News for 03 October 2019
All the news for Thursday 3 October 2019
Watson nets first GB goal in 3-1 victory
Great Britain’s women’s side put in a solid showing to defeat India 3-1 in the second of three Test matches as preparations for the Olympic Qualifier matches on 2 and 3 November continue.
Having battled to a scoreless draw in Tuesday’s opening match, Great Britain were ruthless in front of goal today with Charlotte Watson recording her first GB goal in between strikes from Hannah Martin and Giselle Ansley.
Taking place under sunny skies at Bisham Abbey, the hosts got off to the perfect start as Martin cleverly turned a cross past Rajani Etimarpu after just five minutes.
In response, India immediately went on the offensive and came close from a penalty corner as they looked to test the GB defence.
Mark Hager’s side had a corner of their own shortly after, but Hollie Pearne-Webb couldn’t quite find any of the onrushing attackers.
The visitors drew level mid-way through the second quarter as a good passage of play saw them move into the circle before Neha Goyal fired past Maddie Hinch.
Hinch was called into action again shortly after, showing great reflexes with a stunning double save from close range to deny India from getting another on the board before half-time.
The team then took the lead through 21-year-old Watson’s tidy finish as she found the net in just her second GB appearance, the Scottish international having made her debut away to Japan in July.
Both teams showed signs of promise in attack with chances presenting themselves at either end of the field as the game progressed in the third quarter; however more good work defensive work preserved GB’s lead.
They were able to put the game to bed in the final quarter as Ansley buried a penalty stroke into the bottom corner of the goal, well out of the reach of the goalkeeper’s right glove.
With GB now leading 1-0 in the series, the teams will contest the final Test match on Friday 4 October.
Great Britain 3
Martin (5’, FG)
Watson (29’, FG)
Ansley (50’, FG)
India 1
Goyal (18’, FG)
Starting XI: Hinch, Evans, Toman, Martin, Robertson, Ansley, Pearne-Webb, McCallin, Owsley, Petter, Wilkinson
Subs: Defroand, Neal, Hunter, Burge, Costello, Watson
Subs (unused): Tennant
Great Britain Hockey media release
Indian women's hockey team loses to Great Britain in fourth game to leave series in balance
Players of the Indian women's hockey team take positions before a penalty corner against great Britain. Image courtesy: Facebook @HockeyIndia
Marlow (England): The Indian women's hockey team tasted its first defeat on England tour when they went down 1-3 to Great Britain in the fourth match on Wednesday.
Great Britain took an early lead through Hannah Martin (5th minute) but India's Neha Goyal (18th) scored the equaliser.
However, a goal before half-time from Charlotte Watson (29th), and one in the last quarter through Giselle Ansley (50th) meant that Great Britain secured their first win of the tour, snapping India's unbeaten run in the last three matches of the tour.
World No 9 India had notched up a 2-1 win in the first match, before drawing the next two games 1-1 and 0-0 respectively.
The hosts dominated possession in the early stages and won their first Penalty Corner in just the 3rd minute, but India's goalkeeper Rajani Etimarpu produced a fine save to deny the hosts early on.
However, the visitors could not deny the hosts on the second occasion as they took the lead through a field goal by Hannah in the 5th minute.
India gradually came into the game, and had a few chances of their own in the latter stages of the first quarter, but were denied by Maddie Hinch during back-to-back Penalty Corners.
With the momentum on their side, the Indian team combined well at the start of the second quarter, and pressed for the equaliser, which eventually came in the 18th minute as Neha produced a slick finish to make it 1-1, and put the pressure back on the host nation.
Four minutes later, Great Britain had another Penalty Corner, but were denied by the first rusher, while India also won themselves back-to-back PCs in the 24th minute, but could not get past their Goalkeeper Hinch.
It was in the 29th minute at the stroke of half-time that Great Britain created a great chance through combination play by their forwards, and managed to take a 2-1 lead into half-time as Charlotte Watson scored their second.
The third quarter saw a great battle between the two sides, as both of them tried to create chances. India were looking to equalise for the second time in the match, while the hosts wanted to extend their lead.
Great Britain had a wonderful chance to make it 3-1 in the 40th minute as they won themselves a Penalty Corner, but could not beat India's Savita, who had replaced Etimarpu in the third quarter.
Neither team could create any real opportunity in the third period, and were battling it out in midfield. The drying up of chances for both the teams meant that Great Britain maintained their 2-1 advantage at the break with 15 minutes to play.
The Indian team tried to attack their opponents more in the last quarter, as they looked for the equaliser, meaning they had more players up the field.
The tactic meant that the hosts looked to counter their opposition on the break of possession, and were actually successful in doing so in the 50th minute when the Indian defence had to concede a Penalty Stroke after an obstruction inside the striking circle.
The resulting execution from the spot was taken and converted by Giselle Ansley, who made it 3-1 in the hosts' favour.
India had a few chances in the last 10 minutes to make a comeback, but could not produce that cutting-edge pass in the final third to score again in the match, as the hosts ran away with a 3-1 win in the third match.
India will play Great Britain in their fifth and final match of the Tour on Friday.
Firstpost
Leah Wilkinson: Teaching history in the morning, Great Britain debut in the afternoon
By Tom Brown
Leah Wilkinson has played 169 times for Wales and now has two Great Britain caps
Wales hockey captain Leah Wilkinson has played a record 169 times for her country.
But that did not stop the nerves nearly getting the better of the 32-year-old as she prepared to make her Great Britain debut this week.
Wilkinson says teaching her history class on Tuesday morning helped settle her, before taking her GB bow debut that afternoon in a 0-0 draw against India.
"I was like a nervous wreck. I actually went to work in the morning and taught some lessons," she told BBC Sport Wales.
"There's nothing like teaching a class of 15-year-old boys to take your mind off a game in the afternoon."
Wilkinson - who works as a teacher in Surrey - is thought to be the most-capped Welsh sportsperson of all time.
On Wednesday she helped GB to a 3-1 win in the second encounter of the three-Test series against India, with the final match to follow on Friday.
After making her GB bow, Wilkinson could now look forward to an Olympic Games.
GB's women face Chile in a two-legged qualifier in November, with the winner earning a place at Tokyo 2020.
"I'd love more than anything to be part of that squad and to be at those Olympic qualifiers," Wilkinson said.
"The Olympic Games is the pinnacle for any sportsperson. The ultimate ambition in my hockey career is to do that.
"I know it's a cliche but I seriously am taking every day as it comes. Every training session and every match, I just try as best I can."
The Olympic qualifying ties against Chile will be played at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre on 2-3 November.
BBC Sport
2019 Test matches FRA v IRL (Men)
Bordeaux (FRA)
1 Oct 2019 FRA v IRL 1 - 2
2 Oct 2019 FRA v IRL 2 - 3
FIH Match Centre
Tumilty reign begins with two wins from two in France
Matthew Nelson netted a late winner in game two against France. Pic: Adrian Boehm
Mark Tumilty’s reign as Irish coach started in pleasing fashion as they beat France twice in Bordeaux as they close in on their Olympic qualifiers.
In game one, they won 2-1 with Matthew Nelson after Sean Murray and Blaise Rogeau had exchanged goals.
“We started the game off well, getting ahead in the first quarter from a counter attack and then continued to be dominant throughout the first half,” Murray said afterwards.
“The French put the pressure on in the second half and they were rewarded with an equaliser through a penalty corner. Late in the second half Matthew Nelson banged in a squeeze shot from the top of the D to take the lead and, through some strong deep defence, we were able to see the game out. Overall a very pleasing performance.”
Captain David Harte and defender Luke Madeley were both back after injury while Peter Caruth was back in the side for the first time in 16 months. Chris Cargo was also back in for his first game since the World Cup after unavailability due to work.
With Matthew Nelson returning and Dave Fitzgerald, as second choice goalkeeper, was the sixth of the changes made by Tumilty for the tie from the European line-up
Stephen Cole was a late call-up, stepping in for Eugene Magee who limped out of Banbridge’s defeat to Three Rock Rovers in the EY Hockey Legaue last weekend. The Bann man, though, is hopeful of being ready for the qualifiers.
In game two, Ireland struck late for a second successive game to give them two wins from two with a 3-2 success.
Charles Masson broke the deadlock in the 17th minute but the lead was swapped before half-time. Peter Caruth equalised with his first international goal since February 2018, this series being his first capped games for 16 months.
John McKee – another player getting his chance after a spell out of the panel – then put Ireland in front before half-time with a sharp rebound off Arthur Thieffry’s pads.
Pieter van Straaten’s powerful shot tied things up for a second time in the third quarter but Shane O’Donoghue whipped home a drag-flick with four minutes to go to win the tie 3-2.
Reflecting on the series, coach Tumilty said it was “a much better attacking display from the team. We are making progress and will look to build on this over the next few weeks”.
Next on Ireland’s agenda is a test match against reigning world champions Belgium on October 15th ahead of their Olympic qualifier series on October 26th and 27th in West Vancouver.
Closer to home, all of the 2,500 stand tickets for the two Irish women’s Olympic qualifiers in Donnybrook Stadium sold out within one day with only terrace tickets left for their games on November 2nd and 3rd.
Game one:
France 1 (B Rogeau)
Ireland 2 (S Murray, M Nelson)
France: A Thieffry, P van Straaten, H Genestet, B Rogeau, C Masson, A Bellenger, N Dumont, G Baumgarten, F Goyet, C Peters-Deutz, J-B Forgues
Subs: J-L Kieffer, S Martin-Brisac, E Tynevez, T Ponthieu, M Branicki
Ireland: D Harte, J Jackson, T Cross, M Nelson, P Caruth, S O’Donoghue, M Robson, B Walker, D Walsh, C Harte, L Cole
Subs: J Bell, L Madeley, C Cargo, S Murray, J Duncan, S Cole, D Fitzgerald
Game two:
France 2 (C Masson, P van Straaten)
Ireland 3 (P Caruth, J McKee, S O’Donoghue)
France: A Thieffry, P van Straaten, H Genestet, S Martin-Brisac, B Rogeau, V Lockwood, C Masson, A Bellenger, N Dumont, F Goyet, J-B Forgues
Subs: J-l Kieffer, G Baumgarten, C Peters-Deutz, E Tynevez, T Ponthieu, M Branicki, C Saunier
Ireland: D Harte, J Jackson, J Bell, T Cross, S O’Donoghue, S Murray, J McKee, B Walker, D Walsh, C Harte, J Duncan
Subs: C Cargo, M Nelson, P Caruth, M Robson, L Cole, S Loughrey, D Fitzgerald
The Hook
Germany will be tough but we’ll never give up, says Italy captain Tiddi
In the latest of a series of videos featuring athletes from the teams that will participate in the upcoming FIH Hockey Olympic qualifiers, Italy (FIH World Ranking: 17) women’s captain Chiara Tiddi looks ahead to her team’s crucial two-game away trip clash to face European silver medallists Germany (WR:4). The all-important matches will take place at the Mönchengladbach’s Hockeypark on 2/3 November 2019, with the winner booking their ticket to Tokyo. A transcript of Chiara’s thoughts on the games can be found below.
The FIH Hockey Olympic qualifiers will be taking place very soon. How will your team prepare for these hugely important matches?
Chiara Tiddi: “It’s now just one month until those important games. Our preparation is well organised, we will have test matches and a lot of training sessions to be ready to fight against Germany over that weekend.”
What are your thoughts about Germany, your opponent in the FIH Hockey Olympic qualifiers, and how is your squad feeling about these matches?
Chiara Tiddi: “It’s a tough team, a really good team. They are playing really good and I think that they have made a huge step [forwards] since the last World Cup in London, which is why it won’t be easy for us to beat them, especially in their ‘home’. Still, we have a great chance to reach the Olympics, it’s the same chance for both teams.”
What can the fans expect to see from her Italy team?
Chiara Tiddi: “You can expect a really tough team that never gives up and tries to do everything we can to reach that pass for the Olympics. See you there in Mönchengladbach!”
Each qualifier consists of two back-to-back matches which will be played in the same venue. The winners of these FIH Hockey Olympic qualifiers will qualify for the 2020 Olympic hockey tournaments which will be staged in Japan’s capital city from 25 July to 7 August next year and involve 12 Men’s and 12 Women’s teams.
#Tokyo2020
#RoadToTokyo
#GiftOfHockey
FIH site
Syed hopes to sidestep injuries before Britain clash
By AFTAR SINGH
KUALA LUMPUR: National hockey defender Syed Mohd Syafiq Syed Cholan is keeping his fingers crossed that he can stay clear of the crocked list.
The 24-year-old player from Ipoh, who is injury-prone, does not want to miss the Olympic playoff matches against Britain in London on Nov 2 and 3.
The Tenaga Nasional player suffered a left wrist injury during the Malaysia Hockey League season in March and skipped the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh in April after undergoing surgery.
During a playing tour of Europe in July, he suffered injuries to both his ankles and had to miss the four-nation tournament in Tokyo the next month.
Syed is among 21 players in the training squad and coach Roelant Oltmans will drop three players before he names the final squad for the playoffs.
Syed, who made his international debut at the Singapore SEA Games in 2015, said he has had enough of being on the sideline.
“The playoffs are the last chance for Malaysia to qualify for the Olympics and only the best 18 will get the nod.
“Although I’m prone to injuries, I hope I have impressed the coach enough with my past performances to earn a spot.”
He added that the backline need to buck up as they are the weakest link as proven during the playing tour of South Korea last week.
They played four matches against the Korean national side and won once (2-1), drew once (2-2) and lost twice (0-2, 4-5).
“The coach is now focusing more on the defenders. Hopefully, we can get our act right by the time we take on Britain.”
The other defenders in the squad are Mohd Razie Abdul Rahim, Sukri Abdul Mutalib, Faiz Helmi Jali and Mohd Najib Abu Hassan.
Malaysia will play one or two matches in Amsterdam before heading to London.
Malaysia have not qualified for the Olympics since Sydney in 2000.
The Star of Malaysia
Oman hockey team holds home side to 4-4 draw
After today (Thursday) rest, the third match will be played tomorrow (October 4) at Johar Town Hockey Stadium
LAHORE - Oman made a strong comeback to earn a surprise 4-4 draw against fancied Pakistan Development Squad in the second hockey test here at the outer ground of National Hockey Stadium on Wednesday.
It was a stunning performance on part of the touring side, which suffered 7-0 defeat by the home side in the opener at the same venue. Oman is on a preparatory tour ahead of their participation in the Asia Confederation Cup being played in Bangladesh from October 14.
Oman team was supported by brilliance of their hat-trick maker and the match-maker Rashad Salim Hamed Al-Fazari. Apart from sterling performance of Rashad, Aliyas Sulaiman Mohammed Al-Noufali also played well and contributed with one goal. From the home side, Amjad Ali Khan banged in a brace while Hammad Anjum and Rana Abdul Waheed scored one goal each.
Under the coaching of former Pakistan captain and Olympian, Tahir Zaman, Oman team entered the match with a better planning and strategy and appeared altogether opposite to their previous day sluggish show. On the other hand, home chief coach, former Pakistan captain and Olympian, Khawaja Muhammad Junaid, tried out various players on specialized positions, which perhaps was the main reason as they failed to develop coordination and lost the ideal sitters in the run of play.
The visiting side started with an aggressive approach, which helped them open their account in the 12th minute through a fabulous field goal of hat-trick boy Rashad. In the very next minute, the local side made a good comeback and netted an impressive goal on a penalty corner by Amjad to level the score at 1-1 to put a new life in the match in front of empty stadium.
The second quarter was identical to the first one as both the scored one goal apiece to finish it at 2-2 as keen tussle was seen in field attacks and both the sides presented better brand of hockey. Oman team one again launched a series of attacks on Pak squad goals and succeeded in taking 2-1 lead through a field goal by Aliyas while Amjad drew the blood at 2-2 when he again converted a penalty corner successfully with a greater anticipation.
With both sides displaying never say die approach, Pakistan changed their game plan in the third quarter and struck better coordination in mid field and flanks with aggressive shooting and controlled ball possession, they managed to take 3-2 lead. The only goal of the quarter was scored by Hammad Anjum.
The fourth and final quarter was well-fought by both the sides but Oman team played comparatively better hockey and succeeded in finishing the match at 4-4 draw. Rashad first scored a field goal in the beginning of the last quarter to equalize the score at 3-3.
The home side then once again managed to take 4-3 lead through Abdul Waheed, who fired in a field goal. It was being expected that now the local players will emerge as winners but in the dying moments of the match, hero of Oman team Rashad scored a brilliant to earn a draw for his side and also completed his well-deserving hat-trick. After today (Thursday) rest, the third match will be played tomorrow (October 4) at Johar Town Hockey Stadium.
The Nation
Jillaroos team announced for December Tri Series
Nic Kerber
An 18-player Jillaroos team (Under 21 Women’s Australia hockey team) has been named for an upcoming Tri Series against India and New Zealand.
The majority of the team selected by Jillaroos Head Coach Tim White, in conjunction with National Junior selectors for the Tri Series, come from the National Junior Squad athlete pool.
The National Junior Squad was chosen after the 2019 U21 National Championships which were held in Lismore in July.
“We think we have chosen a talented group who, with good preparation, should come together to be a good unit when we play the Tri Series in December,” said White.
“Given the fact that we haven’t had a chance to see the athletes at a selection event since we announced the National Junior Squad, the group we have selected for the Tri Series basically comes from that event.”
Excitingly, Emma de Broughe, Dayle Dolkens, Kendra Fitzpatrick and Sara Foster are in line to make their Australian Under 21 debuts in the series to be held in Canberra from 3-8 December 2019.
The team also includes Abigail Wilson and Karri Sommerville who are currently part of the Hockeyroos Development Squad.
“We’ve chosen Abigail and Karri from the National Development Squad as they are targeted athletes in the Hockey Australia pathway,” said White.
“Some players will also be making their debut at this level and getting their first opportunity.
“It’s an exciting group and one we’re looking forward to working with.”
With limited opportunities to get the players together and work with them as a group, White said the December matches and preceding training camp is a crucial and valuable time.
“This is a really important event in the national junior calendar,” said White.
“It is the key international series for our junior squad in 2019 so we see this series as a really important competition opportunity. It is also a really important development opportunity in the players’ pathway and progression ultimately towards senior selection, which is the goal of all the athletes in the Junior Squad.”
New Zealand and India will provide tough opposition for the Jillaroos and White is looking forward to seeing how his players handle the occasion of playing high quality internationals on home soil.
“The battles we have with New Zealand are always hotly contested. We played them in a series in December last year and they won that series two matches to one,” said White.
“India are very much an emerging nation in the women’s game and they will also be really strong opposition.”
The team will assemble in Canberra on Saturday 30 November for a training camp before the first match against New Zealand on 3 December.
Following the Tri Series, the players will get back into training in their home States in January before coming together for a national junior camp in February leading up to four matches against the Japanese Under 21 Women’s Team.
Jillaroos (Under 21 Women’s Australia hockey team) – 2019 Tri Series
Alice Arnott (Darling Point, NSW)
Hannah Astbury (Cannon Hill, QLD)
Morgan Blamey (Warrawee, NSW)
Emma de Broughe (Park Holme, SA)
Dayle Dolkens (Coomera, QLD)
Kendra Fitzpatrick (Balmoral, QLD)
Talei Forrest (Oxley, ACT)
Sara Foster (Nedlands, WA)
Carly James (Point Cook, VIC)
Morgan Mathison (Balmoral, QLD)
Pippa Morgan (Nedlands, WA)
Courtney Schonell (Narellan Vale, NSW)
Jolie Sertorio (Peppermint Grove, WA)
Hattie Shand (North Adelaide, SA)
Maddi Smith (Parramatta, NSW)
Karri Sommerville (Kensington, WA)
Aisling Utri (Moonee Ponds, VIC)
Abigail Wilson (Ermington, NSW)
Tri Series Details
3-8 December 2019
ACT Hockey Centre, Canberra ACT
Jillaroos Matches
Tuesday 3 December 2019 v New Zealand
Thursday 5 December 2019 v India
Friday 6 December 2019 v New Zealand
Sunday 8 December 2019 v India
*All matches start at 6:00pm AEDT
Hockey Australia media release
Drawing from Barcelona’s quick-passing style, Maryland field hockey is thriving upfield
David Suggs
Defender Riley Donnelly looks to move the ball in Maryland field hockey’s 3-2 win over Virginia on Sept. 13, 2019. (Gabby Baniqued/The Diamondback)
Barcelona. It’s a word that immediately conjures up images of the Catalonia-based side whose possession-based “tiki-taka” style of play revolutionized world soccer, with the team’s unselfish superstars priding themselves on their ability to get teammates involved.
For Maryland field hockey, the term serves as a model for how coach Missy Meharg expects her team to play — constantly looking to attack while using quick and clever passing to stretch the defense.
In fact, Barcelona has become ingrained into the Terps’ game plan, with Meharg naming one of Maryland’s passing drills after the team. Meharg and assistant coach Marvin Bam also regularly employ the term from the sideline to remind players to keep the ball moving.
And it’s this style of play that has helped the No. 4 Terps establish itself as a title threat, with Maryland reeling off six straight wins — four of which have come against ranked sides.
“We’re focusing on starting strong and getting ahead to begin,” defender Riley Donnelly said. “Once we get on the board, we want to maintain possession.”
After notching one-goal victories over then-No. 10 Princeton and No. 18 Rutgers last week, the Terps will be buoyed by their ability to keep the ball rotating in the midfield and attack, something that was especially evident in their matchup against the Scarlet Knights on Saturday.
“I’m pleased with the team because they found a way to let the ball control the game,” Meharg said. “We possessed — if you had a possession stat, I’d say 90 percent of the game. We were exceedingly efficient and smart in the way that we played a very good team.”
Maryland’s ball dominance allowed it to control the pace of the game, limiting Rutgers to few clear-cut chances while giving the team license to get into forward areas and test the goalkeeper.
“Our attack is moving more in one unit, like one heartbeat,” Meharg said.
And with Meharg’s squad averaging over 20 shots a game, the only surprise was that it couldn’t add to its 2-1 lead over the Scarlet Knights.
“We took 17 shots, we took 22 against Princeton, [25] against Virginia,” Meharg said. “We just need to figure out a way to finish.”
On the other end of the pitch, though, the Terps are flourishing — due in large part to their ability to maintain possession.
With Maryland zipping the ball across the midfield and attack, the opposition is often pinned back, meaning that the Terps’ backline is rarely tested at a high frequency. Consequently, Maryland’s defenders are instead tasked with keeping the ball upfield.
“We’re just trying to stay calm,” defender Bodil Keus said. “We try to do simple things — simple passes, few touches, and get into our rhythm.”
With an unselfish bunch committed to Meharg’s possessive style of play, the Terps are well-positioned to parallel another aspect of Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona squad: as champions.
“We don’t have one or two catalysts in the attack unit or the defensive unit,” Meharg said. “There’s such a huge ceiling for us.”
The Diamondback
Duke Field Hockey: National Passion
By Leslie Gaber, GoDuke the Magazine
Image Courtesy of Duke Athletics
The summer of 2018 marked an exhilarating one for Duke field hockey head coach and 1996 U.S. Olympic team member Pam Bustin, who cheered on three current and former Blue Devils representing the United States in the 2018 Vitality Women's Hockey World Cup.
This past offseason has provided more of the same pride for Bustin, with Blue Devils fanning out across the globe to don the red, white and blue at a variety of national and international tournaments.
Headlining the bunch is senior midfielder Margaux Paolino, who has been on the U.S. senior national team roster since 2018. Paolino burst onto the scene in impactful fashion, scoring in her senior national team debut earlier that spring. She was officially added to the team roster in March and spent the spring of her sophomore season balancing school work at Duke with travel and training with the national team.
After becoming one of 18 athletes tapped to Team USA's 2018 World Cup roster, Paolino made her presence felt that summer in London, recording two goals in tournament pool play.
"Knowing that I've played in big tournaments and now being a part of the women's national team, it's so exciting," Paolino said last year. "It's one of the things I dreamed of when I was younger … It's something I can bring back to school now, knowing that I can make a difference on the field, whether it's in international games or being at Duke."
Paolino continued to balanced commitments to the senior national team and to the Duke Blue Devils – as well as her academic pursuits – over the following year. This past summer brought even more international caps for the Villanova, Pa., native, as Paolino was named to the 25-athlete squad that represented the U.S. in the newly-formed International Hockey Federation (FIH) Pro League. The elite competition featured the top nine nations playing each other in a regular season that stretched from January to June. From there, Paolino and the U.S. squad rolled into July's Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.
Though Team USA came up just shy of 2020 Olympic qualification, taking the bronze in Lima, Paolino gained valuable experience as a member of the squad's starting lineup. She will return to action with the team later this fall as the U.S. continues its mission to qualify for Tokyo 2020.
Having worked her way through the USA Field Hockey system as she's grown has helped Paolino reach some of the highest stages of international play – and make her mark as one of the top players in NCAA action.
"Playing with U-17, U-19 and at Duke — just consistently playing field hockey I was constantly growing," Paolino said. "A lot of the college coaches would be the coaches for the U-17, U-19 teams so you'd learn different styles of play, different techniques, skill. I just took all of that information and brought it to Duke. And since it was every day playing at school here and then in the summer being with them and playing with them, it just all came together."
The combination of Paolino's experiences has also benefitted and inspired her Duke teammates.
"[Margaux] is one of those people who just makes everybody around her better," says Blue Devil freshman and current U.S. U-19 national team member Josie Varney. "I've only been playing with her for about a month now and we've all learned so much from her. The experience she brings and the level of intensity she has from the national team is something that we all learn from and that we all benefit from every single day."
Prior to arriving on campus late this summer, Varney and several other Blue Devils accumulated experiences of their own representing the United States. A midfielder from Smithfield, Maine, Varney was joined in January by Duke teammates Leah Crouse, Mary Harkins, Hannah Miller and Kelsey Reznick in being named to the 2019 U.S. U-19 team. At the same time, senior back Jillian Wolgemuth was tabbed to the 2019 U.S. U-21 national squad. To round out the full Blue Devil contingent, Duke assistant coach Ralph Boersma also serves as an assistant coach for the U.S. U-19 team.
"If you play in the USA Field Hockey system it's a big commitment, next to the commitment you have here [at Duke]," Boersma said. "These girls obviously love the game, they love to get better and they love to represent their country … We're very lucky that we attract that kind of player."
During the spring, Wolgemuth embarked on a playing tour of Germany with the U.S. U-21 national team and Boersma helped oversee a U-19 tour to Germany. Crouse, Miller and Varney were all selected to take part as the U-19 team matched up with U-18 squads from Germany and Belgium in April.
Duke's success within the USA Field Hockey system continued throughout the summer months, as Paolino continued to train and travel with the senior national team and Bustin's program had nine student-athletes invited to compete in June's Young Women's National Championship (YWNC) at the home of USA Field Hockey in Lancaster, Pa. On the roster of 144 total athletes selected were Wolgemuth and fellow senior Haley Schleicher, junior Lily Posternak, Crouse and fellow sophomore Olivia Sahaydak and incoming freshmen Harkins, Miller, Reznick and Varney.
"It's been really instrumental for my class," Varney said of playing with and against current Duke teammates before Duke's preseason even began. "A lot of the sophomores and most of the girls in my class, we've played together for years, which really shows up on the field and off the field. We're all such great friends."
Four Blue Devils advanced with their squads to the YWNC gold medal match, with Schleicher notching a goal and an assist for her team and Varney finding the back of the cage for the U.S. U-19 team. Varney was joined by Crouse and Miller on the U-19 squad, which rounded out the five-day tournament with a 4-2 victory. Following the event, Schleicher and Wolgemuth were among the athletes tabbed to move on to the next step in USA Field Hockey's Olympic Development Pathway, the Women's Development Team Selection Camp.
Boersma and Duke assistant coach Wesley Ann Boersma – who were married in another exciting summer moment for the Duke field hockey family – were both on hand in Lancaster to see the Blue Devils excel in full force. In addition, Ralph also had the opportunity to travel to the Pan American Games in Lima to watch Paolino and the senior national team compete, and while there completed an FIH Level 3 coaching course on site.
"For me, being able to work with a couple of those girls in that international setting is huge for us," Ralph said of his coaching opportunity with the U.S. U-19 team. "Great to see those girls shine on that podium. And with Margaux playing on the senior level, that's something really cool for our program and for the outside world to see you can go to Duke, you can play for us, but you can also pursue these ambitions.
"It all starts with Pam's passion for USA Field Hockey. Being an alum, having coached essentially all the teams you can possibly coach within USA Field Hockey, her passion for that is something Wes and I completely made our own."
USFHA media release
Turn it Pink with USA Field Hockey Returns this October
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The month of October is here and so is the nationally recognized Breast Cancer Awareness Month. With that, USA Field Hockey is proud to once again team up with Longstreth and Play4theCure to “Turn it Pink” this month by highlighting “Play4” stories across the United States.
Have you or your team dedicated a game or event to an individual that has been affected by breast cancer? Is your team raising funds to donate on behalf of an individual? USA Field Hockey would like to share stories from across the country and include images in the Turn it Pink photo gallery. Content and images can be submitted to the Communications Department at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. before the end of the day on Thursday, October 31.
Interested in getting a team involved in a Play4TheCure event? Click here to learn more.
For more than a decade, Longstreth and Play4theCure have teamed up annually to help field hockey teams across the United States host Pink Games and Tournaments during the month of October. Longstreth has also provided thousands of free Play4theCure kits, which contains one pink ball, wristbands and other small novelty items as well as a starter packet. In addition to the kits, Longstreth also offers pink tees, hats, shorts and socks, which can be used by athletes to wear or to sell during the event as a great way to raise money.
As a company focused on the female athlete, it’s important to Longstreth to join forces with great organizations such as Play4theCure and help support the National Foundation for Cancer Research. It’s been an honor to be a part of and watch it expand throughout all sports over the years. USA Field Hockey is proud to support partner Longstreth and their initiative to team up with Play4theCure. This program is a clear reminder that field hockey is so much more than a game. Join the USA Field Hockey Family and Longstreth in support of Play4theCure.
About P4TC:
Play4TheCure is a fundraising platform for the National Foundation for Cancer Research which provides funding worldwide to the best scientists to enable cutting edge research that other large cancer organizations can’t and won’t fund. Play4TheCure inspires young athletes and their teams to leverage their passion for sports to “Play4” loved ones affected by cancer and encourages them to actively participate in working to fund cancer research to make a difference.
USFHA media release