at 8:30 a.m. ET before setting their sights on the Pan American Indoor Cup.
Goal Scoring Summary:
Team Minute Player Action Score
USA 2 #10 Popper FG 1 - 0
AUS 12 #10 Peskett FG 1 - 1
USA 18 #4 Gerzabek PC 2 - 1
AUS 25 #3 Plumb FG 2 - 2
USA 27 #3 Barham FG 3 - 2
AUS 31 #8 King PS 3 - 3
USA 35 #10 Popper PC 4 - 3
AUS 36 #4 Leard FG 4 - 4
Shootout:
Team Player Result Score
USA Barham Goal 1 - 0 USA
AUS Parlamentas Save 1 - 0 USA
USA Prince Goal 2 - 0 USA
AUS Leard Save 2 - 0 USA
USFHA media release
Wimbledon put Arminen to the sword in Pool A
©: Frank Uijlenbroek / World Sport Pics
Pool A: Wimbeldon - SV Arminen
Wimbledon ran up a 9-0 win over SV Arminen to ensure Bloemendaal must get a result on Sunday to secure their passage to the KO16 from Pool C of the EHL.
Wimbledon built a 3-0 lead by half-time in an impressive opening half against a competitive Austrian opponent. Ali Brogdon smashed the ball onto the post early on before captain Johnny Kinder broke the deadlock in the 13th minute when he swept a powerful shot in from the right of the circle.
They got their next score in the 29th minute when a penalty corner was worked to the right of the circle and the shot drew a foot on the line. Iain Lewers flicked it high into the net for 3-0.
Arminen did win corners in each half but the English club’s defence stayed solid and they moved further clear just before the end of the third quarter when the ball broke to Ed Horler who thrashed in the loose ball.
Phil Ball got their third field goal when he touched in a swift attack through the left channel of the circle to make it 7-0. Ali Brogdon added another with four minutes to go from an excellent advantage by the umpire.
Euro Hockey League media release
Electric Elektrostal run up big win over Cardiff to keep KO16 hopes alive
©: Frank Uijlenbroek / World Sport Pics
Pool B: Dinamo Elektrostal – Cardiff & Met
Dinamo Elektrostal set up a Pool B showdown with Uhlenhorst Mulheim as they proved too lively for Cardiff & Met, winning out 11-2.
The Russian runners-up got off to a flying start with three good chances before Georgii Arusiia dragged into the top corner for 1-0 in the eighth minute.
Nikita Dvoretskii smashed in a rebound four minutes later after Andrey Kuraev has hit the post. An excellent counter-attack made it 5-0 when Daniil Karagodiin finished off from Dmitry Kuraev’s final pass.
Marat Khairullin snatched a third field goal in the 34th minute and two field goals in a minute late in the game from Andrey Kuraev put the total into double-figures, making it 11-0.
Cardiff got their first goal of the weekend with moments to go from Jack Pritchard, a potentially important for Elektrostal. It means they must win rather than draw against Mulheim on Sunday if they are to advance.
Elektrostal coach Igor Shishkov was delighted with his side's performance: “I am happy with the play, the result and a couple of excellent goals with some very quick combinations. The team did the basic tactics well because we knew the Welsh would be a little bit tired after their first game against Uhlenhorst. We wanted to play long passes for fast moments of counter-attack and we scored a few of them!”
As for getting a result against Uhlenhorst? “Why not? It will depend a lot on the first quarter and it will provide the motivation for the next three quarters.”
Euro Hockey League media release
Grunwald put the pressure on Racing with big win over Banbridge
©: Frank Uijlenbroek / World Sport Pics
Pool C: Banbridge – WKS Grunwald Poznan
WKS Grunwald Poznan put the pressure on Royal Racing Club de Bruxelles to go out on Sunday to get a result as the Polish champions ran up a 6-0 win over Irish side Banbridge.
Bann were the stars of a year ago but, with four top players from last season no longer around, they were undone by a Grunwald side who showed much greater know-how.
In the early stages, the two sides had corner chances but neither converted in a tight, physical battle. Bann went the closest to scoring 22 minutes in when Matthew Allister had a chance but a light flick of a foot bounced the ball just out of his reach.
Within a minute, Grunwald had the lead as they won another corner which Pawel Bratkowski dragged into the right corner for the only score of the first half, 1-0.
But they cut loose in the second half when Dominik Kotulski controlled a long overhead pass and dropped the ball back for Michal Poltaszewski, arriving late, and he cracked home a rising shot for 3-0.
Banbridge had plenty of chances to get themselves back into the game but Mateusz Popiolowski made some great saves from Fraser Mills, Neil Gilmore and Owen Magee to keep the gap in place.
And they grasped the killer goal with four minutes left via Kotulski, finishing off another excellent counter-attack move. Bratkowski closed out the success with a second penalty corner, moving them ahead of Racing Club de Bruxelles on goal difference. It means the Belgians must get a draw at least to advance to the KO16.
For Kotulski, it was his first time playing in a winning EHL side having moved from Royal Wellington to Grunwald this season.
“It’s a pretty good feeling; I think we played a really good game. Until the last moments of the game, we did have big problems but we counter-attacked well and won which is the most important thing.
“I returned to Poland to study and to play hockey and I choose, obviously, the best team so I am really enjoying it. A few of these guys were at the Olympic Games so they are passing that experience on to me and I am learning a lot.”
Euro Hockey League media release
Hugo Genestet’s single strike gives Saint Ger shot at Egara
©: Frank Uijlenbroek / World Sport Pics
Pool D: Saint Germain – Bromac Kelburne
Hugo Genestet’s second-minute corner goal saw Saint Germain take the points with a narrow and dramatic 1-0 win over Bromac Kelburne, setting up an exciting Sunday evening date with Club Egara for a KO16 ticket.
Genestet’s corner goal gave the French club the lead, giving them the perfect start to the tie. For the remainder of the first half, they looked the more likely to add to their total but brace defending from Josh Cairns and a double save from Michael Kerr ensured that the minimum remained between the clubs at the big break.
Kerr was lucky to stop the ball under his feet from Joris Harou’s backhand shot soon after the break, getting on the end of Francois Goyet’s ball in while another corner slipped just by the post. William-Ike Jeammot clattered the post from a set-piece as Saint Germain did everything but score.
It left the game in the balance into the closing stages when Kelburne swapped out their goalkeeper for an extra player, winning a corner. The Saint Ger defence blocked it however and almost had a counter-chance to move further clear but the pass was too heavy.
Stijn Gabriel then did everything but score, allowing Iain Scholefield the chance to make an awesome goal line save but the single goal was enough for the win.
It means that the French side must beat Club Egara when they meet on Sunday evening in the last game of EHL ROUND1 in Barcelona.
Goalscorer Hugo Genestet hoped his side could have made things easier on themselves but was content with the win.
“We had to score more goals but we were not good enough in the D and their goalkeeper had a great game. We now have to win tomorrow,” he said. “Against Egara, it’s always close and we hope we can do it to get to that KO16!”
Euro Hockey League media release
“Double Goal” augments Bann’s frustrations in Barcelona
Philip Brown and Mateusz Hulboj tangle. Pic: Frank Uijlenbroek/EHL/World Sport Pics
The “double-goal” introduced for the Euro Hockey League added a harsher look to an already inflated scoreline as they fell 6-0 to Poland’s WKS Grunwald Poznan in their opening game in Barcelona.
It was a tie in which Bann probably created more than double the clear-cut opportunities but were caught cold from a couple of counter-attacks with three added to the scoreline in the closing four minutes.
The result means Mark Tumilty’s side are out of the KO16 running barring a five-goal win over Royal Racing Club de Bruxelles on Sunday, a highly unlikely prospect given their 6-2 win over Poznan on Friday.
In the early stages, the two sides had corner chances but neither converted in a tight, physical battle with Gareth Lennox brilliantly saving one while Philip Brown pushed his corner wide. He was flicking in the absence of the injured Eugene Magee along with Johnny McKee, blunting their forward line.
Bann went the closest to scoring 22 minutes in when Matthew Allister had a chance but a light flick of a foot bounced the ball just out of his reach. The follow-up corner also went awry.
Within a minute, Grunwald had the lead as they won another corner which Pawel Bratkowski dragged in to the right corner for the only score of the first half from a borderline corner decision, 1-0. Soon after, Bruce McCandless was shown yellow as Bann felt the decisions were going against them at each turn.
Bann handled that absence well enough but Grunwald tripled their total early in the second half. Dominik Kotulski controlled a long overhead pass and dropped the ball back for Michal Poltaszewski, arriving late, and he cracked home a rising shot for 3-0 due to field goals counting double.
During that phase, Bann had more than enough openings to reel in the gap as the Poles sat deep and attempted to launch aerial bombs to relieve pressure. Neil Gilmore had a reverse tipped out of his swing while Allister missed another close range chance.
Owen Magee fired two reverses at goal with the latter stinging the palms of the goalkeeper as did Gilmore with a powerful shot.
And then came the sucker-punch with four minutes left via Kotulski, finishing off another counter-attack move. Out on their feet, Bratkowski closed out the success with a second penalty corner, moving them ahead of Racing Club de Bruxelles on goal difference. Bann play Racing on Sunday at 11:45 CET
Euro Hockey League Pool D:
Banbridge 0
WKS Grunwald Poznan 6 (P Bratkowski 2PC, D Kotulski FG, M Poltaszewski FG)
The Hook
AHL Second Round Saturday Wrap
Ben Somerford
Trent Mitton in action for WA Thundersticks
Western Australia clinched fifth spot in both men’s and women’s editions of the Australian Hockey League on Saturday as the classification matches were completed.
The WA Thundersticks knocked off Tasmania 2-1 after a 20th minute Trent Mitton goal and Liam Flynn’s hit from a penalty corner after 32 minutes.
The Tigers ensured there was a tense conclusion to the match with top scorer Kieron Arthur (44’) scoring from a penalty corner.
The WA Diamonds eased past SA Suns 4-1 in the late game, with Kathryn Slattery scoring a double.
Slattery opened the scoring after seven minutes, with Penny Squibb doubling their advantage from a 22nd minute penalty corner.
Katy Clarke (34’) and Slattery (55’) added further goals, before SA got a consolation through Amy Hunt (60’).
Elsewhere in the men's tournament, NT Stingers finished their week in sixth with a 2-1 win over SA Hotshots, while New Zealand beat the Canberra Lakers 4-2 to claim their first victory of the AHL.
In the women's tournament, the Canberra Strikers claimed sixth spot after Jessica Smith's double in a 2-0 win over India, while NT Pearls came from behind to edge Tasmania 2-1.
Hockey Australia media release
AHL 2017: India A Women finish ninth
India A women's team completed their AHL campaign with a 0-2 loss to Australian Capital Territory in Pool D to finish at an overall 9th position.
India got off to a good start in the first quarter earning two penalty corners. However, the visitors were unable to convert either which saw Australian Capital Territory gain control of the match to end the first quarter goalless.
In the second quarter, Australians took the lead with a goal by Jessica Smith in the 18th minute.
Both the teams earned two penalty corners each, but neither could convert. Australian Capital Territory took control of the game in the latter half of the third quarter but their efforts on goal were saved by the Indian defence.
In the fourth quarter, India's penalty corner was saved by ACT’s Goalkeeper Renee Hunter. The Australians then made the most of their attacking flair as Jessica Smith scored her second of the game in the 53rd minute to make it 2-0.
India tried to retaliate in the dying stages of the game, but they could not produce any shots on target against a resolute Australian Capital Territory defence who defeated India by 2-0.
Stick2Hockey.com
In-form East Grinstead overcome Bowdon Hightown
Hannah Cozens and Beth Bingham in the game between Buckingham and Holcombe. Credit: Andy Smith.
Second half goals from Alexandra Malzer and Laura Unsworth helped East Grinstead to a 2-0 victory at Bowdon Hightown in the Investec Women’s Hockey League Premier Division on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts were unbeaten in their first two games with the visitors yet to score a single goal, and that pattern continued as the two sides were deadlocked at the break.
It was Malzer who opened the scoring six minutes after the restart before Unsworth opened her account for the season, converting a penalty corner to wrap up the points and kick-start East Grinstead’s campaign.
It was a low scoring day with defences on top in the Premier Division with just two goals in the other three games.
Holcombe remain unbeaten but had to settle for a nil-nil draw at newly-promoted Buckingham.
That is the second time Holcombe have failed to score this season after their opening day stalemate at East Grinstead.
Surbiton continue to lead the way after a 1-0 home victory against Leicester.
The only goal of the game was scored by Jo Hunter four minutes after the break, the defending champions staying top on goals scored.
Slough’s unbeaten start to the season is now at three games after they won by the same score at home to Canterbury.
Lizzy Totten scored her second of the season, converting a penalty corner 11 minutes from time to stay level at the top of the table with Surbiton on seven points.
Investec Conference North
There are three teams with perfect records sharing top spot in the Investec Women’s Conference North but Beeston are top on goal difference after a 3-2 defeat of the University of Durham. Rosy Stephens, Esme Burge and Nina Apoola were all on target.
Sutton Coldfield also made it three wins from three with a comfortable 5-0 win against Wakefield, Jane Sixsmith leading the scoring with a brace.
Brooklands Poynton are the other side with a 100 per cent record, they had to come from behind to beat Loughborough Students 3-2 with Jen Park scoring twice.
Kelly Baxter hit a double as Ben Rhydding beat Liverpool Sefton 3-0 and Fylde were 4-1 winners against Timperley with Sophia Crawshay’s double making it five goals in three games for her.
Investec Conference East
Hampstead and Westminster top the Investec Women’s Conference East on goal difference after three games after a 9-0 win against Chelmsford. Amy Askew and Joyce Esser both bagged a brace.
Sevenoaks took their third win with a 2-0 defeat of Barnes – Cathy Gilliat-Smith and Florencia Zappulla were on target.
Southgate claimed their first victory of the season in style, overcoming previously unbeaten Bedford 4-1 with Caitlin Wales scoring in each half.
Cambridge City occupy third place after a 3-0 win against Harleston Magpies and Wimbledon were also celebrating with a 2-0 win against St Albans away from home.
Investec Conference West
Stourport are top of the Investec Women’s Hockey Conference West on goal difference after a 6-0 defeat of early strugglers Cannock. A double for Lora Symonds took her tally to six for the season.
Trojans are level on points with Stourport after making it three wins in three against Isca, Jill Tombs and Philippa Stewart grabbing their goals in the second half.
Reading were held to a 1-1 draw at Swansea City and the game between Team Bath Buccaneers and Olton and West Warwickshire was also a 1-1 draw.
Gloucester City trailed Oxford Hawks after just nine minutes but goals from Sarah Jennings and Charlotte McShane saw them triumph 2-1.
* Full results, tables and fixtures from the Investec Women’s Hockey League is available here - http://www.englandhockey.co.uk/page_noside.asp?section=2342§ionTitle=Fixtures%2C+Results+%26+Standings
England Hockey Board Media release
Titans hit Multimedia in varsity derby
By BRIAN YONGA
Kenyatta University's Alffine Mwiruri (left) challenges Linda Nelima of Multimedia University for the ball during their Kenya Hockey Union Premier League match at City Park Stadium on October 7, 2017. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Kenyatta University (KU) Titans on Saturday secured a 2-0 win over Multimedia University (MMU) in a Kenya Hockey Union women’s Premier League match at the City Park Stadium.
Goals from Affline Muiruri and Pet Osuma gave the Titans the three points and bragging rights in the university derby.
The win sees the Thika Road-based side improve to 17 points, but they remain in eighth place. Sliders, who play Mombasa Sports Club on Sunday, are in seventh place with the same number of points but a superior goal difference.
MMU are second from bottom after their 12th loss of the season having only won once this term. They are on three points, two ahead of bottom placed University of Nairobi.
Titans coach Moses Kagochi was pleased with the result and challenged his charges to keep up with the winning momentum.
“Two wins on the trot is a good show from the team and we want to keep this streak going so as to finish as high as possible at the end of the season,” Kagochi told Nation Sport.
“We dominated them and cut out supply to their forwards and this allowed us to dictate the pace of the match. We should have even won by a bigger margin.”
Titans, who won the reverse fixture 2-0, took time to settle before they eventually got going. After a dull first quarter, in which both sides offered little in terms of attack, Titans started to create chances as MMU dropped deep.
The first goal arrived on 20 minutes after a well worked move freed Titans winger Nelly Ogutu down the right and the attacker, squared to Muiruri who sounded the board with a first time shot that MMU keeper Maureen Otieno could do nothing to keep out.
One minute to the end of the quarter, Titans doubled the lead as skipper Olympia Chepchumba combined well with Brenda Omaido before slipping a through ball to Osuma, who rounded the on-rushing Otieno and fired to an empty post.
MMU threatened with a couple of short corners in the last two quarters but could not find a way back into the match and Titans held on to complete a comfortable win.
“We did not create much and they scored with two chances which were as a result of defensive lapses on our part,” MMU coach Vincent Adhiambo said.
In the second tier men’s league, goals from Elijah Magiya and Paul Bakasa gave Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) a 2-0 win over UoN, while Daystar University’s losing streak continued after they lost 4-1 to Thika Rovers.
Daily Nation
Pakistan off to Dhaka for hockey Asia Cup
KARACHI: Three-time world champions Pakistan hockey team will fly to Dhaka on Sunday morning to compete in the Asia Cup for men’s which runs from Oct 11 to 22.
Pakistan takes on host Bangladesh in the first match on the opening day before they face Japan on Oct 13 while their high-octane clash against arch-rivals India is slated for Oct 15.
The selection committee led by former Olympian Hasan Sardar, has given another chance to six players on the pretext that they performed well in the World Hockey League.
They include Rashid Mahmood, Rizwan Sr, Mubashir Ali, Waqas Akbar, M. Atiq and Irfan Sr.
Team: Mohammad Irfan Sr (captain), Rizwan Sr (vice captain), Mazhar Abbas, Amjad Ali, Atif Mushtaq, Mubashir Ali, Ammad Shakil Butt, Abu Bakar, Tassawur Abbas, Rashid Mahmood, Rizwan Jr, Arsalan Qadir, Azfar Yaqoob, Umer Bhutta, Ali Shan, M. Atiq, Waqas Akbar and Aijaz Ahmed.
Officials: Farhat Khan (manager-cum-chief coach), Malik Shafqat, M. Sarwar (coaches), Dr Atif Bashir (physio) and Abuzar (video analyst).
Pools:
A: Pakistan, India, Japan, Bangladesh
B: Malaysia, South Korea, China, Oman.
Schedule:
Oct 11: India v Japan, Pakistan v Bangladesh
Oct 12: Malaysia v China, South Korea v Oman
Oct 13: Japan v Pakistan, India v Bangladesh
Oct 14: China v Oman, South Korea v Malaysia
Oct 15: Japan v Bangladesh, Pakistan v India
Oct 16: Malaysia v Oman, China v South Korea
Oct 17: Rest Day
Oct 18: Classification matches
Oct 19: Classification matches
Oct 20: Classification matches
Oct 21: Classification matches
Oct 22: Play off for 3rd-4th position, final.
Dawn
Syracuse surges past No. 2 Duke with late goal in key ACC matchup
Syracuse Athletics
Laura Hurff scored the game-winning goal in the 64th minute to lift the Orange past Duke. Syracuse Athletics
Laura Hurff scored a goal in the final 10 minutes to break a 1-1 tie and Borg van der Velde made a penalty stroke save with three minutes to go to deliver the No. 9 Syracuse field hockey team (10-3, 2-3 ACC) a huge conference win over No. 2 Duke (9-2, 2-2 ACC) Saturday afternoon.
Duke managed to get on the board just 6:05 into the action, when Rose Tynan finished a rebound for the Blue Devils to give them a 1-0 lead.
However, the Orange rallied 12 minutes later when Jennifer Bleakney slammed home a rebound of her own in the 19th minute to send the game to halftime knotted at one.
The back-and-forth play continued with neither team managing to strike until Hurff netted the game-winner in the 64th minute. She redirected a shot from Lagerweij to put Syracuse ahead for good.
The Blue Devils did not go away quietly though, as five minutes later Duke was awarded a stroke with a chance to tie. However, Van der Velde sprawled to her right and deflected the opportunity away to seal the win.
Syracuse outshot Duke 13-9 in the win. The Orange also garnered five corners compared to just one from Duke.
Syracuse will next take on No. 3 Virginia at home on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET in a game that will be broadcasted on ACC Network Extra.
NCAA
Philip Duke RIP
It is with great sadness and shock we share the news of the unexpected passing of one of Irish hockey's great ambassadors.
Philip Duke, or Dukie as he was known by all, passed away suddenly on Friday morning at his home in Belfast aged 56.
Dukie leaves behind him a small legacy at his home club of Collegians / Belfast Harlequins where he devoted so much of his time firstly as a player then in supporting the development of juniors, managing teams and the club, umpiring and supporting on the side lines for both the men's and the women's side of the club.
He was one of the last true volunteers who gave up all of his time to serve and support the sport, umpiring on weekends when needed, acting as a match official during games, helping in the organisation and running of World League 2 in Belfast and most recently as manager for the Irish U21 men's program in Valencia.
Dukie was a man who was infectious in his nature. For just one man he influenced so many people in the hockey community in a positive way. His smile, his humour and his nature will be sadly missed in our sport all over the country.
A number of games yesterday marked his passing with a minutes silence and players wearing black arm bands and more will follow today in this mark of respect.
Details of his funeral will follow in the next day or two.
Irish Hockey Association media release