News for 24 October 2019
All the news for Thursday 24 October 2019
2019 Test match BEL v ARG (M)
Brasschaat (BEL)
23 Oct 2019 BEL v ARG 4 - 3
FIH Match Centre
2019 Test matches GER v PAK
Mönchengladbach (GER)
22 Oct 2019 GER v PAK 6 - 1
23 Oct 2019 GER v PAK 6 - 2
FIH Match Centre
FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers 2019 (Men)
25 Oct 2019 18:00 (GMT +1) ESP v FRA (ESP v FRA)
26 Oct 2019 14:00 (GMT -8) CAN v IRL (CAN v IRL)
26 Oct 2019 16:00 (GMT +1) NED v PAK (NED v PAK)
26 Oct 2019 18:00 (GMT +1) ESP v FRA (ESP v FRA)
27 Oct 2019 14:00 (GMT -8) CAN v IRL (CAN v IRL)
27 Oct 2019 16:00 (GMT +1) NED v PAK (NED v PAK)
Live streaming on https://fih.live (may be geoblocked) and other broadcast partners
FIH Match Centre
FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers 2019 (Women)
25 Oct 2019 15:00 (GMT +8) AUS v RUS (AUS v RUS)
25 Oct 2019 16:00 (GMT +8) CHN v BEL (CHN v BEL)
25 Oct 2019 20:00 (GMT +1) ESP v KOR (ESP v KOR
26 Oct 2019 16:00 (GMT +8) CHN v BEL (CHN v BEL)
26 Oct 2019 19:00 (GMT +8) AUS v RUS (AUS v RUS)
26 Oct 2019 20:00 (GMT +1) ESP v KOR (ESP v KOR)
Live streaming on https://fih.live (may be geoblocked) and other broadcast partners
FIH Match Centre
FIH Hockey Olympic qualifiers on TV in 116 countries
Lausanne, Switzerland: Thanks to media rights agreements signed by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) with twenty-five broadcast partners worldwide, the TV coverage of the upcoming FIH Hockey Olympic qualifiers will reach no less than 116 countries.
The FIH Hockey Olympic qualifiers will be played over the next two week-ends (25-27 October and 1-3 November 2019). They involve 28 teams – 14 Men’s and 14 Women’s teams – and each qualifier consists of two back-to-back matches. The 14 winners will qualify for the Tokyo 2020 hockey tournaments.
FIH CEO Thierry Weil said: “The FIH Hockey Olympic qualifiers are the last stage for each team involved to qualify for the Olympic Games next year. Therefore, the interest around these matches is huge as is demonstrated by the number of broadcasters having decided to cover the matches. This is great for raising the global awareness of our sport even further.”
The full list of broadcasters is available here.
In territories where no media rights agreement is in place, the matches will be streamed on www.FIH.live.
For all information regarding the FIH Hockey Olympic qualifiers, including the full schedule, players and coaches interviews, news and more, please click here.
#Tokyo2020
#RoadToTokyo
#GiftOfHockey
FIH site
No holds barred for Hockeyroos in quest to qualify
Nic Kerber
The Hockeyroos will not be leaving anything to chance as they attempt to secure their place at next year’s Tokyo Olympics when they take on Russia in a do-or-die two match Qualifying Series in Perth beginning tomorrow (Friday 25 October 2019).
The winner on aggregate across the two-matches, to be played on 25/26 October at the Perth Hockey Stadium, will book their spot at Tokyo 2020.
Currently ranked second in the world, the Hockeyroos find themselves in this ‘last chance’ qualifier after being narrowly edged out by New Zealand in last month’s Oceania Cup which saw the Black Sticks Women qualify automatically.
Hockeyroos Head Coach Paul Gaudoin says the players’ focus at training since they reassembled to prepare for the qualifiers has been spot on and he is confident they will be able to handle the occasion considering what is on the line.
“If we control what we can do, do it well and stick to the game plan, I believe we’ll be able to come away with some success,” said Gaudoin.
“One of the things we have spoken about is the ability to play in high pressure matches.”
“We took some learning from those qualifiers against New Zealand and now we have another opportunity to play in high pressure games.”
“It highlights that you can’t take qualifying for the Olympics for granted, particularly in the women’s game.
Up against a Russian team 19th on the world rankings, the Hockeyroos enter the qualifiers as favourites, however their opponents are largely an unknown quantity and Gaudoin knows they will pose a difficult challenge. The last time the Hockeyroos faced Russia was at a six nations tournament in 2002.
“Russia have had some promising results against some very good teams of late, so they have obviously got some quality about them and they are a little bit more unknown so that makes it dangerous,” said Gaudoin.
“But at the same time we’re confident. We’ve established ourselves over the last couple of years into a pretty good position globally and I back our girls to get the job done.”
“We have had a look at some of Russia’s matches but certainly the focus has been back on our play and what we do so that has certainly been the focus for us.”
The Hockeyroos have suffered one setback in the lead up with dynamic forward Rosie Malone ruled out after injuring her hamstring at training.
Malone’s spot in the team has been filled by WA local Georgia Wilson, who herself has returned from injury and is set to make her first Hockeyroos appearance since the Ready Steady Tokyo Test Event in August.
If Lily Brazel plays in both matches as expected, she will make her 50th Hockeyroos appearance in the second match on Saturday and be hoping to celebrate it with qualification for Tokyo.
With the Perth Thundersticks hosting a Sultana Bran Hockey One double header against NSW Pride prior to the Hockeyroos’ second match on Saturday 25 October, the two qualifiers at the Perth Hockey Stadium are FREE entry to the public.
Both matches of the qualifying series will be broadcast LIVE and exclusive on Kayo.
FIH 2019 Olympic Qualifying Series
Perth Hockey Stadium at Curtin University, WA
Friday 25 October 2019
Hockeyroos v Russia (3:00pm AWST, 6:00pm AEDT)
Saturday 26 October 2019
Hockeyroos v Russia (7:00pm AWST, 10:00pm AEDT)
Hockeyroos v Russia – overall record
Played 6; Won 3, Drawn 1, Lost 2
29 April 2002 – Australia 5-2 Russia (Six Nations Tournament, Gifu, Japan)
15 December 1996 – Australia 11-1 Russia (Indira Gandhi Cup VI, New Delhi, India)
13 July 1994 – Australia 1-2 Russia (World Cup VIII, Dublin, Ireland)
22 August 1986 – Australia 7-0 USSR (World Cup VI, Amsterdam, Netherlands)
15 June 1985 – Australia 1-1 USSR (Five Nations Tournament, Amsterdam, Netherlands)
4 April 1981 Australia 1-5 USSR (FIH World Cup IV, Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Hockeyroos squad – FIH 2019 Olympic Qualifying Series v Russia
Name, Date of Birth, Hometown State, Club, Caps (Goals)
Edwina Bone, 24/04/1988, Orange NSW, Canberra Chill, 195 (4)
Lily Brazel, 26/01/1995, Sydney NSW, HC Melbourne, 48 (1)
Emily Challker, 28/07/1992, Crookwell NSW, NSW Pride, 233 (80)
Jane Claxton, 26/10/1992, Adelaide SA, Adelaide Fire, 175 (18)
Kalindi Commerford, 18/11/1994, Ulladulla ACT, Canberra Chill, 43 (7)
Madison Fitzpatrick, 14/12/1996, Cabarita Beach QLD, Brisbane Blaze, 72 (16)
Jodie Kenny, 18/08/1987, Wamuran QLD, Brisbane Blaze, 227 (111)
Amy Lawton, 19/01/2002 , Emerald VIC, HC Melbourne, 8 (2)
Rachael Lynch (GK), 2/07/1986, Warrandyte VIC, HC Melbourne, 218 (0)
Karri McMahon, 27/02/1992, Berri SA, Adelaide Fire, 145 (10)
Kaitlin Nobbs, 24/09/1997, Newington NSW, NSW Pride, 74 (4)
Brooke Peris, 16/01/1993, Darwin NT, Canberra Chill, 165 (26)
Grace Stewart, 24/04/1997, Gerringong NSW, NSW Pride, 79 (22)
Renee Taylor, 28/09/1996, Everton Park QLD, Brisbane Blaze, 75 (8)
Sophie Taylor, 12/09/1995, Melbourne VIC, HC Melbourne, 29 (1)
Ashlee Wells (GK), 1/08/1989, Morwell VIC, Adelaide Fire, 118 (0)
Georgia Wilson, 20/05/1996, Mahogany Creek WA, Perth Thundersticks, 31 (0)
Hockey Australia media release
PREVIEW: Canada’s last stop chance at ticket to Tokyo
Canada hosts Ireland in two-game Olympic Qualifier on Oct. 26-27
By Ali Baggott
Photo Credit: Yan Huckendubler (2016, Rio Olympic Games)
Every Olympic cycle has its pinnacle and for the Canadian men’s national team, this weekend is it. The Oct. 26-27 two-game series against the No. 13-ranked Ireland is all that stands between Canada and a spot to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. There are no second chances. This is it.
“The team has been training hard for the last seven weeks as a squad and athletes have been competing well for selections for this series,” said Canadian head coach Paul Bundy. “The energy has been good and the team is excited to play in front of their home crowd.”
First time format
Fourteen teams will be playing in these two-game series happening around the world for the final seven spots to the Olympics slated for next July. Teams need to win on an aggregate score over two games in two days in a hope of joining the already-qualified Japan, Argentina, South Africa, Belgium and Australia.
For Canada, all that stands in their way is Ireland.
“The new format makes things interesting and with only two games, both teams will want to start well,” added Bundy. “Experience and form will play a big factor in this. We will need to manage Ireland’s threats and make sure we stick to our game plan while staying disciplined and playing our Canadian style of hockey.”
“Once you reach this stage of the Olympic qualification process, all the teams you could potentially face are good and have quality players. I don’t think the mentality changes (based on) who you play. It’s more about what you are playing for at this stage and that is punching your to ticket to Tokyo.”
The Green Army
The two teams have a similar style and standing as Canada has a three-position lead in the world rankings at No. 10. Ireland have been on a meteoric rise internationally but have suffered recent setbacks. When they sealed their spot to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games they marked the first time in sporting history that an Irish team, in any sport, qualified for an Olympic Games since 1908 in London.
Ireland features 2015 FIH Hockey Stars Goalkeeper of the Year Davey Harte and midfielder Shane O’Donoghue. The Green Army are looking to bounce back after a disappointing performance at the EuroHockey continental championship in August. Ireland finished in eighth after sinking to the bottom of their pool behind both No. 25-ranked Wales and No. 21-ranked Scotland. Ireland were also runners-up to France in the FIH Series Finals despite being the favourites by a mile.
Those performances led to a coaching change with Alistair Cox walking and making way for head coach Mark Tumilty, announced just in September. It’s a new month and lots on the line and there is no shying away at what Ireland is capable of.
A closer look at Canada
Canada is in much a similar bounce-back mentality after failing to book their spot to Tokyo at their continental championships, the Pan American Games. Canada surrendered the gold-medal game to Argentina by 5-2 after hoping to knock off the reigning Olympic champions.
Both Ireland and Canada can do nothing but look forward and for Canada, there is much to be excited about. Canadian captain Scott Tupper will be pivotal for the team’s success. The two-time Olympian has been the team’s longest serving threat on the penalty corner battery and is the highest internationally capped player for team Canada (306).
From the veterans
“We are looking forward to the series and finally getting going,” said Tupper, who was Team Canada’s flag bearer at the 2019 Pan American Games opening ceremonies. “We have had a good lead in with our training and the players are excited to get started and play in front of our home crowd.”
This do-or-die scenario is not something that is unfamiliar to the Canadian players. Every Pan American final has been a winner qualifies situation, while in 2015 a quarter-final win at the World League Round 3 event was the real cement behind their Rio 2016 Olympic qualification. Nobody knows that pressure better than Canadian keeper David Carter who is remembered for his dynamic saves in the shootout win over New Zealand.
“’The pressure of an Olympic Qualification game is very unique but we’ve trained extremely hard these few months in preparation for Ireland,” described Carter, who was a nominee for FIH Goalkeeper of the Year in 2015. “That’s all we can do is prepare and trust that we’ve done all the work to mitigate the pressure of not only an Olympic qualifier, but playing two of our team’s most important games ever in front of our friends, family and fans.’
Tune in near or far
For Canada fans both near and far, the game will be more accessible than ever. Canadian residents can stream the game live via cbcsports.com while the FIH will have all Olympic qualifier events streamed live at fih.live.
“We rarely play at home and to have the opportunity to be in front of the next and past generations of our alumni, friends, family, peers and team mates is very special and fundamental for the growth of our sport,’ acknowledged Bundy.
Those travelling to Rutledge Field in West Vancouver can purchase tickets online, while volunteers are also still being recruited. Both games will push back at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
Field Hockey Canada media release
Tumilty says Irish side getting their mojo going ahead of Olympic qualifier
Safely installed in Vancouver, new Irish coach Mark Tumilty says the Irish men’s squad are bubbling up nicely for their two-legged Olympic qualifier against Canada.
They had their first training sessions on the event’s Rutledge Field from Wednesday after a weekend based at University of British Columbia.
The double-header will be Tumilty’s first competitive ties since taking over from Alexander Cox who resigned following European relegation in August. It has been a helter-skelter acclimatisation for the coach since then, putting a plan in place for their potential ticket to Tokyo.
As such, to help get things in place the former Banbridge boss has been working with Jason Lee who he says has been a big addition to the camp to date.
Lee brings a huge bank of knowledge having played in the 1992 and 1996 Olympics before coaching Great Britain for four Games.
“He’s been to six Olympic Games and understands what it takes to get there. He mixes well with the group and has the right personality,” Tumilty said.
“The real positive is we both see the game in the same way – I enjoy working with him and his knowledge will be vital over these 10 days.
“He definitely understands the Irish mentality. His wife [Laura Lee] played 30 times for the country so he knows the mindset and sees a lot of potential.”
Crucial to that is rebuilding the spirit the side were famous for on their rise to the world’s top 10 and 2016 qualification.
That veneer has been chipped away in the last 12 months with the body language at the Euros particularly low-key. As such, Tumilty has put a big store in team-building over the last four weeks with cycling days out in Bordeaux and weekend bonding trips in Vancouver to an ice hockey match and away from the field.
“It has to be fun and that will translate onto the pitch,” Tumilty said from their base. “We are not in holiday mode here but I have been impressed with the team spirit and the lads are good like that with their work ethic.”
On the pitch, two test match wins over higher-ranked France in Bordeaux provided a positive start while Tumilty was not overly concerned by a 6-0 loss to reigning world and European champions Belgium in their final warm-up game.
“It’s not hard to see why they are world number one, winning world and European championships. They were pretty clinical, scoring four out of five corners.
“A few things didn’t fall for us and there were positive signs from it. Our focus was on the Canada game so I thought it was a decent exercise and we are making progress – definitely worth the game.”
Eugene Magee was rested for that tie as he attempts to comeback from his hamstring injury while Michael Robson and Matthew Nelson also stepped out due to a double-header in the German league just before the tie.
Now they look forward to the final run-in to the games themselves at Rutledge. That turf was only laid six weeks ago and so will be something of an unknown factor for both sides in terms of pace.
There is also no real concept yet about what size crowd will be in attendance but suggestions are it will not be an imposing one with the Canadian website offering discounted rates for the first 500 tickets sold last week.
The hosts do have a decent mole named in their camp in Brad Logan – a South African by birth but recently qualified as Canadian via his mother – having worked with Tumilty at Banbridge in the 2015/16 season.
Whether that will have any relevance for Tumilty’s tactical plan is unlikely with several big changes to the Euros panel with a greater attacking emphasis and a focus on more penalty corner variations.
It means a limited bank of video research to work off. On the flip side, the Irish boss feels they have plenty done on a settled Canadian side, though they will miss key man Mark Pearson due to a cruciate knee ligament injury.
“We’ve watched lots of video; they are an experienced group, rely a lot on corners and are probably similar in make-up to ourselves. There is plenty of knowledge from playing against each other a lot.”
Ireland’s matches with Canada will be played at 10pm (Irish time) next Saturday and 9pm on Sunday with the best aggregate total from the two games deciding the Olympic ticket.
Both games will be broadcast live on BBC Northern Ireland’s website – with commentary from Nigel Ringland and Stephen Martin – and on the RTE Player.
The Hook
"The team's the strongest it's ever been" | Ireland hockey team target Olympics qualification
Raf Diallo
Ireland's hockey team have got a pivotal challenge coming up on the weekend of November 2nd.
With the 2020 Olympics on the horizon, they take on Canada at Donnybrook Stadium in the 2019 Women's FIH Olympic Qualifiers.
The side are aiming to repeat the success they enjoyed at the 2018 Hockey World Cup. Last summer, they made light of their outsiders' tag en route to a memorable run to the final.
Ultimately, Ireland finished second at the tournament. But as the Olympics appear on the horizon, the team are feeling stronger than ever.
This week on Off The Bench, World Cup silver medalists Nicci Daly and Lena Tice, as well as 2019 debutant Sarah Hawkshaw joined our own Cliona Foley for a chat about hockey and more.
For Nicci Daly, the team have been building strongly on their foundations.
"I think the team is the strongest it's ever been since I've been in it," said Daly.
Crucial
"And I think we just have to keep going through our preparations. These next two weeks are really crucial. And then the two games [against Canada] come."
Tice also highlighted the challenge Canada will pose to Ireland.
"They've grown a lot," she explained.
"They're centralised over in Belgium. So they all play their club hockey in Belgium and Holland and they train over there. So they've given up a lot of their lives which means they'll be absolutely gunning for it.
"We certainly won't be underestimating them, that's for sure."
You can watch this week's Off The Bench interview via our YouTube channel:
Off the Ball
BBC Sport NI to stream Ireland men's and women's Olympic qualifiers live
The Irish men's side are aiming to reach their second Olympics
The BBC Sport NI website will have live coverage of the upcoming Olympic qualifiers for Ireland's men and women.
The men's team face Canada in a two-legged tie in Vancouver this Saturday and Sunday, with the aggregate winner qualifying for Tokyo 2020.
The women are also playing Canada, with their games taking place in Dublin's Donnybrook Stadium on 2 and 3 November.
BBC Sport NI's Nigel Ringland will provide commentary for both of the qualifiers.
He will be joined by Olympic gold medallist and former Ireland and Great Britain international Stephen Martin for the men's games, and by former Ireland captain Alex Speers for the women's matches.
The men's team are hoping to reach their second Olympics after making history at Rio 2016, while it would be a first Olympics for the women, who won a silver medal at the 2018 World Cup in London.
Saturday's first leg in Vancouver starts at 22:00 BST with the second leg on Sunday beginning at 21:00 GMT with coverage on the BBC Sport NI website and BBC Sport App.
The women's games will be live on the BBC Sport NI website and BBC Sport App from 19:00 on Saturday 2 November and 19:10 on 3 November.
BBC Sport
2020 FIH Pro League to return to North Harbour and Ngā Puna Wai
The 2019 international hockey season is coming to a close which means an action-packed 2020 season is on the horizon.
2020 will see the return of the FIH Pro League New Zealand presented by Sentinel Homes at the beginning of the year. This particular 2020 season will see a change in format for the FIH Pro League as the sides will play four of the teams at home twice in a doubleheader before travelling overseas to play the remaining four teams.
The global hockey league will see Hockey at its best as the top hockey players from all over the world will visit our shores as they prepare for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics taking place in August.
New Zealand will host world number two and 2018 World Cup Winners Belgian men in the first-ever international match to be held at the new National Hockey Centre. Last year these two sides drew in an exciting match which saw the kiwis push the world champions to the edge. The action will continue throughout February at North Harbour when the defending women’s Olympic Champions Great Britain will hit our shores as they prepare to defend their title from Rio in 2016.
The FIH Pro League will then head down to Ngā Puna Wai in Christchurch to cap off the home New Zealand games. The defending Men's Olympic Champion Argentina Men will return alongside world number three Argentina Women.
The Vantage Black Sticks sides will be aiming to win on the world stage as they attempt to bring down the goliaths in world hockey on their quest in the 2020 international season.
World number five India have joined the Pro League for the 2020 season as they come in as the ninth team in the Men’s competition. India have been in impressive form in 2019 and will be one of the front runners for the 2020 title.
The New Zealand sides to contest the FIH Pro League will be released over the coming months. Being an Olympic year there is going to be plenty of competition for places in the teams.
Early bird tickets for the 2020 FIH Pro League Presented by Sentinel Homes will go on sale at midday November 5th. Ticket purchasers will have until November 29th to purchase their tickets as the discount rate.
Vantage Black Sticks Men’s and Women’s Home Schedule
1st February vs Belgium Men and Women – *National Hockey Centre
2nd February vs Belgium Men and Women – * National Hockey Centre
8th February vs Great Britain Men and Women – * National Hockey Centre
9th February vs Great Britain Men and Women – * National Hockey Centre
15th February vs USA Women and Spain Men – Ngā Puna Wai
16th February vs USA Women and Spain Men – Ngā Puna Wai
28th February vs Argentina Men and Women – Ngā Puna Wai
1st March vs Argentina Men and Women – Ngā Puna Wai
*North Harbour Hockey will be shifting to the National Hockey Centre where the Belgium and Great Britain games will be held for the 2020 FIH Pro League.
Vantage Black Sticks Men’s and Women’s Away Schedule
19th March vs Netherlands Women
20th March vs Netherlands Men
22nd March vs Netherlands Men and Women
28th March vs Germany Men and Women
29th Match vs Germany Men and Women
16th May vs Australia Men and Women
17th May vs Australia Men and Women
23rd May vs India Men and China Women
24th May vs India Men and China Women
Hockey New Zealand Media release
Sultana Bran Hockey One League Round 6 preview
The inaugural Sultana Bran Hockey One League season is entering crunch time and this weekend’s penultimate round will have significant bearing on who will still be standing when it counts.
After a huge double round last weekend a number of teams made their move, while for others it left their top four finals aspirations hanging by a thread.
Adelaide Fire v Canberra Chill (Saturday 26 October, start time 1:30pm local)
Third meets fourth in a defining match in the women’s competition with the Perth Thundersticks, and to a lesser extent NSW Pride, breathing down their necks.
Canberra Chill sit a win clear of the Adelaide Fire on the ladder but with a bye in the final round, the Chill will be hoping to lock up their spot in the finals and not be relying on results to go their way next weekend.
The Adelaide Fire were left to rue a narrow loss to Perth Thundersticks in their last outing, and with an away match against the top of the table HC Melbourne to come in the last round, a win over the Chill looms as crucial.
A Naomi Evans double helped the Chill escape with a 2-1 win over the Tassie Tigers last weekend, while for the Adelaide Fire, Miki Spano has been a constant menace for opposition defences so it may come down to which of the two can have the biggest impact on Saturday.
In the men’s match, the teams occupy the bottom two places on the ladder and while finals is out of reach, both will be playing to avoid the wooden spoon.
The Fire and the Chill men’s teams have shown glimpses and proven more than competitive, and both will fancy their chances of securing their first proper win (Canberra Chill scored a shootout win against Perth Thundersticks).
Perth Thundersticks v NSW Pride (Saturday 26 October, start time 2:00pm local)
Another defining match in the women’s competition will take place at the Perth Hockey Stadium as the fifth placed Perth Thundersticks host the sixth placed NSW Pride.
Both sides are coming off heavy defeats last Sunday and will need to rediscover their best to get the points and keep themselves in finals contention. For the loser, they could almost kiss their top four chances good-bye.
Perth Thundersticks Women have struggled to find the back of the net this season, while NSW Pride Women have conceded the second highest number of goals to date, so there is plenty of intrigue in this one.
The men’s match also has all of the ingredients to be a cracker. NSW Pride have been the standout team alongside Brisbane Blaze so far with both undefeated and showing their ability to score heavily and quickly.
The Pride’s trip west to take on the Perth Thundersticks will be one of their biggest tests, particularly with the Thundersticks looking to force their way into the top four.
The Thundersticks looked to have found their groove in a 6-4 result against Adelaide Fire last Friday, only to be brought back to earth by Brisbane Blaze two days later.
They will need every bit of their home advantage to be a chance against the NSW Pride with Blake Govers and Kurt Lovett in formidable form.
Tassie Tigers v HC Melbourne (Sunday 27 October, start time 2:00pm local)
Bottom hosts top in what appears a heavily lopsided encounter in the women’s competition. HC Melbourne Women have four wins from as many starts this season which is in stark contrast to the Tassie Tigers Women who have yet to pick up a point.
All indicators lead to a big HC Melbourne victory but stranger things have happened. If the Tassie Tigers can upset their opponent’s rhythm on Sunday and score early it could well be game on. But if the result follows the form book HC Melbourne could all but sew up top spot and a home semi final with one round to play.
The most evenly matched game of the weekend comes in the men’s competition with HC Melbourne and Tassie Tigers on ten points and the same goal difference, with the Victorians ahead due their superior number of goals scored.
Both teams had mixed success over the double round so predicting a winner is anyone’s guess. The Tassie Tigers were humbled in Brisbane before responding in emphatic fashion against Canberra and they will be hoping to take this momentum into their clash on Sunday.
For HC Melbourne it was the opposite. A record 10-5 win over Canberra Chill was followed by a heavy defeat to the NSW Pride.
With both teams sitting in third and fourth respectively and no chance of catching the top two, the winner of this game will put themselves in the box seat for a finals berth.
For ticketing details to every Sultana Bran Hockey One match click here. All of the action will be broadcast LIVE and exclusive on Kayo.
Sultana Bran Hockey One 2019 Season – Round 6 Fixtures
Adelaide Fire v Canberra Chill
Saturday 26 October 2019
State Hockey Centre (SA)
Match Start: Women’s 1:30pm local (2:00pm AEDT), Men’s 3:00pm local (3:30pm AEDT)
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtags #ADLvCCH #HockeyOne
Adelaide Fire Women’s team: 1.Linzi Appleyard, 3.Brooklyn Buchecker, 7.Emma De Broughe, 8.Holly Evans, 13.Sarah Harrison, 15.Euleena Maclachlan, 19.Gabi Nance, 20.Hattie Shand, 21.Miki Spano, 22.Leah Welstead, 25.Kate Denning, 28.Amy Hammond (GK), Leah Butt, Rachel McCann
In: Leah Butt, Rachel McCann
Out: 14.Amy Hunt, 23.Gemma McCaw
Canberra Chill Women’s team (from): 1.Mikayla Evans, 2.Lucy Balfour, 4.Jess Smith, 6.Grace Ronnfeldt, 7.Naomi Evans (c), 9.Sassie Economos, 10.Rebecca Lee, 11.Sophie Gaughan, 12.Aleisha Price, 14.Emily Robson, 15.Yui Ishibashi, 16.Shihori Oikawa, 17.Beckie Middleton, 18.Olivia Martin, 19.Anna Flanagan, 22.Taylor Thomson, 25.Tina Taseska, 27.Meredith Bone, 31.Sakiyo Asano (GK)
Adelaide Fire Men’s team: 3.Lachlan Busiko, 6.Angus Fry, 9.Fred Gray, 11.Cameron Joyce, 15.Andy Leat, 18.Al Oliver, 19.Glyn Tamlin (c), 20.Isaac Farmilo, 22.Chris Wells, 23.Cameron White, 24.Zendana Hirotaka, 25.Watenabe Kota, 26.Liam Alexander, 29.Edward Chittleborough (GK)
In: 3.Lachlan Busiko, 29.Edward Chittleborough (GK)
Out: 7.Scott Germein, 28.Ben Hooppell (GK)
Canberra Chill Men’s team (from): 1.Aaron Knight, 2.Ben Staines, 3.Anand Gupte, 4.James Day, 5.Lewis Shepherd, 7.Kazuma Murata, 8.Daniel Conroy, 9.Jamie Hawke, 10.Owen Chivers, 11.Garry Backhus, 12.Jake Staines (c), 13.Manabu Yamashita, 15.Josh Chivers, 17.Aaron Kershaw, 20.Lewis McLennan, 22.Jay MacDonald, 26.James Jewell, 27.Fukuda Kentaro, 30.Andrew Charter (GK)
Perth Thundersticks v NSW Pride
Saturday 26 October 2019
Perth Hockey Stadium at Curtin University (WA)
Match Start: Men’s 2:00pm local (5:00pm AEDT), Women’s 3:30pm local (6:30pm AEDT)
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtags #PTXvNSW #HockeyOne
Perth Thundersticks Men’s team: 4.Jake Harvie, 5.Frazer Gerrard, 7.Tyler Lovell (GK), 8.Coby Green, 9.Dane Gavranich, 10.Tom Wickham, 15.Will Byas, 17.Aran Zalewski, 19.Daniel Robertson, 23.Matthew Fisher, 24.Alec Rasmussen, 25.Trent Mitton, 26.Brandon Gibbs, 27.Marshall Roberts
In: 9.Dane Gavranich, 27.Marshall Roberts
Out: 1.Brayden King, 3.Tim Geers
NSW Pride Men’s team: 1.Lachlan Sharp, 3.BJ Bruton (GK), 2.Tom Craig, 6.Matthew Dawson, 8.Nathanael Stewart, 12.Kurt Lovett, 13.Blake Govers, 19.Jack Hayes, 20.Ky Willott, 22.Flynn Ogilvie, 23.Ryan Proctor, 24.Dylan Martin, 28.Sam Gray, 29.Timothy Brand
In: 3.BJ Bruton, 24.Dylan Martin, 28.Sam Gray
Out: 5.Ash Thomas (GK), 11.Hayden Dillon, 18.Tristan White
Perth Thundersticks Women’s team: 3.Candyce Peacock, 4.Jemma Buckley, 6.Jacqui Day, 9.Shanea Tonkin, 11.Rachel Frusher, 14.Roos Broek, 16.Karri Somerville, 17.Annie Gibbs, 18.Renee Rockliff, 19.Aleisha Power (GK), 21.Jade Vanderzwan, 22.Jolie Sertorio, 29.Agueda Moroni, 30.Chloe Pendlebury
NSW Pride Women’s team: 1.Jocelyn Bartram (GK), 2.Sarah Johnston, 10.Greta Hayes, 11.Emma Scriven, 19.Morgan Blamey, 20.Maddison Smith, 21.Alice Arnott, 22.Kate Jenner, 23.Abby Wilson, 25.Lexie Pickering,27.Renae Robinson, 29.Courtney Schonell, 31.Emma Spinks, 32.Grace Young
In: 10.Greta Hayes, 11.Emma Scriven, 25.Lexie Pickering
Out: 12.Mikaela Patterson, 16.Jessica Watterson, 28.Casey Sablowski
Tassie Tigers v HC Melbourne
Sunday 27 October 2019
Tasmanian Hockey Centre (TAS)
Match Start: Men’s 2:00pm local (2:00pm AEDT), Women’s 3:30pm local (3:30pm AEDT)
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #TIGvHCM #HockeyOne
Tassie Tigers Men’s team: 4.Hayden Beltz, 6.Joshua Brooks, 11.Eddie Ockenden, 12.Sam McCulloch, 13.Joshua Beltz, 14.Jack Welch, 15.Kieron Arthur, 18.Grant Woodcock (GK), 19.Tim Deavin, 20.James Bourke, 21.Ben Read, 27.Gobindraj Gill, 29.Sam McCambridge, 32.Jeremy Hayward
In: 12.Sam McCulloch (returns from international duty), 18.Grant Woodcock (GK) (returns from tree climbing event), 27.Gobindraj Gill (returns from international duty)
Out: 2.Nicholas Leslie (omitted), 23.Henry Chambers (omitted), 26.Oliver Smith (omitted)
HC Melbourne Men’s team: 1.Craig Marais, 2.Max Hendry, 3.Simon Borger, 5.Andrew Philpott, 7.Will Gilmour, 9.Nathan Ephraums, 10.Rusell Ford, 13.Jayshaan Randhawa, 14.Jonathan Bretherton, 15.Josh Simmonds, 18.Johan Durst (GK), 21.Jake Sherren, 25.Aaron Kleinschmidt, 29.Oscar Wookey
In: 1.Craig Marais, 3.Simon Borger, 29.Oscar Wookey
Out: 12.Connar Otterbach, 17.Kiran Arunasalam, 24.James Knee
Tassie Tigers Women’s team: 1.Sarah McCambridge, 2.Amelia Spence, 4.Nicole Geeves, 5.Molly Haas, 7.Madeleine Hinton, 8.Holly Bonde (GK), 9.Emily Donovan, 10.Laura Spandler, 13.Phillida Bridley, 15.Sophie Rockefeller, 16.Samantha Lawrence, 19.Esmee Broekhuizen, 20.Katerina Lacina, 21.Lauren Canning
In: 7.Madeleine Hinton, 8.Holly Bonde
Out: 3.Hannah Richardson (omitted), 22.Ruby-Rose Haywood (omitted)
HC Melbourne Women’s team: 2.Aisling Utri, 3.Nicola Hammond, 5.Kristina Bates, 6.Claire Messent, 7.Kary Chau, 8.Olivia Colasurdo, 10.Laura Desmet, 12.Carly James, 14.Laura Barden, 21.Florine van Grimbergen, 22.Madi Ratcliffe, 23.Samantha Snow, 25.Hannah Gravenall, 30.Nikki Bosman (GK)
In: 7.Kary Chau, 10.Laura Desmet
Out: 17.Emily Hurtz, 33.Amy Lawton (international duty)
Brisbane Blaze – BYE
Sultana Bran Hockey One League Media release
2019-20 Junior U.S. Men’s National Training Squads Named, Upcoming Canada Test Series
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Following the Junior U.S. Men's National Team Talent Identification and Training Camp, the USMNT coaching staff has announced the selections for the 2019-20 Junior U.S. Men's National Training Squads. The squads won’t waste time to begin training and competing together, with their first training session November 24 to 28 in Moorpark, Calif., in conjunction with a USA vs. Canada test series.
Congratulations to the following athletes:
U.S. U-16 Men’s National Training Squad
Nicolas Arias (Doral, Fla.), Mateo Barletti (Pembroke Pines, Fla.), Zane Boler (Lewisberry, Pa.), Sekayi Charasika (Louisville, Ky.), Luca Civetta (Key Biscayne, Fla.), Angad Dhami (Sunnyvale, Calif.), Nicolas Diaz (Key Biscayne, Fla.), Mehtab Grewal (Somis, Calif.), Jack Hawley (Ventura, Calif.), Ishaq Inayat (Princeton, N.J.), Gary Johal (Phoenix, Ariz.), Tyler Kim (Fredericksburg, Va.), Colin Kirkpatrick (Annville, Pa.), Mees Kloen (Amsterdam, Netherlands), Lucas Mous (Weston, Fla.), Shiven Patel (Los Altos, Calif.), Toby Peck (Downingtown, Pa.), Jasper Pouw (Santa Rose Valley, Calif.), Amaan Rashid (Charlotte, N.C.), Pablo Rubio Lucia (Ridgefield, Conn.), Harshaan Sidhu (San Jose, Calif.), Ronan Stevenson-Swadling (Jamaica Plain, Mass.), Benjamin Theising (Fillmore, Calif.), Jack Weitzman (Fulton, Md.), Mason Wong (Alamo, Calif.)
U.S. U-18 Men’s National Training Squad
Leo Baumgardner (Thousand Oaks, Calif.), Gavin Chung (Glen Ridge, .N.J.), Corey Dykema (Newport News, Va.), Brett Eisner (Lafayette, Calif.), Lucas Frejenal (Indianapolis, Ind.), Wyatt Katz (Santa Rose Valley, Calif.), Kiet Maloney (Pennington, N.J.), Namit Mangat (Glendale, Ariz.), Noah Reynolds (Moorpark, Calif.), Tomas Scally (Thousand Oaks, Calif.), Agam Sidhu (Fremont, Calif.), Amar Singh (Santa Clara, Calif.), Danish Singh (Phoenix, Ariz.), Gursajan Singh (Los Altos Hills, Calif.), Ethan Skeete (Arlington, Va.), Russell Smith (Camarillo, Calif.), Isaac Wood (Manlius, N.Y.)
U.S. U-21 Men’s National Training Squad
Payton Breslow (Moorpark, Calif.), Shomik Chakraborty (Washington, D.C), Julian Croonenberghs (Tervuren, Belgium), Alex Curtis (London, United Kingdom), Gerald Cutone (Reading, Mass.), Christian DeAngelis (Doylestown, Pa.), Jack Gallucci (Trumbull, Conn.), Phile Govaert (Rye, N.Y.), Zaid Hassan (Santa Clara, Calif.), Liam Hawley (Ventura, Calif.), Colin Hennessy (Marlborough, Mass.), Wander Hommes (Westlake Village, Calif.), Tymen Kloen (Amsterdam, Netherlands), David Kristof (Darien, Conn.), Michael Mendoza (Monument, Colo.), Jatin Sharma (South San Francisco, Calif.), Puneet Singh (San Jose, Calif.), Dean Schiller (Alexandria, Va.), Phil Schofield (Moorpark., Calif.), Cameron Spach (Thousand Oaks, Calif.), Damien Tarala (Hong Kong, China), Ryan Torigian (Simi Valley, Calif.), Eric Velge (Brussels, Belgium), Maxwell Walshaw (Thousand Oaks, Calif.), Spencer Walshaw (Thousand Oaks, Calif.)
The USA vs. Canada test series will feature a younger and older squad from Canada for eight friendly matches during the training camp. The USMNT staff will select the competing roster each day of the games based on athletes’ performance at the training camp. Teams will be fielded from athletes in the U-16/U-18 and U-21 divisions.
Sunday, November 24
1:00 p.m. U-18 USA vs. Canada
3:00 p.m. U-21 USA vs. Canada
Monday, November 25
1:00 p.m. U-16 USA vs. Canada
3:00 p.m. U-21 USA vs. Canada
Wednesday, November 27
1:00 p.m. U-18 USA vs. Canada
3:00 p.m. U-21 USA vs. Canada
Thursday, November 28
7:00 a.m. U-16 USA vs. Canada
8:30 a.m. U-21 USA vs. Canada
*All times in Pacific time zone
A special thank you goes to the U.S. Men’s Field Hockey Booster Club who will be hosting a Thanksgiving meal for both teams on Tuesday, November 26. This meal will be for all athletes, coaches, staff and parents of the five teams.
USFHA media release
Yale looks to extend win streak against Penn
Drew Beckmen
Credit: Sam Rubin
After winning both of its games last weekend, the Yale field hockey team will travel to Philadelphia on Saturday to face Penn in its fifth conference matchup of the season.
Although Yale (4–9, 1–3 Ivy) does not have the most impressive record this season, its 2019 campaign has been characterized by a number of close defeats. However, after doubling their win total last weekend with wins against Dartmouth and Quinnipiac, the Bulldogs seem to have returned to their winning ways. Penn (5–8, 2–2), who finished third in the Ancient Eight last season, will look to reclaim a winning record in conference play after suffering an overtime defeat to Columbia last week.
“Penn is always a tough opponent to play,” forward Olivia Levieux ’21 said. “We’re focusing on speed and playing a good passing game. Attacking and defending as a whole team is going to be crucial on Saturday.”
Like Yale, Penn has faced a number of the nation’s top programs this season, including No. 1 North Carolina and then-No. 10 Wake Forest. Although the Quakers suffered defeats in both games, these early-season matchups served as good preparation for Ivy League play.
On the offensive end, the Quakers are led by forwards Maddy Fagan and Madison Jiranek, who have tallied five goals each this season, tied for the most on the team. Veteran goalkeeper Ava Rosati, who garnered honorable mention All-Ivy honors last season, leads Penn’s defensive efforts.
For the Elis, captain Bridget Condie ’20 and Levieux have been the primary source of offensive production. In the Elis’ two wins last weekend, Condie and Levieux were responsible for five out of the eight goals scored. Midfielder Imogen Davies ’21 has also been a standout player for the Bulldogs. With nine assists and three goals, Davies is tied for the second-most points on the roster.
“Olivia and Bridget are obviously very solid, experienced players and they know how to get the job done,” midfielder Josie Jahng ’23 said. “They bring great energy and provide a lot of stability for the team through the center of the field on both sides of the ball.”
Last season, Yale fell 2–0 to Penn. In a closely contested game, the Elis nearly matched the Quakers in shots on goal with five in comparison to Penn’s six. After holding the Quakers scoreless in the first half, the Elis conceded two goals, one of which came with five minutes remaining in the contest. This weekend, Yale has an opportunity to use its momentum to avenge last season’s loss.
Yale and Penn have played four common opponents this season: Dartmouth, Cornell, Drexel and No. 13 Harvard. Although both suffered defeats at the hands of the Crimson, the Quakers beat Drexel and No. 24 Cornell — contests that the Elis lost by just one goal. In its game against Dartmouth, Penn needed extra time to seal a 4–3 victory. This narrow result comes in stark contrast with the Elis’ resounding 6–0 victory against the Big Green on Saturday.
“After getting a reminder of what winning feels like last weekend, and especially after a long period of losses, we as a team don’t want to lose that feeling,” defender Katie Pieterse ’22 said. “We know what it will take to keep us feeling confident, and good preparation this week during practice will only bolster that confidence.”
The Bulldogs matchup against Penn begins at noon and will be streaming live on ESPN+.
Yale Daily News
Louisville field hockey star enjoying senior-year success
Dyuce Woodson
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — On a Sunday afternoon at Trager Stadium, the fifth-ranked Louisville Cardinals field hockey team was getting ready to take on one of their toughest opponents of the season, the Iowa Hawkeyes.
The Hawkeyes were ranked sixth in the nation.
Louisville played two top 10 teams this season prior to Iowa and lost both of them (No. 1 North Carolina and No. 9 Virginia).
However, this time would be different.
The Cards would down the Hawkeyes in overtime to take the 3-2 victory.
Louisville senior Bethany Russ had one of the two shots on goal in overtime.
As the team's leading scorer, she wasn't able to add to her goal stat-line this particular day.
She's been a force for the Cards.
Last season, she earned all conference honors and earned career highs in goals and points.
She's come a long way since 2017.
"I had a stress fracture in my L5, in my back. So that was a really hard year for me," Russ said. "I had to sit out for the duration of the season."
Day to day tasks like walking to class were a struggle.
Despite missing her entire sophomore season, she found there were some advantages.
"Sitting out was really hard but I think I learnt a lot from watching that; in turn, helped me with my more tactical game," Russ said. "I can see more of the field better from watching from the sidelines for so long."
And the Australian native has been showing off that added field awareness ever since.
After missing all of 2017, she led the team in goals in 2018 and is currently leading the team in that category.
It's a feat she didn't see coming.
"I just wanted to do my best and get back to the best I could be," she said. "I obviously did not expect to be doing so well post-injury. But I did everything that I could from a strength, fitness prospective, from my mind and my mental state."
Head coach Justine Sowry praised what kind of person she is to come back from a back injury to do what she's done.
"She's tough. She's gritty. She's Australian," Sowry, also from Australia, said, while smiling. "It just says a lot about who she is and she wants it.
"Your time as a college student-athlete is so small and she's valuing every minute on the pitch right now," Sowry said.
With just three games left in the regular season, and the postseason still ahead, Russ is looking to have even more success while wearing a UofL uniform.
"You'd rather finish your career strong and end on a high note than the other way around," Russ said.
The Cards will take on William and Mary on Thursday and will end the regular season at home against Syracuse.
WLKY