News for 01 October 2018
All the news for Monday 1 October 2018
Victory in Cardiff for Scotland in Jen Wilson’s first match in charge
Jen Wilson’s first match in charge of the Scotland women’s National Team saw the Tartan Hearts get off to an excellent 2-1 win at the Hockey Wales National Centre. Goals from Fiona Burnet and Millie Brown gave the Scots the ascendancy before a late penalty stroke pulled one back for the hosts in Cardiff.
It was a strong start to the match by Scotland, with the Scots’ energy putting Wales on the back foot from the first whistle.
Scotland was playing at pace with swift linking passes causing the Welsh defence difficulties. It was from a slick passing move that saw Scotland open the scoring. The Scots worked their way to the baseline and the pass back picked out Fiona Burnet who zipped in front of the defender to finish clinically, and give Scotland the lead in the first quarter.
Scotland’s momentum continued into the second quarter with controlled possession leading to a succession of opportunities, but some really good goalkeeping denied a second goal.
It was in the third quarter that Scotland eventually doubled their lead and it was a lovely penalty corner routine that provided the strike. Millie Brown was on hand to deflect the ball home and put some daylight between the teams on the score sheet.
The fourth quarter brought a goal for Wales after a short corner was upgraded to a penalty corner, and it was dispatched well to narrow the score. In the end it was a good win for Scotland and new Head Coach Jen Wilson was pleased with what she saw from her team in her first match in charge. Wilson said, “It was a really promising performance; the players showed good intent throughout and made good connections all over the pitch. We were very balanced and saw really good performances in each area of the pitch.
“There’s a good mix of players who have lots of experience and some new players in the squad – it’s very exciting to see how hard the players are working and how hungry they are to be part of the squad. Everyone is putting their hand up to play and they know how competitive it will be to earn a place in the team. It’s a very positive first game and we’re looking forward to the next match tomorrow.”
Scotland will play Wales in the second match of two tomorrow at 12:30 in Cardiff.
Scottish Hockey Union media release
MHC set to hire Dutch-born coach Oltmans
By Naqib Nor Said
KUALA LUMPUR: Former Pakistan coach Roelant Oltmans is now in Petaling Jaya and it is understood that the Dutch-born trainer could be part of the national hockey team’s coaching set-up in the near future.
It is learnt that Oltmans, also a former India coach, and Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal had a meeting at a leading hotel in PJ on Saturday.
Malaysia missed a golden opportunity to earn an early qualification to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games when they were defeated by Japan in the final of last month’s Indonesia Asian Games.
And it is said that the failure affected national coach Stephen Van Huizen who then asked to be excused from handling the team for the recent Darwin International.
However, MHC have yet to confirm whether Oltmans, who guided the Netherlands to 1996 Atlanta Olympics and the 1998 Utrecht World Cup titles, will be hired.
The national body are expected to make an announcement on Monday.
“Oltmans is in Malaysia, I can confirm this. However, I have no details on the position which has been offered to him (by MHC),” said a source close with MHC.
“Based on my observation, he will be hired as Malaysia’s new head coach as the team have major tournaments ahead, including the World Cup in November and next year’s Olympic qualifying competitions.
The 64-year-old Oltmans is regarded as one of the best coaches in the world and is also seen as the best candidate to handle Malaysia.
Under his guidance, India rose to World No 6 during his four-year tenure before he was sacked in Sept last year. He was then hired by Pakistan in February, but resigned after the failure to guide them to the Asian Games title.
New Straits Times
Oltmans turns to Malaysia?
s2h team
If the ongoing indications are anything to be believed, Roelant Oltmans is a continuing saga for Asia at least. He may be off for Pakistan, but the Dutch coach is all set to land up a plum job in Malaysia.
Roelant Oltmans is likely to be inducted into the coaching of Malaysian national team.
It is gathered that present men's chief coach Stephen van Huizen expressed his inability to continue against the backdrop of missing out the Jakarta Asian Games gold.
Significantly, Stephen did not accompany the Malaysian team that played in Darwin recently, where Malaysia took a revenge with Japan with a 4-0 rout.
Oltmans was in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday. It is expected that the Malaysian Hockey Confederation will make an announcement in this regard on Monday.
Presently, Terry Walsh is High Performance Director of Malaysian hockey. The things are turning out like an interesting role reversal.
Roelant Was HPD in India when Terry Walsh was the Chief Coach. Now in all likelihood the roles will be reversed with Roelant manning the Men's chief coach role!
Roelant was in charge of Indian hockey teams for almost four years till last year. Thereafter, Pakistan took him on its rolls early this year. At Jakarta, it was rumoured that the Dutch coach was not paid his monthly salary for a a few preceding months. Perhaps this and other 'review' of performance by Pak's own 'hockey legends' seemed to have forced him to quit his job weeks ago.
Now, as the story goes, Malaysia calling.
Stick2Hockey.com
Indian women's hockey team to get TOPS boost
Indian Women's Hockey Team , PTI file photo
In an encouraging development for the Indian women's hockey team, all the squad members are set to be included in the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) when the review committee will identify a core group for the government-funded programme, next month.
All the 18 members of the men's hockey team are already covered under TOPS and according to sources the women's team will soon be rewarded for its impressive silver medal finish at the 18th Asian Games.
"The women's team is already getting funds from the ACTC (Annual Calander for Training and Competitions). It's just about Rs 50,000 monthly allowance that comes under TOPS. They will be included soon," the source told PTI.
An official from the Sports India, erstwhile Sports Authority of India, informed that Hockey India had repeatedly been requesting women's team's inclusion.
"Hockey India has send us the proposal to include the women's team in TOPS. At the moment we are reviewing the proposal and it is likely that they will be included in the next review of the TOPS list," he said.
Hockey India welcomed the move, saying it is better late than never.
"It is a sensible decision. We have been asking for the women's team's inclusion in the TOPS from the very beginning but till date they were ignored. But it seems finally the girls have earned their due with their brilliant performances on the turf," the HI official said.
The official also informed that the TOPS committee is working on preparing a core group of beneficiaries.
"We have asked the national federations to come up with their suggestions. The TOPS team is analysing all the athletes' data and statistics. By October 30 we should be in a position to complete the task," he said.
"From now on it will be a day-to-day basis analysis of all the TOPS athletes. The performance managers of the athletes will do the analysis and we at the TOPS will continue to meet on a quarterly basis."
The official said once the core group is prepared the entire focus will be on supporting the selected athletes although some changes are expected to happen depending on their performances.
"Suddenly a new, unknown athlete can come into picture depending on his performance and an established name can find his name dropped if his performance dips. Everything will be performance based," he said.
The official said, of late, they are receiving a lot of recommendations from the National Sports Federations (NSFs) especially after India's impressive performance at the Gold Coast Commonwealth and Jakarta Asian Games.
Daily News & Analysis
No high hopes from Pakistan at hockey World Cup: Former captain Waseem Ahmed
Roelant Oltmans, who was also India coach, left the Pakistan shores barely nine month after joining as their head coach, citing lack of suitable circumstances
Coach Roelant Oltmans has left the Pakistan shores.
Former captain Waseem Ahmed is not hoping much from Pakistan side at the upcoming hockey World Cup, saying the premature exit of coach Roelant Oltmans will hurt the team badly. Oltmans, who was also India coach, left the Pakistan shores barely nine month after joining as their head coach, citing lack of suitable circumstances. “I personally do not expect a lot from Pakistan in this World Cup because they have a difficult pool. They have to beat Malaysia and finish third in pool to play cross over match with other pool. After the sudden resignation of Oltmans it will be more difficult for them,” Waseem said.
Under Oltmans, Pakistan could not do much at CWG, Asian Games and the Champions Trophy but Waseem felt that the team was showing progress. “The timing of his resignation is really bad. He was doing a good job and Pakistan team was improving gradually but he resigned just before Asian Champion trophy and WC. It will definitely hurt Pakistan team,” Waseem said.
The FIH World cup will be held from November 28 to December 16 in Bhubaneshwar, where stadiums were packed during Hockey India League, Hockey World League and Campions Trophy matches. “WC will be played in India this time and I think India are one of the best hosts. Lot of people are coming to watch the games live, there good media coverage and a lot of sponsors. It makes Hockey really big there,” said Waseem regarded as one of the best left-halves in the World and the most capped player for Pakistan.
“People in India love to watch Pakistani players and as far as my experience is concerned I always enjoyed playing in India where people give so much respect and love that I never felt that I am away from my country. India are surely one of the best places to play hockey,” said the former captain. Waseem was all praise for the Indian team.
“Indian team has improved a lot and they are improving overall which includes Hockey structure there. After Harendra paji took over they are doing great. At the Asian Games they were very unlucky to concede a goal in last minute against Malaysia and were forced to play shootout. Luck was not on their side,” he said .
Waseem is in Australia to play Victoria State Premier league for Saint Khilda club. He is also assistant coach of the club and is also involved with the Victorian Academy. He said apart from playing FIH tournaments, India and Pakistan should also resume bilateral series.
“It will also revive the interest in the sport with more sponsors and TV coverage. Pakistan hockey need that very badly,” he said.
Indian Express
Leo hitting form at the right time for EHL ROUND1
©: Frank Uijlenbroek / World Sport Pics
Royal Leopold gave a reassuring performance as they got the best of Daring 5-1 in the Belgian league to conclude their pre-EHL preparations in style.
"We handled the game well," said Tanguy Zimmer told the Hockey Belgium website. “We started the game badly enough but we made sure of the important things to finally get another victory.
“We especially wanted to reassure ourselves after our start of the championship which clearly did not live up to our expectations. We still have not found our true game yet but things are coming together."
Leo will play WKS Grunwald Poznan and HC Minsk in EHL ROUND1 next weekend in Barcelona.
Manu Brunet scored twice as did Alexis Lemaire while Zimmer got the other one, making it two wins, two draws and a loss from their opening five games, leaving them third in Group B. The Waterloo Ducks top this group with five wins out of five, most recently posting a 10-0 win over White Star.
Racing lead Group A thanks to an important 2-1 win over Dragons. Achille de Chaffoy opened the scoring with just 15 minutes to go but Felix Denayer levelled quickly, setting the game up for a hectic finished.
Jerome Truyens won it with seven minutes to go from Tom Boon’s assist. Jeremy Gucassoff saved a late Shane O’Donoghue penalty corner to hold on to the win.
Euro Hockey League media release
Mannheim’s McCann left wanting more ahead of EHL ROUND1
©: Dirk Markgraf
Mannheimer HC coach Michael McCann is hoping for a marked improvement in his side’s performances when they hit the turf in Barcelona at EHL ROUND1 following their 1-1 draw with Club an der Alster on Sunday in Germany.
His side had beaten Polo 3-2 on Saturday with two goals from Gonzalo Peillat and one from Gabriel Ho-Garcia. But they missed the chance of moving ahead of Rot-Weiss Koln on Sunday when the leaders fell to a massive 6-1 defeat to Harvestehuder THC.
"I am not satisfied with the performance of the team,” McCann said of his team’s performance. “We wanted to make the final game before the EHL a positive one. Unfortunately, we did not succeed,
“Getting the draw is okay. Both teams had their chances but we did not deserve three points. We did not play consistently enough. Alster defended very well and, in the end, we can be happy that we did not lose the game."
In front of 400 fans, they did maintain their unbeaten run as captain Jan-Philipp Fischer scored in the 57th minute, cancelling out Chris Newman’s effort from 13 minutes earlier.
Alster’s coach Michael Behrmann, meanwhile, said it was his club’s "best season performance".
“Finally I do not have to drive home empty handed from Mannheim. That has not happened so often. It was a very passionate team effort. We played against an absolutely top team at eye level.
“In the end I was a bit unhappy about one or two decisions against us but I'm really proud of the team's performance, even though it's certainly a bit annoying to concede just before the end."
Mannheim start their EHL ROUND1 campaign next Saturday evening with a 5pm start against Dinamo Elektrostal before facing Wimbledon a day later in Barcelona.
Euro Hockey League media release
Surbiton and Wimbledon find it tough on day two in England
England’s two EHL sides had a difficult second day out in their domestic competition with national champions Surbiton drawing with University of Exeter and Wimbledon losing 1-0 to Hampstead & Westminster.
For Surbiton, the tied 1-1 despite taking the lead through James Royce in the 49th minute. Exeter were able to hit back via a penalty corner in the 52nd when James Thomas finished clinically to gain a point for the league’s newcomers.
Hampstead and Westminster defeated Wimbledon at home 1-0. Matt Guise-Brown scored the only goal of the game following a penalty corner in the 4th minute.
Wimbledon travel to Barcelona this week to EHL ROUND1 where they will come up against Germany’s Mannheimer HC and Russia’s Dinamo Elektrostal.
Nick Bandurak produced an excellent performance, scoring five goals as Holcombe defeated Sevenoaks 6-0 at home.
Bandurak opened the scoring in the third minute from open play. Robert Field then doubled Holcombe’s advantage when he finished in the same fashion in the 14th.
Bandurak added his second goal of the game slotting in a field goal in the 15th minute, and added a penalty corner in the 17th minute to ensure the score was 4-0 at half time.
Already on a hat-trick, Bandurak added two more goals to his tally in the second half both coming from open play in the 37th and 41st minutes to ensure three points went the way of Holcombe.
Elsewhere, Beeston performed well away from home beating East Grinstead 3-1. Chris Proctor opened the scoring in the 16th minute when he finished from open play before Gareth Griffiths added a second for the away side scoring in the 32nd minute.
Mark Gleghorne then made it 3-0 early in the second half, scoring via a penalty stroke in the 38th minute.
Simon Faulkner scored a consolation for the hosts in the 56th minute finishing a chance from a penalty corner.
On Sunday Reading defeated Brooklands Manchester University at home 4-3.
Peter Scott opened the scoring in the 16th minute, although Brooklands hit back when David Flanagan finished following a penalty corner in the 29th minute to ensure the game was level at half time.
Matt Richards then regained the lead for Reading when he netted from open play in the 37th minute before Liam Sanford finished in the same way in the 48th.
Brooklands then hit back when Flanagan scored his second of the game when he finished a chance from open play in the 58th minute.
Jatinder Bachu sealed the victory for the hosts when he scored a field goal in the 60th minute. There was still time for Flanagan to score his hat-trick and cause a nervy ending as he finished via a penalty stroke in the 64th minute. But the hosts were able to hold on and take all three points.
Euro Hockey League media release
ROUND-UP: English Men's Hockey League
Newly-promoted University of Exeter secured a deserved point from a 1-1 draw at reigning champions Surbiton in the Men’s Hockey League Premier Division on Saturday.
The scoring was opened by the hosts in the second half when James Royce slotted in a goal from open play in the 49th minute.
University of Exeter were able to hit back via a penalty corner in the 52nd when James Thomas finished clinically to gain a point for the league’s newcomers.
Nick Bandurak produced an excellent performance, scoring five goals as Holcombe defeated Sevenoaks 6-0 at home.
Bandurak opened the scoring in the third minute from open play. Robert Field then doubled Holcombe’s advantage when he finished in the same fashion in the 14th.
Bandurak added his second goal of the game slotting in a field goal in the 15th minute, and added a penalty corner in the 17th minute to ensure the score was 4-0 at half time.
Already on a hat-trick, Bandurak added two more goals to his tally in the second half both coming from open play in the 37th and 41st minutes to ensure three points went the way of Holcombe.
Elsewhere, Beeston performed well away from home beating East Grinstead 3-1.
Chris Proctor opened the scoring in the 16th minute when he finished from open play before Gareth Griffiths added a second for the away side scoring in the 32nd minute.
Mark Gleghorne then made it 3-0 early in the second half, scoring via a penalty stoke in the 38th minute.
Simon Faulkner scored a consolation for the hosts in the 56th minute finishing a chance from a penalty corner.
On Sunday Reading defeated Brooklands Manchester University at home 4-3.
Peter Scott opened the scoring in the 16th minute, although Brooklands hit back when David Flanagan finished following a penalty corner in the 29th minute to ensure the game was level at half time.
Matt Richards then regained the lead for Reading when he netted from open play in the 37th minute before Liam Sanford finished in the same way in the 48th.
Brooklands then hit back when Flanagan scored his second of the game when he finished a chance from open play in the 58th minute.
Jatinder Bachu sealed the victory for the hosts when he scored a field goal in the 60th minute. There was still time for Flanagan to score his hat-trick and cause a nervy ending as he finished via a penalty stroke in the 64th minute. But the hosts were able to hold on and take all three points.
Hampstead and Westminster defeated Wimbledon at home 1-0. Matt Guise-Brown scored the only goal of the game following a penalty corner in the 4th minute.
Men’s Hockey League Conference East
Sam Ward scored four goals as Old Georgians produced a dominant display to seal a 7-1 away victory at league new comers City of Peterborough.
Tom Doran and Edward Carson also scored for the away side, while Danny Sisson scored the only goal for the hosts.
Brighton secured a 4-3 victory away at Teddington with their goals coming from Joe Naughalty and Robbert Schenk who scored two each. Matt Daly also scored two for Teddington and Chris Seddon was also on the scoresheet, but it wasn’t quite enough for a home win.
Elsewhere, Old Loughtonians won 3-2 at Richmond, Oxted sealed a 6-3 victory at Cambridge City and on Saturday Canterbury won 2-1 at home to Southgate.
Men’s Hockey League Conference North
University of Durham secured three points away from home in a 6-3 thriller at Loughborough Students on Saturday evening.
Richard Jackson (2), Max van Laak (2), Max Denniff and James Sookias scored for the away side. Matthew Ramshaw scored a brace and Evan Kimber added one for Loughborough.
William Hearne scored twice as Sheffield Hallam secured a 2-1 victory at Leeds. Justin Brown scored the only goal for the home side.
Elsewhere, the University of Nottingham produced a good away performance defeating Belper 4-2. Bowdon beat Doncaster 4-2 at home and Alderley Edge secured a 2-1 away victory at Preston.
Men’s Hockey League Conference West
Andy Watts scored a hat-trick as Oxford Hawks overcame the challenge of Fareham to secure a 5-2 home victory. Jack Briggs and Kit Cutter also scored for the hosts and George Davey and Jack Gilbert scored for the away side.
Chichester produced an excellent performance away from home, winning 7-2 at Isca. Dan Brook, Alex Holton, Alex Pendle, Joseph Budgen, Alex Messenger, Alex Baxter and Ollie Baxter all scored for the away side, while James Morris and Jon Wright scored the goals for Isca.
Elsewhere, Olton and West Warwicks won 3-1 at Havant, the University of Bristol secured a 3-1 home victory against Cardiff and Met and the University of Birmingham and Team Bath Buccaneers played out a 0-0 draw.
Results – Men’s Hockey League Premier Division: East Grinstead 1, Beeston 3; Hampstead & Westminster 1, Wimbledon 0; Holcombe 6, Sevenoaks 0; Reading 4, Brooklands Manchester University 3; Surbiton 1, University of Exeter 1.
Conference East: City of Peterborough 1, Old Georgians 7; Cambridge City 3, Oxted 6; Canterbury 2, Southgate 1: Richmond 2, Old Loughtonians 3; Teddington 3, Brighton & Hove 4.
Conference North: Belper 2, University of Nottingham 4; Bowdon 4, Doncaster 2; Leeds 1, Sheffield Hallam 2; Loughborough Students 3, University of Durham 6; Preston 1, Alderley Edge 2.
Conference West: Havant 1, Olton & West Warwicks 3; Isca 2, Chichester 7; Oxford Hawks 5, Fareham 2; University of Birmingham 0, Team Bath Buccaneers 0; University of Bristol 3, Cardiff & Met 1.
England Hockey Board Media release
Goalkeeper Farah gets off to winning start in English league
By Aftar Singh
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian National women’s hockey goalkeeper Farah Ayuni Yahya got off to a brilliant start with English top club East Grindstead.
The 29-year-old police inspector from Bukit Aman is the first national woman to play in the England Hockey League.
She made her debut in their 2-1 win against Beeston on Saturday.
Farah, who has represented Malaysia 160 times over the last 10 years, said she considered herself lucky to play for East Grindstead.
“I played the full game of 70 minutes (35 minutes each half) and I did well to make a number of saves to help my club collect points. I feel proud and it was a good start for me,” said Farah.
“It’s a great experience playing in the English league as they play a fast attacking game and I have to be on my toes to stop every attempt from my opponents.”
Farah’s tie-up with the England’s top club did not come as a surprise – after all, she was named the best goalkeeper in the Asian Champions Trophy in Donghae City, South Korea, in May and won the same award at the World League Round Two in Singapore in 2016.
Farah hoped she would feature regularly as the main keeper for her club.
“I want to gain as much experience as I can. I will use it as part of my preparation for the World Series.
“I will return to play for Malaysia in this tournament, which is the qualifying tournament for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics,” said Farah.
There are seven others playing in the European leagues. They are Nuraini Rashid and Fatin Syafika Sukri (Italian club Butterfly Roma); Hanis Nadiah Onn, Wan Norfaiezah Saiuti (German club Wespen Zehlendorfer); Raja Norsharina Raja Shahbuddin, Surizan Awang Noh and Noraslinda Said (Scottish Uddingston Club).
The Star of Malaysia
Rovers get first win of Irish campaign ahead of EHL ROUND1
Three Rock Rovers eventually forced home their dominance to see off YMCA with Daragh Walsh’s pair of goals added to one by Ben Walker.
It means they go to Barcelona later this week with one win and one loss from their two games in the Irish competition ahead of their trip to Euro Hockey League ROUND1.
Walsh, pictured, got the reigning Irish Champions Trophy holders on the board in the fifth minute when he slotted under Jakim Bernsden on the backhand from around the penalty spot.
But the afternoon was not to prove a simple one as YMCA defended well and took their sole chance of the first quarter when Ben O’Grady found Grant Glutz who slammed home. Rovers ran up a half dozen corners before half-time with Bernsden making a number of saves to keep the game level at 1-1.
The trend continued in the second half before Rovers retook the lead in the 46th minute from a switched corner move, deflected in by Walsh at close quarters. Five minutes later, Ben Walker burst through and dinked over a sliding Bernsden for 3-1.
YM belatedly got some momentum, Glutz testing Jamie Carr with their first meaningly circle entry since the first quarter while two late corners were repelled.
Rovers will play Racing Club de France and Junior FC in Barcelona.
Euro Hockey League media release
UCD’s defence of Hockey League title opens with defeat to Pegasus
Loreto began their campaign in Cork with a 2-0 win over Harlequins
Mary Hannigan
Zoe Wilson: she fired home a penalty corner in the second quarter to set up Belfast Harlequins’ 2-0 win over Pembroke Wanderers. Photograph: Sandra Mailer/Inpho
UCD’s defence of their Hockey League title opened in defeat on Saturday when a Stephanie Thompson goal five minutes from time gave Pegasus a 3-2 victory in Belfast. However, Champions Trophy holders Loreto had a happier time of it in Cork, where they began their campaign with a 2-0 win over Harlequins.
Elsewhere, Railway Union and Belfast Harlequins also got off to a winning start, while Muckross took a point from their very first Hockey League game when they drew 0-0 at home to Ards.
UCD also lost the opening game of last year’s campaign before going on to win 16 and draw one of their next 17 games, but their side is almost unrecognisable this time around following the departure of several stalwarts, among them Katie Mullan, Deirdre Duke, Sarah Robinson and Emma Russell.
Still, Miles Warren will have been heartened by the resolve shown by his new-look side on Saturday, when they fought back from 2-0 down after Irish international Shirley McCay and Hannah Craig had put Pegasus in control by the 11th minute.
It was two of UCD’s new players, Niamh Carey and Suzie Kelly, who got them back in the game, Carey pulling a goal back on 13 minutes before Kelly looked to have snatched a point when she scored from a penalty corner with just nine minutes to go. Thompson, though, sealed the win for Pegasus from another corner on 65 minutes.
Impressive win
A first-quarter goal from Niamh Small and a second just after half-time from Sarah Clarke gave Loreto an impressive win away to Cork Harlequins, last season’s Hockey League runners-up, while Railway also got off to a flyer with a 3-0 win at Old Alexandra, all of their scores coming in the first half. Sarah Hawkshaw marked her return to the club after four years at the University of Massachusetts with a first-minute goal, Anna May Whelan and Hannah de Burgh Whyte adding the others.
World Cup silver medallist Zoe Wilson sent Belfast Harlequins on their way to a 2-0 win over Pembroke Wanderers, firing home a penalty corner in the second quarter before helping set up Abi Edwards for Harlequins’ second before half-time.
The Irish Times
Pegasus make opening day statement against new look UCD
Pegasus’s Hannah Craig tackles Orla Patton. Pic: Billy Pollock
Pegasus made a major statement win over UCD on the opening day of the women's EYHL campaign; Muckross gain point on debut; Belfast Quins, Railway and Loreto win too
Women’s EY Hockey League – day one round-up
Pegasus 3 (S McCay, H Craig, S Thompson) UCD 2 (N Carey, S Kelly)
Steph Thompson’s 65th minute corner won a classic at Belfast HS as Pegasus scored an important win on opening day against the reigning EY Hockey League champions UCD. The students had trailed 2-0 before forging a big comeback only for Pegs to nick the result at the end.
World Cup star Shirley McCay broke the deadlock in just the sixth minute when she netted a penalty corner goal and the Ulster side were in dreamland by the 11th minute when Hannah Craig added another from play.
UCD are much changed this year with seven players making their debuts since summer moves. Two of them helped the students fight back with Niamh Carey replying quickly for 2-1 in the 13th minute.
It remained that way through to the 61st minute when Suzie Kelly – another newcomer – slotted an equaliser from a corner to give the student hope of a point. But four minutes later, the experienced Thompson grabbed what proved to be the winner.
Old Alex 0 Railway Union 3 (S Hawkshaw, H de Burgh Whyte, A-M Whelan)
Railway Union produced a confident start to their EYHL campaign with a 3-0 win over newly promoted Old Alex. Indeed, the Milltown side got an instant idea of the challenge ahead when Sarah Hawkshaw – on her return after four years in the US – scored inside the first minute.
A couple of surging runs were dealt with by the returning Pam Smithwick for Alex before Railway doubled their lead courtest of Hannah de Burgh Whyte’s shot on the switch from a corner.
Anna May Whelan got the third from the second phase of a corner in the 24th minute for a commanding lead. Alex belatedly found their feet with Paul Pena almost laying on a chance for Emma Russell just before half-time. Alex did have plenty of threat when they attacked the baselines but could not garner a tangilble result for their efforts.
Railway – who featured 2017 All-Ireland ladies football winners Kate McKenna and Molly Lamb – were always in control and they could have moved further clear had they taken one of their corner chances in the latter stages.
Belfast Harlequins 2 (Z Wilson, A Edwards) Pembroke 0
Goals from Zoe Wilson and Abi Edwards in the second quarter set Belfast Harlequins off on the right foot for the new EYHL season. After a scoreless opening quarter, Wilson hammered home a penalty corner and it was soon 2-0.
The World Cup star was central again, setting Jenna Watt in motion who set up Edwards for goal number two. Marianne Fox had to be on her toes to make a couple of strong stops either side of half-time as Pembroke looked dangerous with Gillian Pinder prompting things but they could not make a breakthrough.
Cork Harlequins 0 Loreto 2 (N Small, S Clarke)
In a repeat of last year’s EY Champions Trophy final, Loreto again came out on top with a 2-0 win at Farmer’s Cross in a very high tempo game. Sarah Clarke thundered home a penalty corner in the 12th minute and Niamh Small got the insurance goal four minutes into the second half, putting them out of range.
Sunday: Muckross 0 Ards 0
Muckross got a point from their first ever EYHL game, drawing 0-0 at home against Ards in a hard-fought battle. The club was one of the leading lights in the 1990s, reaching six Irish Senior Cup finals among other success, but dropped as low as Leinster Division Four before fighting their way back to this level.
Early on, the Donnybrook side went close with shots from Sarah O’Loughlin and Yasmin Pratt going just wide while Caroline Mathews had a second quarter shot saved. Four corner chances also did not go to plan to keep the scoreboard blank.
Ards came more into in the second half, forcing good saves from Rachel Barnett and landing their first corner in the 50th minute. They would go on to have a few more in the last ten minutes as they threatened to nick a win but Barnett stayed strong for a share of the spoils.
The Hook
Pembroke show character once again to head EYHL table
Glenanne edged out Annadale 2-1
Pembroke produced another strong show of character to beat Monkstown; Bann with another late show; TRR, Lisnagarvey and Glenanne record first wins of the men's EY campaign
Men’s EY Hockey League – day two round-up
Pembroke 4 (S Sullivan, G Garrett, S Sweetnam, C Murphy) Monkstown 3 (G Watkins, A Ward, G Sarratt)
Pembroke came back from a 2-0 half-time deficit to beat Monkstown 4-3, making it two wins out of two with their new-look team with Cedric Mushiete, Ronan Flannery and Harry Spain all unavailable in addition to the summer moves.
Town looked to be flying high as Gareth Watkins broke through a couple of tackles before shooting home a reverse in the 12th minute and Andrew Ward finished off a second five minutes later, both times counter-attacking at pace when Pembroke committed players forward.
During the second quarter, Simon Thornton kept out a series of Monkstown chances as they could have put the game out of sight.
But the second half saw a change of fortunes with Scott Sullivan’s goal at the left post a minute after the big break a crucial moment. Geoff Garrett tied the game three minutes later as Pembroke got a lot of joy in attacking the baseline, creating back post chances.
Captain Stephen Sweetnam gave Pembroke the lead for a 3-2 advantage at the three-quarter time break and teenager Cian Murphy crowned a fine performance with their fourth goal with 13 minutes to go, starting the move himself before releasing the ball down the line and getting it at back at the far post for a tap-in.
Guy Sarratt got one back late on from a corner but Pembroke held on for the win, their second coming from behind of the season already.
Cookstown 0 Lisnagarvey 4 (M Nelson 2, J Lorimer, A Williamson)
Three goals in the first 24 minutes put Lisnagarvey well on course for a comfortable win over Cookstown, getting them off the mark for the season. James Lorimer scored an early penalty corner drag-flick before Matthew Nelson latched onto a great pass into the circle and he drove home into the bottom corner on his reverse.
Nelson was joined in the Garvey line-up by his brothers Daniel and Ben with the three playing together in the first team for the first time. Andy Williamson turned in at the back post to make it 3-0 at half-time. Matthew Nelson added a fourth goal at the death to close out the victory.
Banbridge 3 (J Moffett 2, E Magee) Cork C of I 1 (J Jermyn)
Banbridge left it late for a second successive week with three goals in the last 10 minutes seeing them make it two wins from two. A week ago, they needed a last minute penalty corner to win it against Three Rock Rovers; this time, they trailed 1-0 to a John Jermyn penalty stroke for a long time but two late goals from Josh Moffett and another from Magee turned things around.
Early on, C of I sat deep and looked to hit Bann on the counter. It worked well as they won a couple of corners and then a stroke 10 minutes in which Jermyn nailed. They had further chances repelled by Luke Roleston before Bann got into their full flow. Billy Lynch did well to block a Fraser Mills shot and the hosts’ first corner.
The second half saw Bann needing to be patient as the Munster men played a disciplined defensive game, holding their slender lead into half-time. The second half saw Stephen Parker and Jermyn both see cards, reducing them to nine for a spell but there was to be no breakthrough yet.
That was to come in the last ten minutes when John McKee embarked on a superb run and he picked out Moffett to score via a deflection. It broke the visitors’ resistance and, soon after, Magee scored following a series of corners for 2-1. Moffett added another deflected goal to make the game safe and another three points.
Annadale 1 (C Ruttle) Glenanne 2 (D Keogh, E O’Malley)
Glenanne got off their first win of the new season with a 2-1 win over Annadale at Strathearn. The Glens controlled the first quarter possession wise and created a few half before Dale won two corners on turnovers and counters.
From the first one, a switch left to Peter Caruth was slapped over James Murtagh – in for Iain Walker who was away – which went into the goal with debate whether it hit the backboard or the stantion. The umpires decided it was above backboard-height crossing the line and so ruled it out. The second corner was saved by Murtagh’s stick.
The visitors went ahead in Q2; a drag flick was stopped on the line by a foot and David Keogh scored the stroke.
In the third period, the Glens has the better chances with a two-v-one chance brilliantly saved by Jonny Moore, diving back across to his right to stop Shannon Boucher scoring into an open goal. Shortly after, a high press was turned over by Neil Byrne and he drew the last defender, squared to Eddie O’Malley to finish from eight yards.
Annadale piled on the pressure in the final quarter, missing out at the back post and winning a few corners that were miscued before they got on the board via Cameron Ruttle. They had three corners in the last two minutes, two of which were run down and the last was slapped by Caruth but Murtagh got down to save.
YMCA 1 (G Glutz) Three Rock Rovers 3 (D Walsh 2, B Walker)
Three Rock Rovers eventually forced home their dominance to see off YMCA in the first EY Hockey League game to be played at Wesley College with Daragh Walsh’s pair of goals added to by Ben Walker.
Walsh got the reigning Champions Trophy holders on the board in the fifth minutes when he slotted under Jakim Bernsden on the backhand from around the penalty spot.
But the afternoon was not to prove a simple one as YMCA defended well and took their sole chance of the first quarter when Ben O’Grady found Grant Glutz who slammed home. Rovers ran up a half dozen corners before half-time with Bernsden making a number of saves to keep the game level at 1-1.
The trend continued in the second half before Rovers retook the lead in the 46th minute from a switched corner move, deflected in by Walsh at close quarters. Five minutes later, Ben Walker burst through and dinked over a sliding Bernsden for 3-1.
YM belatedly got some momentum, Glutz testing Carr with their first meaningly circle entry since the first quarter while two late corners were repelled.
The Hook
Watkins’s crucial goal on EYHL2 return as NUIG get off the mark
NUIG made their debut at national league level
Chloe Watkins made a winning return to Monkstown as her single goal in the 55th minute saw Monkstown beat Lurgan in a high-class tie on the first day of the EY Hockey League Division 2.
Women’s EYHL Division 2 – day one round-up
Chloe Watkins made a winning return to Monkstown as her single goal in the 55th minute saw Monkstown beat Lurgan in a high-class tie on the first day of the EY Hockey League Division 2.
It came from a penalty corner and earned the Dubliners – relegated from the top tier last term – a 1-0 victory with their star performer making an instant impact following a year in the Netherlands with Bloemendaal.
It means Town have the early advantage in Pool B with NUIG and Dungannon sharing the spoils in Galway. The students – in their first season of any kind of national league – got into great shape to win it when Rachel Heskin via a reverse-stick deflection with just five minutes to go.
But they got stung right at the end by Dungannon with Leanne Cassells netting with just a minute left.
In Pool A, Queen’s made a major statement with a 6-0 win over Greenfields, Irish international Erin Getty starting off the run with Anna Boland, Tori Hastings, Emily McStea, Claire Whiteside and Koren Ferguson all on the mark.
Corinthian made a confident start in the Dublin derby as they beat Trinity 2-1. Jodie Douglas got the only goal of the first half on her debut since a summer move from Railway Union and four minutes after the break, Jess McGrane made it 2-0. Susie Osborne gave Trinity a lifeline with 19 minutes to go but the reds stayed clear for the points.
Pool A: Queens University 6 (E Getty, A Boland, T Hastings, E McStea, C Whiteside, K Ferguson) Greenfields 0; Trinity 1 (S Osborne) Corinthian 2 (J Douglas, J McGrane)
Pool B: Lurgan 0 Monkstown 1 (C Watkins); NUIG 1 (R Heskin) Dungannon 1 (L Cassells)
The Hook
Hillhead take pole position in Men’s National League 1
Hillhead moved into pole position in men`s National League 1 despite being held to a 2-2 draw by Watsonians while Edinburgh University took the three points against Kelburne with a 6-3 victory.
Hillhead continued their unbeaten run with a 2-2 draw against Watsonians, their goals came from Ruari Thomson and Ewan Campbell.
It was an attacking match that saw both sides work the ball well from the back. The opening goal came from a Watsonians drive down the left resulting in a cross on the reverse for a composed finish.
Hillhead equalised from a penalty corner which saw the ball flicked into the roof of the net.
A powerful penalty corner put Watsonians back in front before Hillhead equalised with six minutes to play after another penalty corner break down.
Kelburne`s difficult weekend continued when they went down 6-3 to Edinburgh University, seeing the students rise into second spot in the table.
It looked business as usual when Johnny Christie chipped the ball over the keeper for the opener. The Paisley side then doubled their tally with a penalty corner strike by Josh Cairns.
But Kelburne were unable to maintain the momentum, their defence was caught napping and Ian Moodie sent a reverse stick shot past the keeper for 2-1.
Then came two goals inside a minute for the students, Robbie Croll netted a penalty corner rebound for the equaliser, to be followed by a close range finish from Peter McKnight to put Edinburgh 3-2 ahead.
But back came Kelburne at a penalty corner, Christie`s initial shot was blocked, the ball sailed up in the air and Adam Bain swatted it into the net to level the score at the interval.
Edinburgh got their noses in front when they were awarded a penalty after a stick chop and Matt Taylor sent the keeper the wrong was for a 4-3 lead.
The students were now in the ascendancy, they went 5-3 ahead when Moodie finished off a well-worked set piece move.
In the closing stages the Kelburne defence was again opened up leaving McKnight to fire the ball into the empty net for the sixth.
Scottish Hockey Union media release
Police down Greensharks, Telkom keep strolling
By AYUMBA AYODI
Amos Barkibir rifled in a double as champions Kenya Police battled to down Greensharks 3-2 on Sunday at City Park and close in on leaders Butali Sugar Warriors at the top of men’s hockey Premier League.
In the women’s Premier League, Audrey Omaido netted a hat-trick to spur champions Telkom to a sublime 7-0 victory against sloppy Sliders at the same venue.
It was sweet revenge for Fredrick Masibo’s Police, having suffered a painful 4-3 defeat to Greensharks in the first leg.
The victory saw Police consolidate their second place in the 12-team standings, bring their tally to 39 points from 13 wins and one loss.
Police now face Strathmore University next weekend, an outing that will bring them at par with Butali, who top with 42 points from 14 wins and a loss.
Barkibir scored in the 10th and 31 minutes with Samuel Wokila’s smashing strike in the 58th giving them the victory. David Kiberenge and Victor Osiche scored in the 27th and 59th minute but failed to rescue Greensharks this time round.
Earlier on, Omaido struck for Telkom in ninth, 13th and 47th minutes to move the champions' points to 30 points from a clean run in 10 matches. Others scorers were Lilian Aura (11th), Jackline Mwangi (22nd), Caroline Guchu (23rd) and Maureen Okumu (38th).
“We were cautious in our approach so as to avoid cards after having suffered three green cards and two yellow cards in the first leg defeat,” said Masibo.
“We were laid back in the first quarter but gradually opened up. That was our plan.”
Greensharks deputy coach Thomas Mucheni said his players were not courageous this time round. “Police wanted the ball more than us,” he said.
Barkibir connected from the midfield to put Police ahead in the 10th minute to lead 1-0 after the first quarter as Greensharks keeper Martin Muturi made some daring saves from a penalty corner to keep his team in the match.
Both Police and Greensharks wasted their penalty corners in the second quarter. Police’s Vincent Odindo’s connection from the right went begging.
Greensharks’ Osiche and Isaac Kamau couldn’t get the right tone with the ball giving Martin Agesa easy time in the Police post.
But Greensharks got a lifeline when Kiberenge smashed home from a goalmouth melee to level 1-1 as Police defenders watched haplessly.
Immediately on resumption, Willis Okeyo played on Barkibir from the right flank to complete his brace but Police went on to squander two consecutive penalty corners as the third quarter ended 2-1.
Chris Wokila and Osiche were culprits again as Agesa denied them the opportunity before Greensharks were reduced to 10 men after Eugene Onyango was carded. Calvins Kanu hit the post from the resulting penalty corner as Muturi stopped Titus Kimutai’s strike.
Three minutes to the final whistle, Samuel Wokila waded to the right, displacing Greensharks defence to smash in Police’s third goal. Greensharks went on counter-attack as Chris Wokila was fouled by Robert Masibo before Osiche stepped up to score from the spot.
Daily Nation
New hockey champ
Noa Biudole
Tristan Tora, left, of Ventures on attack against Stingers in the mens final of the 24th Geotech Drilling Eastgate Memorial Hockey Tournament at the National Hockey Centre in Suva on Sunday, September 30, 2018. Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU
STINGERS Hockey Club is the new champion of the Geotech Drilling Marist Eastgate Memorial Hockey Tournament after defeating Ventures 2-1 in a thrilling final at the National Hockey Centre yesterday.
Ventures took the early lead in the first half but Stingers equalised soon after.
“We had one focus in mind and that was to win this tournament,” said Stingers coach/player Shaun Corrie.
Stingers attack dominated in the second half before putting the final nail in the coffin.
“We kept our structure, kept our shape and executed when we had the chance,” Corrie said.
Ventures had knocked out defending champions Marist in the semi-final and looked the favourite to win.
“Playing the Ventures Hockey Club is always a tough game and they are champions in their own right,” he said.
In the women’s division Marist Heart defended its title defeating Stingers 1-0. Marist team manager Chantelle Fraser commended the girls for a successful tourney.
“It was hard leading up to the tournament with some of our girls coming in from the West, and hats off to Stingers as they have been training really really hard throughout the season and took us to the wire,” Fraser said.
“We just stuck to our game plan and kept the ball maybe 95 per cent of the time but it was a testament to their defence that we got the win in the dying minutes of the game.”
Results: Men’s Division: SF1: Stingers one 2 – 1 Stingers two, SF2: Marist 3 – 4 Ventures one, Final: Stingers one 2-1 Ventures one. Women’s Division: SF1: Marist Heart 3 -1 Marist Soul, SF2: Ventures 2-3 Stingers Fiusion, Final: Marist Heart 1-0 Stingers Fusion
The Fiji Times
Champions Crowned & Men’s Masters Representative Teams Named
Ben Somerford
Five division winners have been crowned at the 2018 Men’s Masters Australian Championships while three representative teams have also been named.
Five gold medal matches were played on Sunday in Lismore, rounding out those divisions with another eight still competing ahead of more finals on the weekend.
Queensland defeated New South Wales 3-1 to win the 35+ division after a frantic second-half, with goals from Kye Hawgood, Adam Barry and Joel Helmstedt sealing the win.
Victoria knocked off NSW 3-2 in the 40+ division gold medal match on Sunday, coming from a goal down early before player-coach Matthew Trounce’s dramatic 70th minute winner.
Western Australia beat Queensland 2-0 in the 45+ division decider with Allan Colthart and Michael Cake scoring the goals.
Queensland 1 won the 40+/2 division and NSW triumphed in the 45+/2 division.
Meanwhile, representative teams to compete at next year’s Trans-Tasman Masters Challenge on the Gold Coast were also named in the 35+, 40+ and 45+ divisions.
35’s Australian Team
Coach: Bill Tompkins
Manager: Ian Edwards
Captain: Peter Somers QLD Nudgee
Vice Captain: Lee Cormack SA Bellevue Hill
Muddasir Abbas VIC Elsternwick
Adam Barry QLD Everton Hills
Kula Bhullar QLD Macgregor
Craig Bigham QLD Upper Coomera
Andrew Borg NSW Newington
James Bower VIC Diamond Creek
Stuart Fletcher NSW Toukley
Aaron Grigg SA Merrimac
Kane Hancock QLD Yamba
Joel Helmstedt QLD Kirkwood
Tristian Hunt NSW Fletcher
Duncan Mahony QLD Lammermoor
Isaac Nunn QLD Cannon Hill
David Rosser VIC Elsternwick
Shadows
Angus Armstrong WAC Nomans Lake
Lee Brady NSW Hornsby Heights
Joel Cumming SA
John Fernance NSW Adamstown
Marsimran Grewal VIC Cranbourne North
Jai Hill ACT Monash
Mathew Hotchkis ACT Curtin
Allen Jamba NSW Willow Vale
Andrew Purcell IC Yarraville
Andrew Ward QLD Upper Coomera
40's Australian Team
Coach: Craig Williams
Manager: Jim O’Shea
Captain Scott Reid QLD Proserpine
Vice Captain: Simon Vimpani NSW New Lambton
Vice Captain: Anthony Traill VIC Essendon
Adam Bannister NSW Canterbury
Jason Baldwin QLD Banyo
Brett Cranford NSW East Ballina
Sam Freeman SA Sturt
Marc Hawker NSW Bombo
Aleksander Korcz SA Adelaide
Brett Maff QLD Charters Towers
Brad Mathers QLD Carina
Daniel Mayfield QLD Mackay
Greg Robertson VIC Pascoe Vale
Troy Rossiter QLD Wurtulla
Mick Rowell ACT Holder
Philip Taylor QLD Kawungan
Shadows
Dean Broughen QLD Karana Downs
Colin Edwards VIC Hampton
Martin Gallasch SA Stockwell
Damien Goodwin QLD Middle Park
Darryl Hughes NSW Goonellabah
Garry Labana ACT Oran Park
Chris Martin QLD Mundingburra
Scott Whitaker QLD Glenella
45’s Australian Team
Manager: Gary Porteous
Manager: Brett Picknell
Captain: Brett Withington TAS Norwood
Vice Captain: David Brown NSW East Lismore
Vice Captain: Allan Colthart WA Carlisle
Simon Brown NSW Wollongbar
Peter Keeble QLD Runaway Bay
Pete Kooner TAS Yowie Bay
Andrew May QLD Runcorn
Chris McCarthy ACT Taralga
Stewart McDonald WA West Leederville
Andrew Newton NSW Blakehurst
Paul Schram VIC Torquay
Grant Smith QLD Casino
Glen Stolk NSW Bolwarra Heights
Nigel Toussaint VIC Moonee Ponds
Kieran Whelan VIC St Kilda
Darren Williams ACT Royalla
Shadows
Kym Bevis QLD Bulimba
Matthew Bradley QLD Eatons Hill
Gavin Hanscomb QLD Drewvale
Adrian Jones NSW Maroubra
Cameron Robinson WA Bibra Lake
Brian Siva WA Dalkeith
Dean Tyler NSW Leichhardt
Umpire Panel
David Coles NSW
Robert Sutton NSW
Robert Bullock QLD
Hockey Australia media release
Khalid urges PM to meet ex-Olympians for hockey revival
Mohsin Ali
ISLAMABAD - Olympian Khalid Bashir has lashed out at Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and has urged Prime Minister Imran Khan to meet with former Olympian to resolve Pakistan hockey woes.
Talking to The Nation, Khalid Bashir said: “PHF President Brig (R) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar and Secretary Shahbaz Senior kept on befooling the entire nation saying the team would win gold medal in Asian Games but the actual performance of the team was very pathetic. Despite getting millions of rupees funds from government, the federation failed to even provide the ordinary results.”
He said that despite feeling ashamed, the president and secretary are demanding more funds from the government. “First they must give details of the funds provided to them and also answer that why they get Euro 70,000 loan from abroad, where it was utilized and how and when they have returned,” he questioned.
Khalid said Hassan Sardar is with the federation just because of the post of manager. “A question arises here that why the PHF financial situation is zero despite having huge grants from the previous government and where that amount was spent.”
He said the PHF officials can’t hide the facts from masses and government. “Instead of implementing ground-based decisions, the PHF officials are hiding their failures and taking steps in haste. On what grounds Hassan Sardar was first made selector, then coach and now manager. It will give no benefit to Pakistan hockey.
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“Hassan Saradr has given statement in the media that he doesn’t know much about modern-day hockey and admitted that an international coach is need of the hour to change the fortunes of hockey. Now how on earth he has accepted the responsibility of head coach of the national team,” he added.
Khalid blamed that Brig Khokhar managed to land the PHF President slot due to his relation with former Interior Minister Ch Ahsan Iqbal, but he completely failed to deliver and hockey and players are suffering more in his tenure. “The If we closely look at the last three years tenure of the current officials, Pakistan hockey team finished 7th in Commonwealth Games, finished at the rock bottom in the Champions Trophy and the country badly missed the golden opportunity of qualifying for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. If they had won gold medal in the Asian Games hockey, they would have directly qualified for the Olympics.
“Prior to Brig Khokhar and Shahbaz, Pakistan team world ranking was 10th, but now they are lying down at below 13th in the world. Who is responsible for inflicting such miseries on entire nation and why youth is far from adopting hockey as profession. The hockey illiterates have destroyed the game in Pakistan and prevented fresh blood from playing hockey. When youth can’t get jobs and their due right of representing the country in the presence of blue-eyed, how can youth be attracted towards the national game,” he added.
He said that the world’s weakest teams were playing in the Asian Games and the federation was very happy after scoring goals against weaker teams, but when they played against Japan and India, they were exposed. “The federation is being occupied by politically-backed persons, which is the main reason behind hockey downfall.
“We will soon meet with IPC Minister Dr Fehmida Mirza and Prime Minister Imran Khan to inform them about actual facts. We will give pain to these officials, which they gave to hockey lovers and Olympians. We will not give them any chance to further inflict damages on the national game,” Khalid concluded.”
The Nation
No. 3 Maryland field hockey beats No. 2 UConn, 4-2, in battle of undefeateds
By Lila Bromberg
Defender Bodil Keus shoots a goal during Maryland's 3-0 win against Michigan State on Oct. 29, 2017. (Marquise McKine/The Diamondback)
As the Maryland field hockey team prepared for a penalty corner in the fifth minute Sunday against Connecticut, Terps fans chanted "right here, right now."
Midfielder Kyler Greenwalt said that the last time the teams played, the 2017 national championship game, the Terps were timid in the first half, leading to them trailing for most of the 2-1 loss.
They suffered no such problems in Storrs on Sunday. Defender Bodil Keus slotted home the fifth-minute corner to put the Maryland up 1-0, and the Terps didn't let up from there, avenging the national championship disappointment with a 4-2 win over the previously undefeated Huskies.
"I'm just proud of our entire coaching staff, our team, our team around the team," coach Missy Meharg said. "It was a year ago that we put ourselves in a position to even play UConn at the finals … We couldn't be more pleased."
Maryland had an uncharacteristically poor regular season in 2017, making its national title game appearance a surprise. The No. 3 Terps have returned to their typical dominant play this season, entering Sunday one of three undefeated teams in the nation, along with No. 1 North Carolina and No. 2 UConn.
But instead of a tight game between two of the top-three teams in the nation, the Terps needed less than five minutes to get on the board and had a 4-0 lead early in the second half. The Huskies scored two goals in the final 10 minutes to make the scoreline respectable.
The defending national champions were tied for most goals per game in the country through their first 10 games but didn't manage a single shot in the first half against Maryland (12-0).
UConn (10-1) ended with only four shots on goal in the entire matchup, while Maryland put 13 shots on goal and had 19 shots total.
"All our backs … didn't let anybody into our circle," defender Nike Lorenz said. "They defended really, really [well] back there. And whenever somebody in the line did make some sort of mistake, they repaired it and did a really good job."
Keus and Lorenz scored three of the team's four goals. Keus had a pair of goals off penalty corners in the first 15 minutes, and after forward Bibi Donraadt scored in the 25th minute, Lorenz gave the Terps even more cushion right out of halftime in the 39th minute.
Meharg said opponents expect the Terps to use the drag flick on corner chances, making Keus' quick, sweeping shots a surprise. And, Meharg points out, scoring corners isn't even her main role.
"Bodil is our field general, [she] is just playing so well," Meharg said. "She's speaking early and speaking urgently…She can make short passes, she can make medium size passes and she can make passes all the way up to the goal, and her attack point was outstanding."
The Diamondback
No. 1 UNC field hockey demolishes Ball State, 9-0, on Sunday afternoon
By Parth Upadhyaya
Senior midfielder Eva van't Hoog (22) of the UNC field hockey team weaves through a swarm of Syracuse players in a 5-1 win on Saturday, Sept. 29, at Karen Shelton Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. Photo: Nash Consing
The No. 1 North Carolina field hockey team won its third game in five days — all in the newly-renamed Karen Shelton Stadium — with a 9-0 win over Ball State on Sunday afternoon.
What happened?
UNC (11-0, 4-0 ACC) scored three goals in the first eight minutes of the game and never looked back. Ball State (1-9, 1-1 MAC) had no answer defensively and registered only two shot attempts to North Carolina’s 29.
In the third minute, midfielder Eva van’t Hoog’s shot was deflected by the Cardinals’ goalkeeper. But midfielder Catherine Hayden would not let the Tar Heels be denied. Hayden regained possession and scored on a put-back goal.
Hayden’s goal was followed by two quick scores from forward Megan DuVernois and forward Erin Matson. DuVernois gained control of the ball at center field and drove it all the way down the right side. The 5-foot-4 junior was in a one-on-one matchup with the Ball State goalie in the sixth minute when she sent a shot that flew into the top left corner of the net.
Matson continued the hot start to her collegiate career when she scored the last of the opening trifecta of goals for UNC. In the eighth minute, the first-year found the back of the net for the 10th time this season to give the Tar Heels a 3-0 lead. After North Carolina made the score 5-0 with another goal from Hayden and one from forward Marissa Creatore, head coach Karen Shelton put her team on cruise control. Shelton cleared her bench just fifteen minutes into the game.
Later in the first half, two Tar Heels scored for the first time in their collegiate careers. Forward Riley Fulmer’s goal came on an assist from sophomore Courtnie Williamson in the 29th minute. In the closing minute of the half, midfielder Ali Rushton scored on a corner to give North Carolina a 7-score cushion heading into the locker room. In the first 10 minutes of the second half, UNC scored two more times before it reached Shelton’s limit.
“We didn’t want to get into double digits,” Shelton said after the game. “We talked about that. Once we got (to nine goals), we wanted to move the ball around. It’s not goodwill to slaughter a team.”
North Carolina milked the next 25 minutes of the game and went on to win by its largest margin of victory this season.
Who stood out?
Hayden scored twice for the Tar Heels and increased her season goal total to nine. Fulmer scored her first collegiate goal just a day after getting playing time for the first time on Saturday against Syracuse.
“(It’s) definitely a confidence booster,” Fulmer said. “It was exciting. Hopefully I can keep working towards another (goal).”
The first-year Virginia Beach, Va. native led the team in shots with five and shots on goal with four.
When was it decided?
When UNC scored its third goal in the eighth minute, Ball State looked lifeless. The Cardinals couldn’t find an answer and surrendered six more goals after that in a game where the Tar Heels scored at will.
Why does it matter?
North Carolina shutout its opponent for the seventh time this season in 11 games. The Tar Heels have only given up four goals this year. With just six contests remaining in the regular season, UNC will hope to keep its momentum heading into the ACC Tournament in November.
When do they play next?
UNC will take on No. 21 Wake Forest at Karen Shelton Stadium in Chapel Hill next Saturday at 1 p.m.
The Daily Tar Heel
No. 7 Penn State Field Hockey Dominates James Madison 8-2
By Hope Damato
Shannon Soboslay | Onward State
No. 7 Penn State field hockey (8-3, 3-1 Big Ten) dominated this afternoon and took down James Madison 8-2 at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex.
Seven different Nittany Lions found the back of the net during the game making this the third time Penn State scored eight goals in one game this season.
How It Happened
Penn State got itself an early goal off the stick of Aurelia Meijer. Meijer showed her stick wizardry on a quick counter-attack with a couple fantastic dekes to fake out the James Madison defense. She finished the play by placing a shot in the corner of the goal for her fourth tally of the year.
The Nittany Lions were dominating in penalty corners, earning five in the first half while the Dukes only had two. Senior Katie Dembrowski scored off a rebound from the post during the third corner to double Penn State’s lead midway through the half.
Sophomore Alexis Horst had impressive aim while sweeping the ball into the lower left corner with 14:19 to play in the first half. Horst’s sixth goal of the season extended the Nittany Lion lead to three goals and came just 65 seconds after Dembrowski’s tally.
Junior Bree Bednarski scored an unassisted goal by flicking the ball over the James Madison goalie Caitlin Nelson in the final minute of the first half. Her first goal of the year was a backbreaker that gave the Nittany Lions a four-goal lead entering halftime.
The second half began with sophomore Abby Myers danced around the James Madison defense and scored her third goal of the season with 27:48 to play in the game.
Aurelia Meijer scored her second goal of the game just two minutes after and extended Penn State’s lead to six. Cassie Kline and Emily Klingler added late goals, but the Dukes also scored two consolation goals in the final 15 minutes of the game.
Penn State finished the game with a 29-5 advantage of shots, capping off yet another dominant performance to improve to 8-3 this season.
Player Of The Game
Aurelia Meijer | Senior | Forward
After finding the goal early on in the game, Aurelia Meijer found it a second time to add to the Nittany Lions impressive win.
What’s Next
Penn State gets back to Big Ten play when it plays against Maryland at noon on Sunday, October 7 at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex.
Onward State
Field Hockey Sweeps Weekend with Dominant Defense
By Shuvom N. Sadhuka
Freshman Rachel Greenwood found the net for her first career goal on Sunday against Bryant. Photo: Timothy R. O'Meara
Not once this season has a Harvard field hockey opponent scored at the team’s home turf, Berylson Field. That didn’t change this weekend, as the hosts downed Bryant, 2-0, in front of a friendly crowd following a 2-1 victory at Penn the day before.
On the heels of the best 10-game start in program history, the No. 12 Division I program racked up its fifth and sixth straight wins over the weekend.
HARVARD 2, BRYANT 0
The Crimson (9-1, 2-0 Ivy) traveled back home for a game against Bryant (2-9) on Sunday. In spite of the limited rest, Harvard had a strong all-around performance against Bryant and came away with a shutout win, its fifth of the fall. On an assist from junior midfielder Casey Allen and senior midfielder Emily Duarte, senior back Olivia Allin scored her first goal of the weekend 19 minutes into the game.
The team tallied another point in the second half, this time on an unassisted goal from freshman forward Rachel Greenwood over the goalie pad. As usual, the Crimson played excellent defense, holding Bryant to zero shots, and complemented their defense with 31 shots on offense —16 of which were on goal — cutting out a large chunk of work for Bulldogs goalie Marjin Jaarsma.
“Our defense was solid today, we kept them to zero shots on goal,” senior midfielder Victoria Boylett said. “We were able to use the width to get some good passing patterns moving forward.”
The win was also somewhat symbolic and uplifting for the team, given the hectic schedule.
“We had to show that we can step up, that we’re a top team, even if we’re tired, even if it’s not an Ivy League game, and we did just that,” Allin said. “We have a lot of talent, freshmen who are starting, every player on the bench and on the field is strong, we can distribute the ball well; every layer of the team is doing its job well.”
HARVARD 2, PENN 1
Harvard routed Yale 6-0 last week in its first Ancient Eight game but found Penn to be a more formidable opponent. After a scoreless first half, the team struck early in the second behind a conversion from junior midfielder Bente van Vlijmen in the 39th minute. Van Vlijmen’s goal put her in the lead for most points in the Ivy League this season, with 23. The junior has been an offensive force for the team with those 23 points resulting from nine goals and five assists.
The Crimson couldn’t rest long though, as the Quakers evened the game just seven minutes later behind a goal off of a penalty. The match remained tied for the next 17 minutes before sophomore forward Natalie Sicher slung a shot past the goalie on an assist from freshman midfielder Kiley Allen with 7:30 left to play.
“We had some good transfers, defense really set up well, so that was a huge part of our game,” Allin said. “Also [we had] a fantastic goal by Natalie Sicher, straight into the top corner, which gave us the lead.”
Despite the close score, Harvard remained on the offensive for most of the game, attempting eight shots, three on goal, to Penn’s two shots, only one of which was on goal. The Quakers drop to 4-5 — 1-1 in conference play — after the defeat.
“Yesterday’s game was tough,” Allin said. “Ivy League games are always tough, because there’s a lot of pressure on us.”
Harvard has a tough schedule ahead, playing at Brown on Friday and at Boston University on Sunday. The biggest game, though, will be on Oct. 20 at Princeton, a must-win contest against the fifth-ranked team nationally for the conference title. With results like this weekend’s, though, the Crimson has plenty to look forward to as the season moves into conference play.
The Crimson
Field Hockey Uses Second Half Surge Sunday to Down Ohio, 5-1
PHILADELPHIA - The Drexel field hockey team's offense came alive in the second half Sunday at Buckley Field as the Dragons powered to a 5-1 win over Ohio. The Dragons improved to 5-5 (0-1 CAA) with the victory, while Ohio dropped to 4-5 (2-0 MAC). Drexel's goals came from Emily Owens, Layne Litsinger, Puk Thewessen, Chandler McFeeley and Tess Bernheimer.
The Dragons looked comfortable and confident from the jump and controlled the flow of the game early. It paid off as Drexel struck first less than nine minutes into play. Thewessen blasted a shot from just inside the left center of the circle, and Owens was there at the near post to deflect the ball past Ohio keeper Alex Pennington and into the top left corner of the cage. After Erin Gilchrist made two quick saves shortly after Owens' goal, Drexel kept control the rest of the half and went into the break up 1-0.
In the second, Ohio came out firing and looking to take control of its own. The Bobcats broke through five and a half minutes in. After thwarting three straight Ohio penalty corner chances, the Drexel defense yielded the Bobcats' only score of the afternoon, a goal off the stick of Leah Warren with an assist from Emma Eggleston. The Dragons ripped the momentum away from Ohio 12 minutes later. Litsinger stole an Ohio pass and found herself leading a two-on-two transition. With the other Ohio defender following Avery Powell down the left side, Litsinger drove to the right of the center of the circle, pushed the ball through the defender's legs, then past the keeper for her first career collegiate goal and for the lead. Less than two minutes later following a scramble in front, an Ohio foul gave Thewessen a penalty stroke chance, which she buried in the top left corner to give the Dragons the two-goal cushion with 16 minutes left to play.
Playing with confidence, the Dragons continued to push the pace on offense. With 10 minutes remaining, Megan Wiest drove inside the right center of the circle, fired a pass to the far post, which ricocheted off an Ohio defender to McFeeley. With the keeper out of position, McFeeley easily knocked home the goal. Then five minutes later, the Dragons all but ended it on a penalty corner. Thewessen blasted a shot from the point, the shot was blocked and caromed right to a waiting Bernheimer, who sent in her eighth goal of the season and sent the Dragons onto a 5-1 victory.
Drexel narrowly outshot Ohio, 13-12. Both teams sent eight shots on goal. Gilchrist came up with seven stops for her first win of the season, while Pennington stopped three. Drexel had nine penalty corner chances to Ohio's eight.
The Dragons return to action next weekend as they host nationally ranked Saint Joseph's Friday evening.
Drexel Dragons