Welcome to the Fieldhockey.com Archives

Daily Hockey news updated @ 10:00 GMT

News for 19 September 2018

All the news for Wednesday 19 September 2018


Hockey Series Open - Santiago 2018 (Men) - Day 1
Santiago (CHI)

Results 18 September

BRA v BOL (RR)     22 - 0
VEN v URU (RR)     2 - 0
CHI v PER (RR)     7 - 0

Pool Standings

Rank Team Played Wins Draws Losses Goals For Goals Against Goal Difference Points
1 Brazil 1 1 0 0 22 0 22 3
2 Chile 1 1 0 0 7 0 7 3
3 Venezuela 1 1 0 0 2 0 2 3
4 Uruguay 1 0 0 1 0 2 -2 0
5 Peru 1 0 0 1 0 7 -7 0
6 Bolivia 1 0 0 1 0 22 -22 0

Hockey Series Open - Santiago 2018 (Women) - Day 1

Results 18 September

BRA v PER (RR)     2 - 0
URU v PAR (RR)     7 - 1
CHI v BOL (RR)     19 - 0

Pool standings

Rank Team Played Wins Draws Losses Goals For Goals Against Goal Difference Points
1 Chile 1 1 0 0 19 0 19 3
2 Uruguay 1 1 0 0 7 1 6 3
3 Brazil 1 1 0 0 2 0 2 3
4 Peru 1 0 0 1 0 2 -2 0
5 Paraguay 1 0 0 1 1 7 -6 0
6 Bolivia 1 0 0 1 0 19 -19 0

FIH Match Centre



Chile unstoppable at the opening of the Hockey Series

2018 Hockey Series Open in Santiago

Macarena Ilabaca, PAHF


Chile v Bolivia

A comfortable start at the Prince of Wales for the local team of “Las Diablas”, representatives of Chile’s against Bolivia, where - besides dominating the whole game - they scored 19 times at Day 1 of Hockey Series Open.

Despite the cold and rain that fell with some intensity in the last quarter of the game, the national squad had support of tons of hockey fans who celebrated and encouraged each of their plays.

The ones directed by Sergio 'Cachito' Vigil, have the self-imposed challenge to obtain the first place in this phase of the Hockey Series, having as their mayor rival Uruguay, that in their last game they took over Chile at the semifinals in Cochabamba.

Carolina García (x5), María Jesús Maldonado (x3), Josefa Villalabeitía (x2), Josefa Salas (x2), Paula Valdivia (x2), Camila Caram (x2), Denise Krimerman (x2) and Fernanda Villagrán scored for “Las Diablas”.

Freezing start for Brazil

The rain during the morning in Santiago brought freezing temperatures. Brazil and Peru played the second game of the day at the Prince of Wales Country Club court located in “La Reina” neighborhood.

Eveline Beljon  opened the score at 25th minute after capitalizing a penalty corner. Jacqueline Peyloubet (# 12) sealed the result of the match. Final Result 2-0.

The Cimarronas with a great debut

A game absolutely dominated by the Charrúas gave Uruguay their first victory. The cimarronas are looking forward to continue celebrating as they did in the South American games of Cochabamba.

The ones directed by Nicolás Tixie, took over the Paraguay 7-1.

The 7 goals of Uruguay were scored by Kaisuami Dall'Orso (# 4), Anastasia Olave (# 3), two goals from Milagros Algorta (# 9), Manuela Vilar (# 3), Josefina Esposto (# 5) and Constanza Barrandeguy (# 7) . Paraguay only managed to score 1 goal at the minute 53 thanks to a great field goal by Andrea Cardozo.

Next Games - Wednesday : Uruguay will face Peru at 08:00 am, Bolivia will face Brazil and at noon the locals will face Paraguay.

Pan American Hockey Federation media release



2018 Darwin International Hockey Open (M) - Day 1
Darwin (AUS)

Results 18 September

ARG v JPN (RR)     2 - 1
AUS v MAS (RR)     5 - 2

Pool Standings

Rank Team Played Wins Draws Losses Goals For Goals Against Goal Difference Points
1 Australia 1 1 0 0 5 2 3 3
2 Argentina 1 1 0 0 2 1 1 3
3 Japan 1 0 0 1 1 2 -1 0
4 Malaysia 1 0 0 1 2 5 -3 0

FIH Match Centre



Rookie Pair Score As Kookaburras Begin DIHO With Big Win

Ben Somerford



Second-gamers Jacob Anderson and Jack Welch both hit the scoresheet as Australia knocked off Malaysia 5-2 in their first match at the Darwin International Hockey Open (DIHO) on Tuesday night.

The Kookaburras raced to a two-goal first-quarter lead thanks to goals from Dylan Wotherspoon and Tom Craig on a humid night at the Marrara Hockey Centre.

Haziq Samsul pulled one back for Malaysia before the long interval, but Australia responded emphatically after half-time.

Mackay product Anderson swept home in the 32nd minute from Matt Swann’s cutback and Tasmanian forward Welch added the fourth two minutes later in similar fashion.

The pair both debuted in Sunday’s 1-0 win over Argentina in a DIHO warm-up match.

Malaysia pulled back a late consolation from a penalty corner play when Firhan Ashari lashed in a rebound, before Tim Brand fired home a fifth goal with 30 seconds to play.

On Wednesday night, Australia plays world number two Argentina, who defeated Japan 2-1 on Tuesday afternoon.

Kookaburras co-captain Aran Zalewski said: “It’s great to start with a win. Argentina will be tough tomorrow so we’ll need to improve.”

Brand almost set up the opener in the seventh minute when his cutback eluded Daniel Beale and Wotherspoon.

A minute later, Wotherspoon scored, breaking free on a fast break with his effort deflected in for the opener.

Craig added the second in the 11th minute, also getting on the end of a swift move.

Malaysia replied after quarter-time with Samsul popping up at the second post to make it 2-1.

Josh Beltz was yellow carded shortly before half-time but Australia maintained their advantage.

The Kookaburras fired out of the blocks after the main break, with Anderson finishing off a good move initiated by fellow Queenslanders Daniel Beale and Swann.

In the 34th minute, Australia had another goal when Welch calmly volleyed home from close range.

Jeremy Hayward tested Malaysia goalkeeper Hairi Rahman with a trademark drag flick before three quarter-time.

Malaysia kept Kookaburras goalkeeper Tyler Lovell honest when Samsul fired powerfully on the turn in the last, before Ashari scored in the 54th minute from a penalty corner.

The Kookaburras had the last laugh when Brand fired home a rocket in the 60th minute.

Australia 5 (Wotherspoon 8’, Craig 11’, Anderson 32’, Welch 34’, Brand 60’)
Malaysia 2 (Samsul 18’, Ashari 54’)

Hockey Australia media release



Silver lining from AHF for Malaysia

By Jugjet Singh


At the Olympic Council of Malaysia Board Meeting today, their president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria welcomed the AHF move. Bernama Photo

KUALA LUMPUR: The Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) have written to the International Hockey Federation (FIH) a strong recommendation letter to include both the Asian Games men's and women's silver medallists for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The men's silver medallists were Malaysia, while India finished second in the women's event. Both the gold medals were won by Japan, who have already qualified as hosts.

AHF CEO Datuk Tayyab Ikram wrote to FIH CEO Thierry Weil on Sept 10 to reconsider the tournament rules which only allow the Asian Games winners to automatically advance to the Olympics.

At the Olympic Council of Malaysia Board Meeting today, their president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria welcomed the AHF move.

Tayyab explained his rationale in the letter to FIH: "While I do understand the FIH criteria, I would want to put forward a request for an important review of the qualification criteria due to the fact that the host of the Olympic Games this time comes from Asia.

"We do feel a need to reconsider the criteria as there are several high-performing teams of Olympic standard with almost no performance gaps, whose inclusion in the Tokyo Olympic Games via the Asian Games would prove to be justifiable and meriting.

"Therefore, we would like the FIH to consider the inclusion of the silver medallists for both men’s and women’s categories of the Asian Games in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, in addition to Japan’s automatic qualification as the host country."

Tayyab also wrote in the letter: "Consequently, if both, Malaysia men and India women teams are considered to secure their slots for Tokyo 2020, this would prove to be a meritocratic step, as these countries represent two of the largest fan-bases for Hockey in Asia.

"This will have favourable implications towards the universality criteria, as well as, a well-deserved advantage to the host continent where the Olympics are being held, without compromising on the performance criteria and the set Olympic standards."

Malaysia were leading 5-2, before allowing Japan to claw back at 6-6, and then lost 3-1 in the shootout. India women were edged 2-1 by Japan.

"I believe the tournament rules are not carved on stone, and so, we will endorse and support the AFH letter to FIH in whatever way we can," said Norza.

New Straits Times



Japan women show ‘Roadrunner’ hockey aggression on path to Tokyo Olympics

By Rod Gilmour


Japan scored huge victory over NZ PIC: England Hockey

Japan coach Anthony Farry is aiming to get full-time status for his squad ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics; a green light for their home Games offering hope that the host nation could make quite the impact in two years’ time.

The world No 14 side have produced a set of standout performances already this year, beating high-profile sides despite being a largely amateur side.

Most of the Cherry Blossoms team work in a variety of roles for some of Japan’s top conglomerates, but Farry is hoping to bring the team together in the months leading up to the Tokyo Games.

“It is up to me to push for centralisation in the lead up to Tokyo so we give us the best possible chance to perform,” he told The Hockey Paper.

“But not only that, to create a legacy for hockey and the importance of having a home Olympics is massive.

“I want to make sure that the on-pitch stuff is looked after the responsibility of building the programme and getting people involved in taking them on the journey.”

Japan enjoyed a breakthrough summer when Farry’s side put themselves in contention to qualify from their World Cup group by beating New Zealand in the pool phase.

Japan then won the Asian Games and came out on top in the recent Four Nations tournament by beating world No 3 Australia in the final.

Farry, who joined from the Canadian men’s team last year, has tried to induct a sense of unity in a non-pressured environment off the pitch, not least with the team’s ability to ‘scare’ each other during their down time.

“It’s about enjoyment off the pitch as well,” said Farry.

“There are a handful of players who work for Coca Cola. Some will be in an office, others filling shop stores and vending machines. Then there’s another group who work for Sony in merchandising, as well as GSK and banks too.

The players, says Farry, are ‘well supported’ by their domestic clubs financially, which allows them to train.

“But leading into the Olympics it will be better for them to work as a group,” Farry added.

Japan stayed to the end of the women’s World Cup to gain more experience on the world stage.

Farry, an Australian, added: “It is important for the girls. They don’t spend much time around international players to watch and see them live, but also to build relationships with the language barrier.”

Farry is based with his family in Nagoya, with training some 40km away. But even with the Olympics two years away, he is remaining grounded.



“There is no excitement yet. There is still two years and we are all growing up. We are all short players, not strong and tough, but we are training more to get the experience and to be a better team.

Their World Cup performance certainly gave the team added impetus for their headlines at the Asian Games. And Farry points to the victory over New Zealand, the Commonwealth champions, as a significant cog in the wheel.

“To beat New Zealand, for us it was a really determined performance defensively.

“It came from them. You give them the environment where they can learn and enjoy themselves and it gets the right outcomes, it doesn’t always happen but games like against New Zealand was one of them.”

Playing the Black Sticks and Hockeyroos was also a contrast in height and style.

Farry said of his side: “They look like they are moving really quickly all the time because their legs are so little and they are going at 100 mph, like Roadrunner, as opposed to the much taller teams like the Dutch and the Australians with the fluent style across the pith.

“But their energy level is really high and they are really excited about running and just being aggressive.”

The Hockey Paper



Maddie Hinch’s international break highlights Hockey Pro League pitfalls

By Rod Gilmour



No one said international hockey was easy.

On the fixtures’ front, just ask Graham Shaw, the Irish women’s coach who had tried to get a match with world No 1 Holland for the last three years prior to last month’s World Cup final.

On the playing front, just ask the world’s top goalkeeper, Maddie Hinch, who announced that she will be putting her international helmet aside and take a break from England and Great Britain duties.

In another era, when players held jobs to supplement their careers on the field and nations played fewer matches, the England No.1’s decision may have put an end to her future international hopes altogether.

But world hockey is certainly becoming a different beast these days.

As the sports’ chiefs increasingly look for ways to entice a wider audience share and, in turn, find ways of earning a bigger slice of potential TV revenue, it is the players who are being asked for extra effort.

She can now look after her own interests. A prolonged stint in Amsterdam, where she is based with her club Stichtsche, will now see her “recharge both physically and mentally”.

Given that Dutch-based Hinch would have been required to return to Bisham Abbey as a centralised player – thus adding to the pressures of a player trying to earn a living and becoming an even better goalkeeper in the process – Hinch’s mindset should be applauded.

One wonders, then, whether the looming FIH Pro League has impacted Hinch’s decision, with players now at the behest of their countries from January to June.

As our columnist Todd Williams wrote around the issue back in April: “Let’s just hope hockey is ready and waiting to listen to our players if we start pushing them too far.”

For Great Britain and their Pro League rivals, players will be racking up serious air miles, playing 16 matches (eight of them away) from January to June.

If Hinch, 30 in October, had kept to international duties her 2019 diary would be bereft of foreseeable social commitments, barring a brief hiatus in January when the team will train ahead of a whistle-strop week in Australasia and one match in China.

The back end of March sees two matches in the US and Argentina before the European Tests kick in from April through to the end of June. Then there’s the small matter of the EuroHockey Championships in August to contend with.

Hockey hasn’t seen the like of it before. An uncluttered, calendar-friendly set of matches for the hockey fan – on the face of it, there is no denying that the Pro League is a great addition for the game – a condensed year for the international player.

“The sport’s elite will be entering new territory on the body and mind”, added Todd in the aforementioned column.

In effect, hockey will be joining a similar path to rugby’s hemisphere Tests, Autumn Test series and Six Nations with the Hockey Pro League’s inauguration. Fans now know where and when the stars will be playing well in advance.

Yet, the Pro League will convene without an international, domestic players’ union or umbrella body of any public note and, in doing so, no players’ voice.

Coupled with this, those players from lesser nations without a centralised programme and support have no fallback in terms of independence; or even a safe space to seek an independent voice, be it mental health concerns or otherwise.

One can hardly call this an over reaction to what’s coming in 2019.

If the FIH’s self-billed ‘hockey revolution’ is to be just that, the players – the key generators of income for the world governing body – need protection.

Not that Hinch need be concerned at this juncture. Or even her Dutch colleagues in the Hoofdklasse for that matter.

For it is understood that the Dutch will send a second-string team – from their nominated Pro League squad – to some of their far-flung Pro League matches, giving the top players the chance to play for clubs in the world’s best league.

International hockey made easy, the Dutch way.

The Hockey Paper



French hockey stalwart calls time with Wembley memories

By The Hockey Paper



Pascal Poulenc has retired after 35 years service at the French hockey federation with the lasting memory of beating England at Wembley.

Poulenc, a former Saint Germain coach, signed off this month after holding down many positions with the federation, most recently as a technical officer.

But he admitted that one of his standout memories remained as coach of the French women’s team when they travelled to England in early 1991.

“I had just been named at the head of the French Women’s Team and we went to England in March to play a France-England on natural grass at the legendary Wembley Stadium,” he recalled.

“Each year, the English association rented the sports venue to compete in a prestigious meeting to fund the international season of the national women’s team.

“These live BBC broadcasts could attract more than 50,000 spectators, mostly spectators from schools across the country. France had the privilege of being invited for the last edition.

“The English were persuaded to finish on a big victory against us but we realised the perfect hold-up: a 2-1 victory with a heroic defence.”

Meanwhile, French hockey is continuing its work towards the Paris 2024 Olympics.

It aims to attract 25,000 members (currently at 12,000) and double its player participation to 100,000 by the time of the Games.

The federation has also tasked the men’s national side to a top 10 finish at the upcoming World Cup in India.

The Hockey Paper



Canterbury takes top spot with a shootout win over Capital


Photo: BW Media

John Turkington Forestry Central Mavericks vs Tiger Turf North Harbour

The first game of the day promised to be an attacking affair with two sides that possess great flair. The John Turkington Forestry Central Mavericks got themselves on the scoreboard early with a well worked penalty corner which saw Jordan Cohen slide in for a deflection. In the 28th minute of the game Shea McAleese slotted home a shot from another penalty corner. Just before the half time break Tiger Turf North Harbour earned a penalty corner and Cory Bennett flicked in a goal to make the score 2-1 at the half.

In the 39th minute Robbie Capizzi tied the game with a well worked field goal. Steven Edwards then put Tiger Turf North Harbour in front with a great counter attacking goal. Central Mavericks struck back instantly with a Hayden Phillips shot past the keeper. Cory Bennett then flicked in another penalty corner making it his ninth goal of the campaign so far. On the final hooter, Central had a penalty corner and managed to touch in a loose shot to send the game to a shootout. The shootout saw the game go to sudden death where Robbie Capizzi held his nerve to beat the keeper and secure the win for North Harbour. The win gets North Harbour to 11 points and leaves the Central needing a big finish to the week to get a spot in the semi-finals.

Final Score: North Harbour 4, Central 4 (3-2 SO win for North Harbour)
Central: 4 (Jordan Cohen, Shea McAleese, Hayden Phillips, Jason Peel)
North Harbour: 4 (Cory Bennett 2, Robbie Capizzi, Steven Edwards)
Halftime: John Turkington Forestry Central Mavericks 2-1

Auckland vs Southern

Southern were looking to build on an impressive performance yesterday where they had a narrow loss to North Harbour. Auckland were in need of a regulation win to separate themselves from Central in the race for the final semi-final spot. The first half saw both teams creating opportunities in front of goal but neither side were able to capitalise and went into the sheds at half time tied 0-0. Auckland ramped up the pressure in the second half and managed to earn themselves a penalty corner where Tarrant Hami-Jones came forward and put a drag flick just underneath the goalkeepers foot. Auckland continued to press and were rewarded with a goal to Hamish McGeorge in the 53rd minute. Southern, desperate to get back into the game, pulled their goal keeper. Unfortunately for the Southern team they couldn’t quite get the two goals they needed and went down 2-0. The win moves Auckland to 10 points and firmly into the top 4.

Final Score: Auckland 2, Southern 0
Auckland: 2 (Tarrant Hami-Jones, Hamish McGeorge)
Southern: 0
Halftime: 0-0

Canterbury vs Ricoh Capital Cobras

The top two teams in the competition met in what was going to be a highly entertaining match. The Ricoh Capital Cobras started strongly and showed some great movement and ball speed around the field. They were rewarded with a powerful drag flick to Oliver MacIntyre in the 8th minute of the game. Canterbury then came back strong having a number of close scoring opportunities. Eventually in the 24th minute David Brydon got a nice touch from a ball put across the circle. From there on the game was a bit of an arm wrestle until the last frantic few minutes. Sam Lane scored a well worked field goal in the 58th minute which looked to have sealed the win. Capital struck back in the last minute to send the game to a shootout.

Canterbury won the shootout 3-2 when George Enersen pulled off a great save on a shootout from Benedict Van Woerkom. The result lifts Canterbury past the Capital on the table to 14 points. Captial are breathing down their neck on 13 points.

Canterbury 2, Capital 2 (3-2 SO win for Canterbury)
Canterbury: 2 (David Brydon, Sam Lane)
Ricoh Capital Cobras: 2 (Oliver Macintyre, Daniel Harris)
Halftime: 1-1

Points Table

Mens

R

Team

GP

W

WD

LD

L

GD

P

1

Canterbury

4

3

1

0

0

7

14

2

Ricoh Capital Cobras

4

3

0

1

0

8

13

3

Tiger Turf North Harbour

5

2

1

1

1

9

11

4

Auckland

5

2

1

0

2

2

10

5

John Turkington Forestry Central Mavericks

4

1

0

1

2

-5

5

6

Bayleys Midlands

4

1

0

0

3

-10

4

7

Southern

4

0

0

0

4

-11

0

Womens

R

Team

GP

W

WD

LD

L

GD

P

1

Tiger Turf North Harbour

4

3

0

1

0

10

13

2

Canterbury

4

2

1

1

0

10

11

3

John Turkington Forestry Central Mysticks

4

2

1

0

1

4

10

4

Ricoh Capital Women

4

1

1

1

1

-2

7

5

Mark Cromie Holden Northland

4

1

1

0

2

-1

6

6

Auckland

4

1

0

2

1

-2

6

7

Bayleys Midlands

4

1

1

0

2

-4

6

8

Southern

4

0

0

0

4

-15

0


Click here for the 2018 Ford NHL Women’s draw, results and standings.

Click here for the 2018 Ford NHL Men’s draw, results and standings.

The 2018 Ford National Hockey League is proudly supported by Ford, Educare, Vantage, Trillian Trust, NZCT, Wellington City Council and Wellington Hockey.

Hockey New Zealand Media release



Peters-Deutz rises to the challenge with Racing Club de France


©: Christophe Bellenger

Racing Club de France, Saint Germain and CA Montrouge continued their winning starts to the French league with strong results but last year’s runners-up FC Lyon have yet to get a win to their name.

Racing won their big game against Lille MHC with Christopher Peters-Deutz adding another two goals to his name while Benjamin Lahaut and former Real Club de Polo player Alvaro Turull getting the others in a 4-1 win.

Peters-Deutz has revelled so far since taking over the captaincy from Francois Scheefer who returned to Bordeaux during the summer, scoring five times in two games.

In addition to his goals, he has been a dominant figure from play with his long passes – whether along the ground or via long aerials – have been a feature of the white and sky blue charge this term.

The first goal of the tie came 41 minutes in and two more were added by the 52nd minute for a comfortable three-goal lead which they did not look like relinquishing.

Saint Ger, meanwhile, got their second win of the competition with a 3-1 success against HC Valenciennes, Noé Jouin, Kévin Mercurio and William Jeammot on the mark.

Montrouge were 3-1 victors over Wattignies to stay on 100% so far while Stade Francais’s 3-1 win in Lyon means they are on four points and also unbeaten at this early stage of the campaign.

Euro Hockey League media release



Elektrostal’s lead in Russia reduced to a single point.



Dinamo Elektrostal have seen their lead at the top of the Russian table trimmed back to one point following a draw against Dyamo Stroitel on Monday.

Sergey Lepeshkin had given Elektrosal a sixth minute lead but a 27th minute equaliser from Artem Nadirshin was the final goal of normal time.

Elektrostal did win the bonus point with a shoot-out win, Mikhail Proskuryakov netting in the sixth round of the contest for a 4-3 success.

Reigning champions Dinamo Kazan closed the gap with an 8-1 win against basement side Dynamo OCOP ISS at Krylatskoye where Pavel Golubev scored twice in the first 18 minutes to set up the result. Five second half goals sealed the deal.

It means after 19 rounds, Elektrostal lead by a single point from Kazan with six rounds of matches still to play. The two sides meet on Saturday and then again on Sunday with both games in Kazan.

Elektrostal will play in EHL ROUND1 in Barcelona from October 5-7, lining out against Wimbledon and Mannheimer HC.

Euro Hockey League media release



Mens EYHL Season Gets Underway This Week



Hot on the heels of Ireland’s World Cup silver medal success, the EY Hockey League hits the turf in the coming weeks with the women’s competition set to tip off on September 29 with the men’s league starting a week earlier.

It is also a significant season with the national leagues expanding to incorporate a second tier, helping to bridge the gap from the regional leagues to the elite level.

Speaking at the launch of the EY Hockey League, Frank O’Keeffe, Managing Partner, EY Ireland said: “We are proud to support the evolution of hockey in Ireland through the introduction of a second division to the EY Hockey League. This investment in hockey at grassroots level will give players and clubs all over the country an opportunity to excel at their passion and to compete with the highest-performing teams in the sport. The success of the Irish Women in London this summer was a historic moment for Ireland, and we are delighted to be such a close ally to Irish hockey at this very exciting time for the game.”



The men’s EY Hockey League is shaping up to be another close-run battle with the action getting under way on September 22. Three Rock Rovers have won the last two EY Champions Trophy titles under the coaching of Niall Denham and will take on the mantle of favourites this season.

Indeed, they won an incredible six trophies last term including the Irish Senior Cup, the National Indoor Trophy and the EuroHockey Indoor Club Challenge II.

They have yet to win the EYHL regular season title, however, finishing second for the last two years. Mitch Darling, Luke Madeley, Ben Walker, Jamie Carr and Daragh Walsh make up a big international quintet while Mark English arrives after many years as Railway Union’s top scorer.

Glenanne won last year’s regular season with something to spare but they will miss the services of Shane O’Donoghue who has taken up a pro contract in Belgium with Dragons.

Banbridge missed the playoffs last season after a slow start but look well equipped to challenge this time with Eugene Magee, John McKee, Peter Brown and Bruce McCandless bringing lots of international know-how.

Pembroke are in a transitional phase with Kirk Shimmins and Alan Sothern moving to Belgium and Mark Ingram to Rotterdam but they do have a new coach, Paudie Carley, with lots of experience of winning top competitions at Serpentine Avenue.

Lisnagarvey are in a similar mode, looking to their youth section to replenish a first team that has seen key players move to Germany.

It means that if the likes of Annadale or Monkstown can put a run together, they can break into the playoff places. Dale, for instance, have brought in Ryan Getty and Andrew O’Hare from Lisnagarvey and Ryan Burgess from Bangor to complement their panel while Callum Robson is fit from the start of the season.

Town will miss Stephen Cole’s guile in midfield but his younger brother David and Dave Fitzgerald are strong personalities to make a difference.

Cork C of I are always a threat with John Jermyn – Ireland’s record goalscorer – continuing to be one of the league’s most threatening corner experts. They have the vastly experienced Denis Pritchard coaching them, taking over from Neil Welch.

Cookstown survived last season by a relegation playoff but have not seen many departures while Callum Anderson, Raymond Miller and Andy McWhirter are back in the mix. Michael Haycock takes sole charge of the side for a 13th year as coach with regular co-coach Stephen Cuddy taking a step back.

YMCA earned promotion with Ben Campbell a go-to man for goals as they spectacularly edged out Bangor for the ticket to the top. It will be their maiden EYHL season, replacing Railway Union and looking to make their mark.

The season follows the same format as the women’s competition with 18 rounds of regular season matches from which the champion will got Europe. The top three move on to the Champions Trophy along with the Irish Senior Cup winner or, otherwise, the fourth place league finisher.

In EYHL Division 2, Railway – coached by Kenny Carroll – will take their place in Pool A alongside a UCD side who have attracted flying full-back Mark Samuel from Three Rock. Bandon and Bangor renew acquaintances after a number of meetings last term.

The other four team group includes Instonians, Kilkeel, UCC and Corinthian. The top two from each group advances to the promotion playoffs with one automatic place in the EYHL available and another playoff spot against ninth in the EYHL on offer for a ticket to the top.



Irish Hockey Association media release



No. 3 Maryland field hockey escapes with 5-4 overtime win over No. 5 Princeton

By Lila Bromberg


Forward Riley Donnelly fends off defenders during Maryland's 3-1 win over Harvard on Sept. 9 at the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex. (Alex Chen/The Diamondback)

Trailing No. 5 Princeton with four minutes remaining in regulation, No. 3 Maryland field hockey was on the verge of losing its first game of 2018, after cruising through most of the first eight games on the schedule.

But after coach Missy Meharg pulled the Terps' goalkeeper with about four minutes remaining, forward Bibi Donraadt preserved their unblemished record by tying the game with 15 seconds left, scoring off a pair of deflections and sending the game to overtime.

Neither team could score in the first overtime period, but on a penalty corner early in the second, defender Nike Lorenz dribbled the ball to create a shot and fired it far-post to make it nine consecutive wins to start the season for the Terps.

"I was so excited I was just jumping up and down and I actually dropped my stick," midfielder Kyler Greenwalt said. "I just wanted to hug someone…everyone was just so excited. It was the second overtime, everyone was just so, so tired and it was nice to have that feeling of winning."

None of Maryland's prior eight had featured the drama of Tuesday's road test. The Terps had close wins against four ranked opponents at home prior to the matchup, including a 4-3 win over then-No. 3 Duke, but hadn't trailed an opponent entering halftime — let alone in the final minute — before Tuesday.

After a fast start, with the Terps scoring in the second minute, the Tigers went on a 4-0 run over the next 40 minutes.

At halftime, Meharg had a tough talk with her team.

"We let [Princeton] own the energy," Meharg said. "You make a commitment to a certain work rate and really it all comes down to … 50-50 balls. When you have more heart, you're going to be in a position to try to win the game."

For most of the contest, Maryland struggled to finish opportunities. In one instance in the first half, defender Nike Lorenz forced a turnover on the defensive side of field and rocketed a pass all the way to the offensive side to give Madison Maguire a breakaway chance, but the shot went wide.

So despite having an 18-7 advantage on shots, the Terps trailed on the scoreboard for longer than they ever had this season. Goalkeeper Sarah Holliday allowed three goals on three shots in the first half, leading Meharg to switch goalkeepers at halftime.

The game changed once Noelle Frost was in goal for the Terps, but she wasn't tasked with much. The junior allowed a goal in the 45th minute that stretched the Tigers lead to 5-1 but faced only two more shots the rest of the way.

Meanwhile, the Terps chipped into the lead. Midfielder Kelee Lepage's 50th-minute score and forward Sabrina Rhode's goal about eight minutes later brought the Terps within one, setting the stage for Donraadt's late heroics and Lorenz's game-winner.

"Everybody was just like, 'Well, it can't go on like this,'" Lorenz said. "It was not like one turning point, it took a while. … We all knew what was going on, we just really had to change it and we did that all together."

The Diamondback

Fieldhockey.com uses cookies to assist with navigating between pages. Please leave the site if you disagree with this policy.
Copyright remains with the credited source or author