News for 07 September 2019
All the news for Saturday 7 September 2019
2019 Oceania Cup (Men) - Day 3
Rockhampton Queensland (AUS)
Fixtures (GMT +10)
7 Sep 2019 18:00 AUS v NZL (RR)
8 Sep 2019 18:15 AUS v NZL (RR)
Australia Lead 1 - 0
FIH Match Centre
2019 Oceania Cup (Women) - Day 3
Rockhampton Queensland (AUS)
Fixtures (GMT +10)
7 Sep 2019 16:00 AUS v NZL (RR)
8 Sep 2019 16:00 AUS v NZL (RR)
New Zealand lead 1 - 0
FIH Match Centre
2019 Oceania Intercontinental Hockey 5s - Day 4
Results from the Men's and Women's tournament
2019 Oceania Intercontinental Hockey 5s (Men)
Rockhampton Queensland (AUS)
7 Sep 2019 TGA v PNG 1 - 17
2019 Oceania Intercontinental Hockey 5s (Women)
Rockhampton Queensland (AUS)
7 Sep 2019 SOL v TGA 10 - 3
FIH Match Centre
Pacific nations hockey 5s teams get taste of Rockhampton generosity
By Rachel McGhee
Photo: The PNG women's hockey team has been overwhelmed by the community support during their visit. (Supplied: Wendy Kemp)
A central Queensland community has donated thousands of dollars worth of food to hockey teams from developing countries.
National hockey teams from the Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Papua New Guinea are competing in the Oceania Hockey Cup's Hockey Fives tournament in Rockhampton.
It is one of the only international hockey competitions these countries can qualify to attend which helps build their score in the world rankings.
But the financial burden of travel and equipment for these teams holds them back.
Food donation drive started by volunteers
Samoa, Fiji, and Vanuatu were invited to compete at this year's event but could not afford to attend, and now teams that did get here have found they are struggling to buy food.
"We noticed they hadn't had anything to eat about lunch time," hockey volunteer Wendy Kemp said.
"So we approached the coaches and discovered that due to financial issues, the young ones were very limited in the food they had while here in Australia."
Photo: Rockhampton hockey volunteers put out a call to local families and were inundated with donations. (ABC Capricornia: Rachel McGhee)
Ms Kemp, along with other Rockhampton Hockey volunteers, started a food donation drive to help support the teams.
"We put out a call to the families of Rocky hockey and we've been inundated with food," she said.
"We've had fruit, vegetables, bread, and some meat so we're providing them with the best that we can."
Ms Kemp said the teams' situation opened their eyes to the challenges faced by developing countries when trying to send teams to participate in sport.
"To realise these kids were here with limited food to supply them when they're out here playing in the heat [was] really eye opening," she said.
Teams 'humbled' by local support
Indere Howell, coach and captain of the Solomon Islands women's team, said the teams were incredibly grateful for the support from the Rockhampton community.
"There's been people coming around and they've seen that we need help. We're very humble and thankful for that," she said.
Photo: Indere Howell said most of the players are students who have sacrificed a lot to get to Rockhampton. (ABC Capricornia: Russel Talbot)
Ms Howell said teams had sacrificed a lot to be involved in the competition and were honoured to be there.
"It's really expensive to travel and back home, as a developing country, you don't have access to a good amount of money," she explained.
"Most of us are students [and] some of them have sacrificed so much time and effort.
"They have pulled out money out of their own pockets to be here and that's because they love hockey and they really want to grow in our game and sport."
Offering opportunity to developing nations
Hockey Fives is a short format game of the sport, played by a team of five on a smaller field.
Photo: Oceania Hockey Cup secretary Bob Claxton (left) and president David Peebles. (ABC Capricornia: Rachel McGhee)
It was created by the International Hockey Federation to give players from developing countries — who may not have a full-sized field or enough players — the opportunity to compete in major tournaments.
"They only have to bring nine players not 18 [and] even with that, largely they can only afford to go to one hockey tournament a year," Oceania Hockey Cup secretary Bob Claxton said.
Mr Claxton said the introduction of Hockey Fives had helped more countries take up the sport and compete in higher level tournaments.
"They [the Solomon Islands] have now got 2,000-plus players where two or three years ago hockey was very very small," he said.
Elite players inspire young teams
The Australian and New Zealand men's and women's teams are also competing at the Oceania Hockey Cup in Rockhampton where they are fighting for a direct qualification to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Ms Howells said watching the level of skill on the field between those players was motivating her and her team.
Photo: There is plenty of motivation and inspiration around for the teams to absorb while they are in Rockhampton. (ABC Capricornia: Rachel McGhee)
"They're like role models to us; we have no words for how amazing it was watching them," she said.
"If we work hard and we try to improve and get better we can be just as good as them, so it's really motivating and inspiring."
Ms Howells said she would love to see tougher competition in her country but it was difficult to attract players due to a lack of facilities and equipment.
"We want to share that with the rest of the country but we don't have the right facilities," she said.
"Soccer is really big back home.
"It'd be amazing if we had the same amount of opportunity as other sports back home but we're definitely pushing for that."
ABC
Ghodes calls it a day
Nic Kerber
Hockey Australia can confirm dual Olympian Matt Gohdes has officially announced his retirement from international hockey.
Gohdes last represented the Kookaburras in the team’s final match of the 2016 Rio Olympics, a quarter final against the Netherlands.
Fittingly, Gohdes’ announcement to retire comes with the Kookaburras currently in his hometown of Rockhampton for the Oceania Cup. Gohdes is one in a line of outstanding hockey players to come out of Rockhampton, alongside former teammates Jamie Dwyer and Mark Knowles.
One of the world’s best at his peak, Gohdes made a total of 159 appearances for the Kookaburras from 2009-2016, scoring 53 goals.
A bronze medal at the London 2012 Games, together with being part of the Kookaburras’ triumphant teams at the 2010 Champions Trophy and 2014 World Cup list among his greatest achievements.
“The World Cup in 2014 was clearly a highlight as well as competing at the Olympics,” said Gohdes, who represented Australia at the 2012 and 2016 Games.
“I had some great memories but overall I think just playing with good mates and making some really good friends throughout my career was fantastic.”
“I think the Kookaburras culture is brilliant. Even the overlap between the generations, the connection between the older players and the younger players is still really tight, they are all just a really good bunch of blokes.
“I gave it a good crack during my international career and looking back I’m pretty happy with it all.”
Hockey Australia High Performance Director Toni Cumpston complimented Gohdes on his contribution to the Kookaburras and his international hockey career.
“Matt was arguably one of the most naturally skilled and gifted hockey players to represent the Kookaburras,” said Cumpston.
“He was part of that remarkable Kookaburras team that won the World Cup in 2014 and was a great contributor during his time in the national high performance setup.
“We thank Matt for his years of commitment and service in representing his country. He will always be part of the Kookaburras family and we wish him every success in the future.”
Matthew Gohdes
DOB: 8 May 1990
Cap number: 380
159 appearances (53 goals)
Debut: 19 October 2009 vs Malaysia (Test Series in Kuala Lumpur)
Last match: 14 August 2016 vs Netherlands (Quarter Final, Rio Olympics)
Achievements
2015 Equal leading scorer in home series against Korea, New Zealand and Pakistan
2014 World Cup – Winners
2012 London Olympics – Bronze medal
2010 Champions Trophy – Winners
Hockey Australia media release
Unbeaten Warriors put record on the line
By AYUMBA AYODI
An explosive battle is anticipated when defending champions Butali Sugar Warriors face rivals Kenya Police in a men’s hockey Premier League match at City Park on Sunday.
Butali Sugar, who are yet to lose a match this season, are out not only to uphold their undefeated status but also break clear at the top of the standings.
Police, who have so far had a lukewarm season, drawing 1-1 with Sailors last weekend, are eying revenge. They lost 2-1 to Butali Sugar in a closely contested first leg match on April 20.
Also on Sunday, second-placed Wazalendo, who are just one point adrift of Butali Sugar, take on Strathmore University Gladiators at 3pm before the Butali and Police cracker.
Wazalendo prevailed 1-0 over Gladiators in the first leg.
Western Jaguars will be eying revenge when they host Greensharks at the Eregi Teachers College, Kakamega today. Jaguars went down 3-2 in the first leg.
United States International University (USIU) face Nairobi Simba in the other men’s Premier League duel on Saturday.
Dennis Owoka’s Butali Sugar an unbeaten run of six wins and three draws that has seen them amass 21 while Police, who dropped two places to fourth after the draw with Sailors, have 18 points from five wins, three draws and two losses.
Owoka will miss the valuable services of his key striker George Mutira, who is currently suspended after receiving four green cards.
However, Owoka is happy that the team has gelled and blended well since their last meeting with Police.
“Calvin “Kanu” Otieno and Amos Barkibir whom we have just signed from Kenya Police were a bit jittery but they have now matured alongside other youngster Moses Ademba. they are raring to go and we should expect fireworks,” said Owoka.
He added that their midfield was more compact with Vincent Odhiambp and Francis Kariuki working in tandem.
Owoka sad that he was confident of victory but warned that Kenya Police, who have not had a good outing in their last two matches, could regain their strength against them.
“They lost to Wazalendo before drawing with Sailors. They will be dangerous,” said Owoka.
Police skipper Oliver Echenje rued losing four points from their last two matches but said they were ready for Butali.
“Our training has been intense since losing to Butali in the first leg and we are all looking forward to the match against the league leaders,” said Echenje.
FIXTURES
Saturday
Men’s Premier League:
Western Jaguars v Greensharks (3pm) Kakamega; USIU v Nairobi Simba (City Park) 6pm
Women’s Premier League: Strathmore v KU (4pm) City Park
Men’s Super League: KCAU v Parkroad Badgers (2pm) City Park; Bungoma Farmers v Nakuru (3pm) Bungoma; MSC v KU (4pm) Mombasa
Sunday
Men’s Premier League:
Wazalendo v Strathmore (3pm) City Park; Kenya Police v Butali Sugar (5pm) City Park
Men’s Super League
Mvita v KU (9am) Mombasa; KCAU v Wazalendo Masters (1pm) City Park; Kisumu Youngstars v Nakuru (10am) Kisumu
Women’s Super League
Wazalendo Youth v Bay Club (9am) City Park; Oranje Leonas v UoN (11am)
Masters League
GI Blues v Impala Veterans (7pm) City Park
Daily Nation
Butali seek to disarm Police
By Elizabeth Mburugu
Butali's Brian Musasia (L) and Nakuru Men's Caleb Kinjo fight for the ball [Courtesy]
Kenya Hockey Union men’s Premier League champions Butali Warriors will be out to complete a double against arch-rivals Kenya Police tomorrow at City Park.
Butali who are on course to defending their title will be seeking a second win against the law enforcers who they beat 2-1 in the first leg of the 2019 season.
Currently second with 21 points, Butali have been in brilliant form and are the only side yet to lose.
Former champions Police, on the other hand, go into the match from two poor outings that resulted in a 2-1 loss to Wazalendo and a 1-1 draw against Sailors.
Police have had a dull season, one of their worst in many years and have only won five out of ten matches so far. They are currently fourth with 18 points, five less than league leaders Wazalendo.
They will also be hoping to overcome Police and maintain their unbeaten record as well as increase their point tally to 24 from ten outings.
Butali coach Dennis Owoka said that they will be looking to bag maximum points as a win against Police will boost their title defence campaign. “We expect a very tough match because it is never easy to win against Police,” Owoka said, and added that even though Police have struggled in their last three encounters they will not write them off.
He will rely on former police duo of Calvins Kanu and Moses Barkibir together with Moses Ademba, Derrick Kuloba and Vincent Odhiambo in hunt for goals.
In defence, captain Kenneth Nyongesa, Constant Wakhura, Arif Shah and Robert Amadi will be tasked with ensuring that Police strikers don’t breach their territory.
Police will bank on forwards Titus Kimutai, Govan Mbeki and Samsom Kibirir for goals with Oliver Echenje and Willis Okeyo hoping to call the shots in the midfield.
Today, Western Jaguars will entertain Green Sharks in Kakamega with the aim of avenging their numerous losses.
They will be looking to turn tables and return the favour to Sharks who beat them 3-2 in their first leg tie in July at City Park.
United States International University of Africa will clash with 2012 champions Nairobi Sikh Union whereas league leaders Wazalendo will take on 2016 champions Strathmore University Gladiators tomorrow.
In the women’s Premier League, Kenyatta University Titans eye their first win of the season against Strathmore Scorpions.
Titans who returned to the top tier this season are yet to chalk a victory after eight outings.
In the men’s Super League, Park Road Badgers will be seeking to maintain their unbeaten run when they take on Kenya College of Accountancy.
The Standard Digital
With two ACC heavyweights on horizon, Maryland field hockey wants to keep things simple
David Suggs
Midfielder Brooke DeBerdine brings the ball upfield during Maryland’s 3-1 win over Rutgers at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex on Oct. 5, 2018. (Andi Wenck/The Diamondback)
The Maryland field hockey team entered last season’s Big Ten/ACC Cup — an annual two-game competition in which Maryland takes on ACC powerhouses Boston College and Duke — looking to keep the momentum after a series of solid performances during its West Coast slate.
Maryland has a checkered history in the competition, entering last season with a 1-5 record in cup matches. But the Terps impressed then, using their possession-based tactics to create a number of scoring chances. Maryland put away seven goals across its two games, matching its goal total in the tournament from the previous three seasons combined.
The Terps’ absorbent possession also kept the Eagles’ and Blue Devils’ high-powered offenses in check, with each team mustering 11 and 15 shots apiece. Maryland cruised to victories over the ACC powerhouses, continuing a 13-game win streak that helped establish coach Missy Meharg’s squad as legitimate title contenders.
So this weekend, when the No. 2 Terps travel to Evanston, Illinois, to take on No. 13 Boston College and No. 3 Duke, Meharg’s squad is aiming to stick to its heavy-possession approach — a style of play that has been especially effective in Maryland’s first two games.
“It was a good start,” junior midfielder Brooke DeBerdine said. “[We were able] to feel each other out before going into a big weekend.”
The Terps (2-0) come into the Big Ten/ACC Cup off the back of decent showings against Richmond and New Hampshire, in which they outscored their opponents 10-1.
However, despite the lopsided scorelines, Maryland is looking to clean up its play heading into the weekend. The Eagles and Blue Devils have the quality to make the Terps pay for any mistakes made in defense.
“I’d like to see us play simpler hockey at times,” Meharg said. “We play such high-risk and high-forward that we have unforced errors. … We’ve got some stuff to work on.”
The Eagles (1-1) face Maryland on Friday, hoping to avenge their 3-2 overtime loss to Fairfield. Despite the surprising defeat, Boston College appears to be a dangerous force, averaging 22.5 shots per game. Meanwhile, the Blue Devils — who the Terps will play on Sunday — rank third in the country with eight goals.
“They’re exciting teams to play against,” junior defender Hannah Bond said.
Given the goal threats that both teams present, the Terps will be aiming to limit odd-man opportunities by cycling the ball throughout the midfield and attack.
“[We] just want to play Maryland hockey,” Deberdine said, “Possessing the ball [at a] fast pace, and going ahead when we need to. But all in all, just keeping possession of the ball.”
Similarly, the defense has spent the week working on ball retention, with defenders looking to diversify their passing game to help improve ball movement. Bond said the backline wants to better choose when to go forward on the attack.
While the Terps will face a difficult challenge this weekend, Meharg’s squad is excited by the opportunity to face off against perennial top-25 schools. And armed with an improved possession-based play style, Maryland will be looking to put up another series of strong displays in the Big Ten/ACC Cup.
“I’m just so happy that they’re as good as they are and that’s what we need,” Meharg said. “They’re only going to make us better, [but] we want to win.”
The Diamondback
No. 2 Maryland field hockey takes down No. 13 Boston College, 3-1
David Suggs
Forwards Bibi Donraadt and Jen Bleakney embrace midfielder Kyler Greenwalt after her goal during Maryland field hockey’s 5-1 win over Richmond on Aug. 30, 2019. (Gabby Baniqued/The Diamondback)
With Maryland field hockey up 2-1 in the fourth quarter against No. 13 Boston College, fans would have been forgiven for expecting the Terps to take a more defensive approach — especially after the Eagles peppered goalkeeper Noelle Frost with four shots in the final minute of the third quarter.
Despite those expectations, Maryland maintained the attacking pressure, with freshman midfielder Linda Cobano eventually lacing a Bibi Donraadt penalty corner into the top corner of the cage with seven minutes left to give the Terps a two-goal lead, one they wouldn’t relinquish.
And while No. 2 Maryland wasn’t infallible, its commitment to attacking field hockey pushed the team to a 3-1 victory over Boston College on Friday.
“We sustained an [attacking] brand of hockey,” coach Missy Meharg said. “Scoring a goal in three of the four quarters is nice.”
The Terps traveled to Evanston, Illinois to take on the Eagles in the first match of their two-game slate against ACC competition in the Big Ten/ACC Cup. And after combining for 10 goals in its previous two games, Maryland hoped to put up another impressive offensive display.
The first quarter was played at a frenetic pace, with Maryland midfielders Brooke DeBerdine and Madison Maguire pressing defenders and carrying the ball deep into Boston College’s half. Despite owning the lion’s share of possession, though, the Terps struggled to dissect the Eagles’ backline. Donraadt had an effort saved by Boston College goalkeeper Joanna Kennedy early in the first period, but Meharg’s squad failed to record another shot until 2:55 remaining in the frame.
That shot, though, would prove to be the breakthrough.
Forward Jen Bleakney deflected a Kelee LePage pass onto goal, forcing a kick save from Kennedy. The subsequent rebound fell into Maguire’s path, who whipped the ball around two defenders and into the cage, giving Maryland a 1-0 lead.
That lead didn’t last long, however, with the Eagles pressing the Terps into conceding a penalty corner near the end of the first frame. Boston College forward Jaime Natale then deflected the resulting attempt past goalkeeper Noelle Frost to tie the game.
“It was a very well-executed corner,” Meharg said, “[Natale] is very good at deflections. We’ll take a look at it on video and figure out if we’re in that situation again with a similar-type player in that corner, we need to step up and step on her stick.”
Despite the late equalizer, the Terps continued to dominate possession in the second quarter. They began to pass the ball into more dangerous areas, earning three penalty corners. Junior defender Bodil Keus was particularly active, forcing three saves from Kennedy in the second frame.
“I thought we did a good job [at keeping possession],” freshman midfielder Emma DeBerdine said. “I think we worked well using our small passing and that really helped us get around BC.”
Maryland’s incisive passing eventually paid off, with DeBerdine firing a shot off of a Boston College defender to break the 1-1 deadlock.
“It was definitely surprising because it went off the defender’s stick,” DeBerdine said. “But it was really exciting.”
The Terps got off to a quick start in the third quarter, recording three shots in the first five minutes. However, Boston College — held quiet for much of the first half — found its footing toward the end of the quarter, with Frost making two crucial stops to help Meharg’s squad maintain the lead entering the fourth.
With Boston College pressing for an equalizer, the fourth quarter was a nip-and-tuck affair. Keus, DeBerdine and Donraadt all had shots skim just past the goal. But it was Cobano — the Hanover, Germany, native who was ruled eligible this week after missing the first two games — who scored the goal that confirmed the victory for the Terps, who move to 3-0 on the season.
“When we opened up in that final quarter, we went at them,” Meharg said. “Going up 3-1 is a nice difference — a lot nicer than a one-goal difference.”
In its first ranked matchup of the year, Maryland proved it could overcome top competition. That challenge will only grow larger with a bout against No. 3 Duke looming Sunday.
“Duke is a very good team … so it’ll be a tough game,” Maguire said. “But I think that if we play the way we play and not play the way our opponents want us to play, I think we can come back with two wins this weekend.”
The Diamondback