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News for 11 November 2019

All the news for Monday 11 November 2019


The BlitzStoks are Back!



The last time SA Indoor Hockey Men’s Jethro Eustice took to the indoor court to represent the Green and Gold was on the 11 February 2018, 637 days ago, when his two goals helped the BlitzStoks beat Kazakhstan to secure 11th place at the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup. Remarkably, since that time he has played in the Commonwealth Games, the FIH Hockey World Cup, the FIH Hockey Series Final and the African Road to Tokyo 2020 Qualifier. Throughout all those tournaments, his passion for indoor hockey never wavered, so the newly elected captain will be delighted to be back on the court with the SA Indoor Men against Switzerland.

Of course, Eustice is not the only fantastic story in this squad. Keagan Robinson was a paramount part of the SA Indoor Hockey Men’s team that qualified for the 2018 Indoor Hockey World Cup, but fate dealt him a cruel hand when he tore his ligaments in his knee. Despite a near miraculous recovery Robinson unfortunately missed out on the World Cup. His 868 day wait to sing the national anthem for the SA Indoor Hockey Men again is about to be over. To cap it off he will do so standing side-by-side with his brother Jonty Robinson.

Speaking of brothers, the Cassiem duo will get the opportunity to show the rest of the World what many South Africans already know. They are a superb duo. The two used to terrorise together for the Barracudas in the Pro Series Indoor and were part of the victorious Western Province men’s side earlier this year. Although Dayaan has already tasted considerable appearances for the national indoor men’s side, this will be the first time they represent a senior side together.

The brilliant stories continue with the newly appointed coach David Joshua. Joshua who has coached for the Gauteng Gryphons for over a decade at indoor hockey was given the opportunity to lead a national team for the first time. His passion for the game of indoor hockey is second to none and the Men will no doubt be inspired by a coach who has gone through the South African Indoor Hockey System all the way to the top.

The BlitzStoks, as they are affectionately known, will be eager to get on the court against Switzerland. That they can do so is testament to the hard work of so many others behind the scenes who do it not for their own credit but for a pure passion for the game. Its also a testament to the fantastic support of Tops at SPAR for this series.

The BlitzStoks are Back and we can’t wait!

All games are being streamed by Digitv at http://events.digitv.co.za  

SA Hockey Association media release



Super start for SPAR South Africa while BlitzStoks earn fantastic draw


Picture – Everlasting Clicks / SA Hockey

The much-anticipated Indoor Test Series between South African and Switzerland’s indoor Men and Women got underway in a massive thunderstorm in Durban North. The weather didn’t put off a capacity crowd inside the Danville Park Indoor Sports Centre, filled with South Africans still high on cloud 9 from the Springbok World Cup win.

The BlitzStoks played the earlier game with the return of Keagan Robinson alongside the debutants Steven Paulo, Lungani Gabela, Keegan Hezlett, Chad Futcher, Jonty Robinson, Anton van Loggerenberg, Ignatius Malgraff and Cameron Goodwin. A largely inexperienced BlitzStoks side, powered by Tops at SPAR for this series, were enterprising in their attack but were caught out by the structured play by the Swiss. Yves Morard scored the first goal of the series from the first Penalty Corner showing why the Swiss were Quarter Finalists at the last Indoor Hockey World Cup.

The BlitzStoks grew into the game with Rusten Abrahams becoming a central figure in building some exciting attacking play. Chad Futcher and Keagan Robinson were able to open opportunities but found Jonas Verest limiting the space. South Africa were maybe left ruing the opportunities they had not converted in the first half when Marco Michel made it 2-0 for the Swiss from another Penalty Corner.

The South Africans though showed the never say die attitude you can attribute to our nation and fought back on a very slippery surface because of the humidity. They won a penalty stroke in the second half but were unable to convert it with Chad Futcher hitting the post. But South Africa would pull a goal back in the last quarter when Jethro Eustice fired home from a penalty corner with 6 minutes remaining. Chad Futcher would score his first international goal and atone for his stroke miss with just three minutes remaining and earn South Africa a credible draw with the world number 8 much to the delight of the partisan crowd.

Captain Jethro Eustice after the game: “We tried to focus on our defence and settle in our combinations. I think Switzerland probably had the best first half, but we were the better team in the second half, so the draw is probably a fair result. We want to bring a bit of youth and excitement into our game and build with this team and the new structures!”

The SPAR South African Indoor ladies record since the last African Cup has been mighty impressive winning 30 of the last 36, losing just three of the test matches in that time. With momentum building impressively the South Africans were keen to show that their series victory over Switzerland in January was not just a flash in the pan, but a show of the progress Lennie Botha’s side have made.

They were quick to show that domination against the Swiss, who themselves were building towards the EuroHockey Championship in January. After having two shots saved off the line by defenders, SPAR South Africa took the lead through captain fantastic Cindy Hack. The score would remain that way until the end of the third quarter when Kayla de Waal on her debut lit Danville up.

Cindy Hack produced a wonderful up the line ball and de Waal picked it up in the D. With her back to goal and under immense pressure from Tanja Landtwing the youngest player in the South African team showed tremendous composure and finished a delightful reverse flick. The Danville crowd were massively appreciative of the goal and so to was the rest of her team.

As Switzerland pushed for a way back into the game it was Celia Evans who put the game to bed for SPAR South Africa. Kayla de Waal turned provider when she crossed the ball for an onrushing Evans to slide it home. A 3-0 win to start the series exactly what the vociferous crowd had ordered.

After the game captain Cindy Hack was delighted: “I am so proud of the girls. There are some things we can still work on, but Im very happy with the performance. The crowd was absolutely sensational, thank you for the support, we are so proud to represent South Africa.”


Picture – Everlasting Clicks / SA Hockey

SA Hockey Association media release



Men’s Semi Final Review



The inaugural Sultana Bran Hockey One League grand finalists have been determined, with the top two women’s and men’s teams to go head to head in the season deciders.

The Brisbane Blaze will feature in the Sultana Bran Men’s Grand Final when they come up against the unbeaten NSW Pride at the State Netball and Hockey Centre in Melbourne on Saturday 16 November 2019.


(AAP Image/Jeremy Ng)

In the men’s competition, after a fiercely contested opening half that saw NSW Pride and HC Melbourne only split by a 3rd minute goal by the Pride’s Nathanael Stewart, the floodgates opened in the third quarter as the hosts piled on five goals in as many minutes to secure a 6-2 result and notch up their seventh straight win.

Kurt Lovett and Tim Brand both scored a brace for the Pride, while HC Melbourne’s two goals came from the stick of Craig Marais and captain Russell Ford.


(AAP Image/Darren England)

Brisbane Blaze will be the Pride’s grand final opponents after a dominant 7-1 victory over the Tassie Tigers in Brisbane. The Blaze found themselves three goals up inside six minutes when Jake Whetton scored from open play and then converted the resultant one-on-one conversion opportunity, before fellow Kookaburra Jacob Anderson added the third.

A successful Joel Rintala drag flick made it 4-0 at half time leaving the Tigers needing to produce another monumental comeback similar to the one they pulled off against HC Melbourne a fortnight earlier.

A powerful drag flick from Jeremy Hayward gave the Tigers a glimmer of hope but the Wotherspoon brothers, Blake and Dylan, snuffed out any chance of an upset as the Blaze booked themselves another date with their State of Origin rivals.

The Sultana Bran Hockey One Men’s Grand Final is scheduled to start at 2pm AEDT with the Women’s Grand Final to follow at 4pm.

Tickets will go on sale at 3pm AEDT today through Ticketek. The Sultana Bran Hockey One Grand Finals will be LIVE and exclusive on Fox Sports.

Sultana Bran Hockey One 2019 Season – Semi Final Results

NSW Pride 6 (Stewart 3’, Lovett 38’/44’, Brand 41’/41’, Willott 43’)
HC Melbourne 2 (Marais 39’, Ford 55’)

Saturday 9 November 2019
Sydney Olympic Park Hockey Centre (NSW)

NSW Pride Men’s team: 1.Lachlan Sharp, 2.Tom Craig, 5.Ash Thomas (GK), 6.Matthew Dawson (c), 8.Nathanael Stewart, 12.Kurt Lovett, 18.Tristan White, 19.Jack Hayes, 20.Ky Willott, 22.Flynn Ogilvie, 23.Ryan Proctor, 24.Dylan Martin, 28.Sam Gray, 29.Timothy Brand

HC Melbourne Men’s team: 1.Craig Marais, 2.Max Hendry, 3.Simon Borger, 7.Will Gilmour, 9.Nathan Ephraums, 10.Russell Ford (c), 12.Connar Otterbach, 14.Jonathan Bretherton, 15.Josh Simmonds, 17.Kiran Arunasalam, 18.Johan Durst (GK), 21.Jake Sherren, 25.Aaron Kleinschmidt, 29.Oscar Wookey

Brisbane Blaze 7 (Whetton 4’/4’, Anderson 6’, Rintala 25’, B.Wotherspoon 43’, D.Wotherspoon 55’/55’)
Tassie Tigers 1 (Hayward 33’)

Saturday 9 November 2019
State Hockey Centre (QLD)

Brisbane Blaze Men’s team: 2.Shane Kenny, 3.Corey Weyer, 4.Hugh Pembroke (c), 5.Scott Boyde, 7.Joel Rintala, 9.Jacob Anderson, 10.Robert Bell, 12.Jake Whetton, 15.Justin Douglas, 16.Tim Howard, 19.Blake Wotherspoon, 23.Daniel Beale, 26.Dylan Wotherspoon, 32.Mitchell Nicholson (GK)

Tassie Tigers Men’s team: 2.Nicholas Leslie, 4.Hayden Beltz, 11.Eddie Ockenden (c), 12.Sam McCulloch, 13.Josh 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

Sultana Bran Hockey One League Media release



Women’s Semi Final Review



The inaugural Sultana Bran Hockey One League grand finalists have been determined, with the top two women’s and men’s teams to go head to head in the season deciders.

Minor Premiers Hockey Club Melbourne will take on Brisbane Blaze in the Sultana Bran Women’s Grand Final, to be played as a double header at the State Netball and Hockey Centre in Melbourne on Saturday 16 November 2019.


(AAP Image)

Brisbane Blaze became the first women’s team to book their place in the season decider, a strong second half display seeing them account for Adelaide Fire 3-0 on Saturday afternoon. Fitzpatrick sisters Kendra and Madison scored either side of Britt Wilkinson’s 34th minute strike for the hosts.

Then on Sunday afternoon HC Melbourne prevailed in a dramatic penalty shoot against Canberra Chill at the State Netball and Hockey Centre after neither side could find the back of the goal in regulation time.


(AAP Image/Rob Prezioso)

After both teams missed their opening two penalties of the shootout, Madi Ratcliffe finally managed to beat Chill keeper Sakiyo Asano to put the home side in the box seat.

Amazingly, that penalty would prove to be the winner as HC Melbourne and Hockeyroos number one goalkeeper Rachael Lynch starred, the Chill failing to convert all five of their penalty attempts to send HC Melbourne through to the big dance.

The Sultana Bran Hockey One Women’s Grand Final will start at 4pm AEDT.

Tickets will go on sale at 3pm AEDT today through Ticketek. The Sultana Bran Hockey One Grand Finals will be LIVE and exclusive on Fox Sports.

Sultana Bran Hockey One 2019 Season – Semi Final Results

Brisbane Blaze 3 (K.Fitzpatrick 32’, Wilkinson 34’, M.Fitzpatrick 48’)
Adelaide Fire 0

Saturday 9 November 2019
State Hockey Centre (QLD)

Brisbane Blaze Women’s team: 1.Savannah Fitzpatrick, 2.Madison Fitzpatrick, 3.Layla Eleison, 4.Ashlea Fey, 5.Rosie Malone, 6.Morgan Gallagher, 7.Jodie Kenny (c), 8.Jordyn Holzberger, 12.Kendra Fitzpatrick, 13.Rebecca Greiner, 14.Meg Pearce, 15.Hannah Astbury (GK), 19.Morgan Mathison, 22.Britt Wilkinson

Adelaide Fire Women’s team: 1.Linzi Appleyard, 3.Brooklyn Buchecker, 6.Jane Claxton, 7.Emma de Broughe, 8.Holly Evans (c), 13.Sarah Harrison, 15.Euleena Maclachlan, 17.Karri McMahon, 19.Gabi Nance, 20.Hattie Shand, 21.Miki Spano, 22.Leah Welstead, 23.Gemma McCaw, 30.Ashlee Wells (GK)

HC Melbourne 0 (1)
Canberra Chill 0 (0)
HC Melbourne win 1-0 on penalties

Sunday 10 November 2019
State Netball and Hockey Centre (VIC)

HC Melbourne Women’s team: 1.Sophie Taylor, 2.Aisling Utri, 3.Nicola Hammond, 5.Kristina Bates, 7.Kary Chau, 12.Carly James, 14.Laura Barden, 20.Hayley Padget, 21.Florine van Grimbergen, 22.Madi Ratcliffe, 23.Samantha Snow (c), 25.Hannah Gravenall, 27.Rachael Lynch (GK), 33.Amy Lawton

Canberra Chill Women’s team: 3.Brooke Peris, 4.Jess Smith, 7.Naomi Evans, 9.Sassie Economos, 10.Rebecca Lee, 11.Sophie Gaughan, 13.Edwina Bone (c), 15.Yui Ishibashi, 16.Shihori Oikawa, 19.Anna Flanagan, 23.Kalindi Commerford, 25.Tina Taseska, 27.Meredith Bone, 31.Sakiyo Asano (GK)

Sultana Bran Hockey One League Media release



Melbourne to host inaugural grand final



The ticketing and match details for the Sultana Bran Hockey One 2019 Grand Final have been released as the inaugural season comes to its exciting climax.

The Sultana Bran Hockey One 2019 Grand Finals will be played as a double header at the State Netball and Hockey Centre in Melbourne on Saturday 16 November 2019.

Tickets for the Sultana Bran Hockey One 2019 Grand Final will go on sale from 3pm AEDT today (Monday 11 November 2019).

Minor Premiers Hockey Club Melbourne will take on Brisbane Blaze in the Sultana Bran Women’s Grand Final, while the Blaze will also feature in the Sultana Bran Men’s Grand Final when they come up against the unbeaten NSW Pride.

Sultana Bran Hockey One GM, Tony Dodemaide said the league had adopted a policy at inception to rotate the hosting of Grand Final double headers between the top ranked women’s and men’s teams, reflecting the true gender equality of the sport, with rights for the first decider going to the top women’s team.

“HC Melbourne have thoroughly deserved their hosting right with an excellent run in the women’s competition,” said Dodemaide.

“Local fans not only have the opportunity to cheer them on in a grand final against a Brisbane Blaze team peaking at the right time, but also to witness what promises to be a wonderful final in the men’s competition between the two standout teams of the season, NSW Pride and Brisbane Blaze, who are both packed with Kookaburras stars.

“Our fans have enjoyed the entertainment value of double header fixtures throughout the regular season, and it makes sense for the season finale to be the same. The first Sultana Bran Hockey One League Grand Final day will be a must see event, whether you are at the State Netball and Hockey Centre or watching on Fox Sports.”

The Sultana Bran Hockey One Men’s Grand Final is scheduled to start at 2pm AEDT with the Women’s Grand Final to follow at 4pm.

Tickets will go on sale at 3pm AEDT today through Ticketek. The Sultana Bran Hockey One Grand Finals will be LIVE and exclusive on Fox Sports.

Sultana Bran Hockey One 2019 Men’s Grand Final

NSW Pride v Brisbane Blaze

Saturday 16 November 2019
State Netball and Hockey Centre (VIC)
Match Start: 2:00pm local

Sultana Bran Hockey One 2019 Women’s Grand Final

HC Melbourne v Brisbane Blaze

Saturday 16 November 2019
State Netball and Hockey Centre (VIC)
Match Start: 4:00pm local

Sultana Bran Hockey One League Media release



ROUND-UP: English Men's Hockey League


Lee Morton winds up to score his second goal. Credit Peter Smith.

Ed Horler scored a hat-trick and Ronan Harvey-Kelly bagged two goals as Wimbledon produced an excellent 7-1 victory over Brooklands MU to maintain the pressure on Premier Division leaders Surbiton in the Men’s Hockey League.

Ben Francis and Peter Friend also found themselves on the scoresheet for the hosts, while Leo Watton was the only scorer for Brooklands MU.

After helping GB qualify for the Tokyo Olympics Alan Forsyth helped himself to two goals as Surbiton won 4-3 at Old Georgians on Saturday to stay top of the table.

Tom Carson opened the scoring after seven minutes, but Forsyth’s first levelled the match and Surbiton went ahead with Luke Taylor and Tom Sorsby scoring.

Lee Morton scored twice in three minutes as Old Georgians levelled at 3-3, but Forsyth’s second goal on 64 minutes sealed the win.

Hampstead and Westminster remain fourth in the table after winning 4-1 at the University of Exeter.

A brace from Matt Guise Brown and goals from Chris Cargo and Harry Martin were enough to secure the points for the away side. Sam Hooper netted a consolation goal for the University of Exeter in the 58th minute.

Elsewhere East Grinstead won 3-1 at bottom of the table Reading on Saturday.

Luke Emmett, Simon Faulkner and Liam Ansell were all on the scoresheet for the away side, while Stuart Loughrey scored the only goal for Reading.

Holcombe versus Beeston ended in a 2-2 draw as both teams secured a point a piece.

Rob Field and Barry Middleton scored for Holcombe while Nick Park and Elliot Barton found the net for Beeston.

Division 1 North

The University of Durham remain top of the Men’s Hockey League Division One North table on goal difference as they won 7-1 at home against Olton and West Warwicks on Saturday.

Elliot Dowley, Phillip Jansen, Richard Jackson, Benedict Park (2), Ross Vides and Max Denniff were all on the scoresheet for the home side. Chris Beck netted the only goal of the game for Olton.

Cardiff & Met maintained the pressure at the top of the table after they won 5-2 at home against the University of Birmingham.

Gareth Furlong, Jack Pritchard, Charles Hunte, Jack Rhodes and Ellis Robson were the goal scorers for Cardiff & Met while Daniel Jowett hit a brace for the away side as they looked for a route back into the game.

Elsewhere, Loughborough Students won 4-2 at home against City of Peterborough, Sheffield Hallam won 5-3 at home against Leeds and the University of Nottingham versus Bowdon ended 3-3.

Division 1 South

A 5-2 win over Teddington saw Sevenoaks maintain their position at the top of the Men’s Hockey League Division One South table on Sunday.

Andrew Ross, Chris Barker, George Torry, Alex Thomson and Sam George all netted for the home side.

Kyle White and Ed Greaves both scored for Teddington but it was in vain as Sevenoaks held out to secure all three points.

Oxford Hawks secured their first win of the season in emphatic style, winning 8-1 at home against bottom of the table Fareham on Saturday.

Alexander Copestake bagged himself four goals while Jack Biggs (2), Tom Bennett and Matthew Wood all found the net for the home side. Robert Wilson scored a consolation for Fareham in the 67th minute.

Elsewhere, Oxted won 6-1 at Brighton and Hove, Havant won 1-0 at home against Canterbury and Southgate won 5-2 at Team Bath Buccaneers.

Conference North

Belper stay top of the Men’s Hockey League Conference North table on goal difference after securing two away victories last weekend.

They overcame Preston 1-0 on Saturday, before beating Wakefield 3-1 on Sunday.

Archie Vaughan scored their only goal on Saturday, and he was also on target in Sunday’s win along with Sam Dixon and Callum Stacey, while Kieran Barker was Wakefield’s scorer.

Elsewhere, Deeside Ramblers maintained the pressure at the top of the table with a 3-2 win at home against Preston.

Chris Barber bagged a hat-trick and Joe Wright netted the third as the home side secured all three points.

Ed Robinson and Jack Cropper found themselves on the scoresheet for Preston.

Conference East

Wapping beat St Albans 4-1 to remain top of the Men’s Hockey League Conference East table on Saturday.

George Cairns, Ben Bull, Will Cairns and Drew Burkin scored for the home side while Teague Marcano scored for St Albans.

Elsewhere Cambridge City moved up to second in the table after a 7-2 victory at Old Loughtonians.

Euan Gilmour (3), James Pritchard, Will Jones, Chris White and Nathanael Farrant all netted for the away side.

Andrew McGregor and Josh Madeiros both scored for Old Loughtonians.

Conference West

Richmond remain second in the Men’s Hockey League Conference West table after a 2-2 at home against Cardiff University.

The hosts took the lead when Jacob Plummer found the net in the 10th minute as they took a 1-0 lead in to the break.

Jordan Hussell doubled their advantage shortly after half time before Cardiff hit back in the 48th minute. Will Hopkins levelled up the affair in the 63rd minute with a goal from free play.

Elsewhere, Cheltenham won 5-2 at home against Isca to secure their second victory of the season.

Luke Cole, Jonny Bryan, Jacob Payton (2) and Alex Salmon were the goal scorers for the home side.

Richard Fisher and Jon Wright both scored for Isca.

* Statistics, full scores and tables from the Men's Hockey League are available by clicking here.

England Hockey Board Media release



Marcano on target in St Albans loss

By Nigel Simon

T&T men’s hock­ey play­er Teague Mar­cano scored his sixth goal of the sea­son but it was not enough to stop St Al­bans from falling to a sec­ond loss, 1-4 to Wap­ping, in the Eng­land Men’s Hock­ey League Con­fer­ence East on Sat­ur­day.

Mar­cano scored the open­ing goal of the match in the 12th minute from a penal­ty-cor­ner set play but Wap­ping hit back with goals from George Cairns (15th), Ben Bull (25th) and Will Cairns (46th), all from penal­ty-cor­ner set plays, be­fore Drew Burk­ing added a fourth item in the 63rd minute.

Mar­cano’s old­er broth­er and fel­low na­tion­al play­er Tariq Mar­cano, who has three goals on the sea­son, is al­so on the St Al­bans side. They stayed fourth on the stand­ings with ten points and a 3-0-2 record, eight points be­hind un­beat­en Wap­ping (6-0-0), who have 18 points, fol­lowed by Chich­ester with 12 and Spencer with 11.

Na­tion­al women’s team hock­ey play­er Kay­la Brath­waite mean­while scored for Lock Haven Uni­ver­si­ty (11-8) to take an ear­ly lead but 13th-ranked Saint Joseph’s scored two sec­ond-half goals to beat them 2-1.

The loss end­ed the sea­son for Lock Haven, who end­ed with an over­all record of 11-8.

T&T’s Fe­li­cia King and Olton sis­ters Saarah and Kait­lyn were al­so on the los­ing end as third-seed­ed Long Is­land Uni­ver­si­ty saw their sea­son come to an end on Fri­day af­ter a 3-0 loss Rid­er Uni­ver­si­ty in the North­east Con­fer­ence semi­fi­nals at the Wag­n­er Col­lege Field Hock­ey Com­plex.

Long Is­land con­clud­ed the 2019 sea­son with a 7-10 over­all record.

The Trinidad Guardian



Lisnagarvey continue to blaze a hot trail

UCD sent packing as in-form Ulster club maintain their scoring streak

Sephen Findlater


James Lorimer: was on target for Lisnagarvey in the league leaders’ home victory over outgunned UCD. Photograph: Rowland White/Presseye/Inpho
 
Questions are already being asked if anyone can stop Lisnagarvey after yet another hammering of a potential title rival as the men’s EY Hockey League returned following a three-week break for the Olympic qualifiers.

UCD came into their tie at Comber Road in bullish form but were sent back down the M1 with a chastening 5-1 defeat to their name, ending their perfect start to the campaign with a bump.

Ominously for their rivals, it added to Garvey’s 6-0 demolitions of Three Rock Rovers and Pembroke – both who fancy themselves for a playoff place – and a 10-1 mauling of Annadale.

Against UCD, teenagers Troy Chambers and Johnny Lynch had ’Garvey 2-0 up by the 12th minute and while Guy Sarratt halved the deficit, a glorious James Corry goal restored the two-goal gap by half-time.

Corner goals from Andy Williamson and James Lorimer completed the rout in the second half, the upshot of which leaves them three points clear at the top with a massive goal difference of plus 25.

The students will hope to write it off as a blip and not let it distract from what has been a remarkable start to the season since promotion.

What will be a concern, though, is they ran up three yellow cards for a second game running, an issue that needs to be nipped in the bud.

Monkstown, meanwhile, formally celebrated their 125th anniversary on Saturday evening in gala style with an impressive 4-1 win over Glenanne in their back pocket.

It maintains their unbeaten start to the season – two wins, two draws – as they overcame an early concession to a Shannon Boucher drag-flick. Rory Nichols has been a key component since returning from Australia and he set up Ryan Spencer for the equaliser before scoring the second goal himself.

The experienced ex-internationals Gareth Watkins and Davy Carson completed the win in the closing quarter. The Glens, who travelled to Rathdown with just 13 players, wilted in the second half.

YMCA garnered their first points of the season when they came back from 2-1 down to beat Pembroke 3-2 in their first league tie on the refurbished Wesley College turf.

Trailing 2-1 at half-time, Grant Glutz unleashed an unstoppable drag-flick to tie things up before Tony Brophy won it with the last act of the third quarter, profiting from an assist from Ben Cullen who was on debut.

Banbridge beat Corinthian 3-1 while Three Rock Rover were too strong for Annadale, overcoming a second minute deficit to win 9-1.

The Irish Times



Scottish Premiership leaders retain top spots after goal-laden weekend



Grange and Clydesdale Western are still in pole position in the men`s and women`s Premiership after emphatic victories this weekend.

Grange confirmed their place at the top of the premiership with a convincing seven goal win over second-placed Grove Menzieshill at Fettes, they now lead the table by five points from Western Wildcats.

Calum Lothian opened with a reverse stick shot in only three minutes and soon after Josh McRae added a second, and that was the score at the interval.

Two penalty corner strikes by Dan Coultas in the third quarter doubled Grange`s tally to four.

In the final quarter Jacob Tweedie latched on to a rebound to find the net after another Coultas set piece flick had been blocked by the keeper. In the final eight minutes Marcus O`Brien deflected a shot home that may have actually been going wide, and the scoring was completed by another Coultas penalty corner drag flick for his hat-trick.

Martin Shepherdson, Grange`s manager, remarked after the game:  “This was undoubtedly our best performance of the season, we were in control for most of the match and I felt we played really well.”

Western Wildcats certainly got their teeth into Uddingston at Auchenhowie with a nine-goal offensive without reply. Wildcats were five up at the interval, Rob Harwood and Andrew McConnell both scored twice while Fraser Moran got the other.

The second half produced a hat-trick of penalty corner conversions from Adam McKenzie interspersed by an open play strike by Fraser Calder.

Edinburgh University`s fixture against Hillhead fell victim to the frost at Peffermill, and Clydesdale took advantage to move into the top four with a 4-1 win over Watsonians.

The Titwood-based side were three up at the interval, Struan Walker scored twice while Ali Douglas got the other. A Chris McFadden penalty corner conversion put Clydesdale`s tally up to four before Fraser Sands scored a consolation for the Edinburgh side.

Clydesdale Western are still in charge at the top of the women`s Premiership, they saw off GHK 4-0 at Titwood. Again Jenny Eadie was on target with a brace while Lexi Sabatelli and Heather Lang completed the scoring.

Watsonians moved up to second spot after defeating Merlins Gordonians 9-0 in Aberdeen. The Edinburgh side were three up at the interval with Emily Newlands, Sarah Jamieson and Nikki Stobie on target.

Jamieson and Stobie went on to complete their hat-tricks in the second half, the former had two unstoppable shots while the latter deflected one into the roof of the net from a tight angle and the other was a traditional poacher`s finish. The remaining goals came from Grace Drummond and Ailsa Small.

Former leaders Dundee Wanderers returned to winning ways with a 3-2 win over Tayside neighbours Grove Menzieshill. Vikki Bunce scored a poacher`s goal to give Wanderers a single goal lead at the interval.

Emily Dark doubled the tally with a cracker at a penalty corner only for Laura Kingston`s turn and shot to pull one back for Grove Menzieshill. Within seconds Michaela McCarthy had restored Wanderers` two goal lead. A good shot by Lucy Murray pulled the score back to 3-2 but it was not enough to secure any points.

Wanderers` coach Iain Strachan said: “Grove Menzieshill managed a late goal to make it seem it was close, but it wasn`t really. Back winning that`s what matters.”

The result is that Wanderers move back to third in the table.

Finally Western Wildcats clawed their way into the top four with a comfortable 7-1 win over Hillhead.

The visitors took the lead after a slow start by Kaz Cuthbert`s charges, but by the interval the Auchenhowie side were 2-1 up with a double from Ava Smith. In the third quarter Megan Cox put the Wildcats 3-1 ahead.

Wildcats completed the final quarter with four further goals, Smith collected her hat-trick, Catriona Booth netted from the spot, Cox got her second of the game and Alex Stuart completed the scoring.

Edinburgh University slipped down to fifth after their game against Glasgow University succumbed to the frost.

Scottish Hockey Union media release



Blazers close in on record-extending title

By AGNES MAKHANDIA


Telkom's Maureen Okumu (left) celebrates her goal with teammate Phanice Olunga during their Kenya Hockey Union women's Premier League match against Sliders on August 4, 2019 at City Park Stadium. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

Blazers formerly Telkom, are only one win away from a record-extending 22nd Kenya Hockey Union Premier League title after a 2-1 win over stubborn Lakers at City Park Stadium on Sunday.

The defending champions were made to dig deep to secure their ninth win and maintain their unbeaten run. Goals from Jackie Mwangi in the 18th minute and Barbara Simiyu in the 34th were enough to secure the win.

Lakers had opened the scoring through Miriam Nyakona's field goal in the 10th minute but failed to hold on to the lead.

Blazers coach Jos Openda decried wastefulness from his forwards.

“We are on course to retain the title and a win against KU will do us justice. However, we are determined to win the remaining matches to finish the league unbeaten,” said Openda.

He added: “We are in financial crisis and we hope the good run will help us get a sponsor not only for the Club Championships but also for subsequent seasons."

The win takes Blazers tally to 29 points from 11 matches with three matches in hand. Second-placed United States International University of Africa (USIU-A), who were out of action this weekend, have 26 points from 12 matches.

Should Blazers win their tie against Kenyatta University next Sunday, they will be crowned champions with two matches to spare against Sliders and USIU-A.

Daily Nation



Novices Oranje Leonas lead promotion race

By Elizabeth Mburugu


Telkom Kenya's Captain Elynah Chebet play against USIU A during Astro Turf tourney match at Sikh Union Club, Nairobi. Telkom beat USIU A 2-1 in the final period. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Re-branded Africa champions need one win to seal a record 22nd league title.

Kenya Hockey Union Premier League champions Butali Warriors and Blazers are on course to retaining their titles.

Butali beat Western Jaguars 3-2 while Blazers, formerly Telkom, edged out Lakers 2-1 to maintain their unbeaten run in the men and women's title races respectively.

The sugar Miller’s, who lead the standings with 39 points from 15 matches, need one victory to extend their reign at the helm of men's hockey.

Wazalendo, who are Butali's closest challengers, have 30 points and must win their remaining three ties and also hope the champions lose their remaining three by higher margins.

Butali coach Dennis Owoka said their focus is now on the next game against Wazalendo.

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“We have had a good but our work is not done yet and we have now focused on our next game which to us is like a final because if we win, we will retain our title,” Owoka said.

Against Jaguars, Butali had a good start taking a 3-0 lead by the 35th minute. They, however, survived a late scare as Jaguars threatened to restore parity in the fourth quarter.

Veteran Zack Aura put Butali ahead in the 16th minute with former Jaguars and Kenya Police Striker Amos Barkibir beating goalkeeper Nayanga four minutes to the break to give Butali a 2-0 lead.

George Mutira they outsmarted the Jaguars defence before hitting the ball past Nayanga to make it 3-0 for the sugar millers in the 35th minute.

Even so, Jaguars refused to let Butali have it their way as they intensified their hunt for goals.

Their efforts paid off just before the break of the third quarter as Allan Malit pulled one back.

Butali strikers pushed for more goals in the fourth quarter but the Jaguars defence would not let them through.

Emmanuel Waswa made it two for Jaguars through a penalty stroke in the 52nd minute following an infringement in the circle.

Jaguars then battled to salvage a point from the clash but their efforts were thwarted by an unrelenting Butali defence keen to win their second successive trophy.

In the women’s title hunt, holders Blazers rallied from behind to beat newcomers Lakers. Two goals in each half from evergreen Jackline Mwangi and Barbara Simiyu secured Blazers ninth win of the season.

Blazers have 29 points from 11 matches and have one hand on this season's gong. Mariam Nyakona had given Lakers the lead in the 10th minute.

Blazers Jos Openda, who returned from retirement to help the club after long-term sponsors Telkom Kenya withdrew their sponsorship, said his charges were determined to weather the storm.

“The girls have vowed not to let the financial crisis dampen their spirits and it was evident in how they played because we dominated the game despite not scoring more goals," said Openda.

The Standard Digital



MHC's saga goes on


Kuala Lumpur Hockey Association (KLHA) chief Datuk Seri Megat D. Shahriman, who is eyeing the deputy president’s post, might ironically be thwarted by a rule set by his own association. NSTP/AZHAR RAMLI

AS the King’s son withdrew from the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) elections, there was another twist to the saga yesterday.

Kuala Lumpur Hockey Association (KLHA) chief Datuk Seri Megat D. Shahriman, who is eyeing the deputy president’s post, might ironically be thwarted by a rule set by his own association.

Megat may not be aware of the KLHA constitution which states: All principal office bearers of the elected council of Kuala Lumpur HA shall not concurrently hold any position as principal office bearer in Malaysian Hockey Federation (now Confederation) council.

This means Megat cannot be KLHA president and MHC deputy president (if he wins) at the same time.

Megat is set to take on Jadadish Chandra for the MHC deputy president’s post in the elections. But he is now faced with the option of either not stand for election and focus on KLHA alone or he can give up his KL post if he wins the MHC post.

KLHA deputy president I. Vickneswaran yesterday confirmed that their constitution does not allow dual “citizenship”.

“It is clearly stated in our constitution that an elected office bearer can’t hold a position in the parent body as well to make sure we give our full attention to KL and not be burdened with bigger responsibilities,” he said.

Megat was elected as KLHA president in June. KLHA are expected to make an announcement on the matter today.

Jadadish, the MHC Legal Committee Chairman, announced yesterday that Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah, the eldest son of the King, had officially written in to withdraw his nomination for the deputy president’s post.

Even though Tengku Hassanal had 14 nominations from 16 affiliates, he withdrew due to the intense battles in the run-up to the MHC AGM-cum elections on Nov 16.

In another development, Kedah HA deputy president S. Sathis Kumar has officially thrown in the towel.

“Sathis Kumar has officially written to MHC, withdrawing his nomination for the post of vice-president. The other two who pulled out of the VP race officially are M. Gobinathan and Yazid Yunus,” said Jadadish.

When asked if Johor HA deputy president Datuk Manjit Majid Abdullah and his four running mates (who announced at a press conference earlier that they will not contest) had sent in their withdrawal letters, Jadadish said they have yet to do so.

“We have not received any letter from Manjit or the other four. We (MHC) do not rely on news reports or social media on such announcements, but will wait for official letters from them.”

Manjit had announced that he, together with former national skippers Datuk Ow Soon Kooi, K. Maheswari and Lum Sau Foong, and Datuk Che Khalib Noh will not seek election as they are disappointed with the controversies in the run-up to the MHC nominations.

New Straits Times



Carolina field hockey team claims third ACC title in a row

The top-ranked Tar Heels beat second-seeded Boston College 3-1 to claim the team's 22nd ACC Tournament title.


The top-ranked Tar Heels beat Boston College 3-1 on Sunday to claim its 22nd ACC Championship. Photo by Mary Schwalm, The ACC.

For the third year in a row, the fourth time in five years and the 22nd time in program history, North Carolina is the Atlantic Coast Conference field hockey champion.

The top-ranked Tar Heels beat second-seeded Boston College 3-1 on its home field at Newton Field Hockey Complex Sunday to claim the crown. Senior forward Marissa Creatore scored two goals in the final and was named the tournament MVP. Senior midfielder Yentl Leemans, sophomore forward Erin Matson and freshman defender Madison Orobono joined her on the All-Tournament Team.

“I’m thrilled for our team,” Carolina coach Karen Shelton said. “An ACC championship for the University of North Carolina is a meaningful thing. All we try to do is represent to the best of our ability, so to win an ACC Championship – at Boston College, on their home field – is a big deal. Boston College fought hard – they’re a very, very worthy opponent and I love that it was tied going into the fourth quarter. There was no quit in them and I think no quit in us. It was nice to have a game like that as we prepare for NCAA postseason.”

With the win, Carolina earns the ACC automatic berth in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. The tournament bracket will be announced at 10 p.m. Sunday on a live broadcast on NCAA.com.

On Sunday at BC, a standing-room-only crowd of 1,121 packed Newton Field Hockey Complex for the ACC title game. It marked the first time since 2010 that the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds had met in the final.

Carolina jumped ahead in the first quarter, scoring in the 12th minute of play on its first penalty corner of the game. Matson sent a ball to the right post and Creatore got her stick on it to direct it into the cage for a 1-0 lead that stood through halftime.

In the 42nd minute, BC scored to tie the game, with Jaime Natale scoring from in front of the cage on a ball from Elizabeth Warner.

The score was tied going into the fourth quarter, but the Tar Heels scored 3:05 in on another penalty corner. Matson passed the ball behind her back to Leemans, who fired a shot that bounced off the goalkeeper’s pads and in.

(She also had the game-winning goal on a late penalty corner when Carolina beat BC 3-2 on Oct. 25 in Chapel Hill in the teams’ regular season matchup.)

Creatore added another goal late. After stealing the ball from a BC player, she carried it into the circle from the right side and sent it past Dwyer, into the left side of the cage for a 3-1 lead that would hold up for the final score.

“She’s a kid who has worked her tail off and represented our program so well,” Shelton said. “Her hard work has paid off. What I told the rest of the team is, that doesn’t happen by accident. She’s put in years of coming early and working on her shot and working on deflections. She’s put in the time and you love it when hard work pays off.”

Leemans and Matson, both first-team All-America selections in 2018, earned All-Tournament honors for the second year in a row.

“Erin and Yentl are two very special players and I love that they’re on our team,” Shelton said. “I thought both played their hearts out today. They both draw a lot of attention, which frees up other people. They are absolutely vital to our continued success and I’m proud of them – they earned it today.”

Orobono, a true freshman who has started at center back all season, earned the All-Tournament honor for her steady play in her first tournament. “Maddi has continued to grow and she made some real savvy moves back there,” Shelton said. “It’s not easy to play deep back for us, with our young defense. They’re all rookies back there, and she holds down the fort for us.”

University of North Carolina media release



Boston College Field Hockey Falls to #1 UNC in ACC Championship Game

The Eagles should still make the NCAA Tournament

By Laura Berestecki



The Boston College field hockey team fell to UNC by a score of 3-1 in this afternoon’s ACC Championship game on Newton Campus. The Eagles fought hard, but were up against the #1 field hockey team in the country, who remain undefeated and have dominated all of their competition this year.

UNC scored late in the first quarter to take a lead, but Jaime Natale picked up her fourth goal of the season late in the third period to tie things up. The Eagles kept fighting, but UNC scored twice in the third to secure the victory and the championship.

Sarah Dwyer, who has had a phenomenal season, made 3 saves in today’s game (UNC’s goalie made 2 - BC had just 3 shots on goal).

Despite today’s loss, the Eagles remain a top ranked team and should make the NCAA Tournament.

BC Interruption



Penn field hockey drops season finale to Ivy League champs Princeton, 3-1

Freshman Meghan Ward scored Penn's lone goal on Senior Day

By Jacob Karlovsky


Despite the team's loss to Princeton, Penn field hockey's seniors Alexa Murray, Alexa Schneck, Ava Rosati, and Laura Shelton were honored as they played their final game at Ellen Vagelos Field. Credit: Son Nguyen

It was an afternoon of many hugs and tears as Penn field hockey closed out its season, albeit in a losing effort.

In a 3-1 loss against No. 8 Princeton, the eventual Ivy League champions, the team honored seniors Alexa Murray, Alexa Schneck, Ava Rosati, and Laura Shelton as they played their final ever game at Ellen Vagelos Field. The group has led the Red and Blue to 36 wins over four years with the team.

“I think over the past four years the team has grown tremendously. I’ve had a lot of personal growth too, and I don’t think I’d be the same person if I wasn’t here,” Schneck said with tears in her eyes. “As the time has gone on our goals have gotten larger and larger, and I think that the team is more than capable of achieving them and winning the Ivy League Championship, being a top-15 team. Our senior class has definitely had a positive impact on the program.”

The game itself got off to a quick start, as goalkeeper Rosati swiftly blocked a penalty stroke from Princeton (13-4, 7-0 Ivy) to keep the game at 0-0. The two teams continued to battle on the field until freshman Meghan Ward scored a goal from a corner to put the Quakers (7-10, 4-3) on top 1-0, tipping the ball in near the goalpost and sending the crowd into a roar. She would lead the team with three shots throughout the contest.


Credit: Son Nguyen

The lead was short lived, however, as the Tigers managed to tie the game at 1-1 just a minute later, also off a corner. The score remained the same until the second period, and the six total shots from both teams combined would be the most out of all four periods.

Both the Tigers and the Quakers would continue going for goal until Princeton finally broke the tie in the third period, going up 2-1. The Orange and Black would continue to dominate offensively for the rest of the game and the Quakers couldn’t manage to solve their defense, shooting only twice throughout the second half.

In the final minute of the match, the Tigers iced the win and their season with another goal, giving them a two-goal cushion at 3-1. They would finish with the best record in the Ivy League and celebrated their title as time ran out.

Although the Quakers only picked up seven wins on the year, four of them came in Ivy League play. Still, the team continues to set higher and higher goals for itself every year, and believes it all comes down to hard work and determination.

“I really think this team was special," Schneck said. “We’ve all gotten along really well and [the group of seniors] built a close culture on the team, and I think that really showed on the field. Our passes, our shots — everything was just so much easier to get a flow."

“Every year we’ve gotten closer to achieving, the team has gotten better, and the program has gotten stronger, and you see that from the quality of play,” Murray said, also playing her last game as a Quaker. “We’re a program on the rise, and the cookie didn’t crumble in our favor as often as we would’ve liked, but this was a special team. The athlete experience is very unique, and there’s a lot of growth that comes with that. I’ll carry that for the rest of my life.”

The season might be ending, but the field hockey team is nowhere near finished. With a new core and increasingly more drive, the Quakers are hoping for more success in the coming years.

The Daily Pennsylvanian



Three takeaways from Maryland field hockey’s Big Ten tournament letdown vs. Penn State

David Suggs


Maryland field hockey coach Missy Meharg before her team’s 6-0 win over Indiana on Oct. 13, 2019 at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex. (Gabby Baniqued/The Diamondback)

While Maryland field hockey retreated to the locker room after its shock 1-0 defeat to No. 5-seeded Penn State on Friday, the Nittany Lions raced to the center of the pitch, hoping to envelop goalkeeper Brie Barraco in a cacophony of noise.

The redshirt freshman had been the standout performer in a gutsy team performance, repeatedly diving across the goalmouth to quell a potent Maryland attack that came into Friday’s matchup averaging just over 3 goals per game. Barraco made eight saves, the seventh time she has notched eight or more stops in a game this season.

For the Nittany Lions (8-11) — a team that started the season with seven straight losses — the victory is momentous, putting them within one game of sealing an unlikely NCAA tournament appearance.

As for the Terps (16-3), the defeat is the latest in a string of frustrating displays, with coach Missy Meharg’s squad often dominating possession and shot totals but lacking the attacking edge to break down compact defenses in recent weeks.

Here are three takeaways from Friday’s Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament defeat.

Road woes continue

The Terps have impressed at the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex in recent years, reeling off a streak of 23 straight home victories that stretches back to 2017.

And this season has been no exception, averaging 4 goals per game at home and recording victories against four top-10 teams in College Park.

All three of Maryland’s defeats have come on the road, though, with Meharg’s squad struggling to recreate its fluid attacking play away from home — its goal per game average drops to 2.11 in its nine away games.

On Friday, the Nittany Lions’ forwards dropped back in an effort to reduce the space Maryland’s creative players had to work with. The tactic kept the Terps out of the shooting circle, stymieing their attack and forcing them to take long-range efforts — efforts which Barraco handled easily.

And without the backing of the raucous Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex crowd, Meharg’s squad was unable to find a breakthrough.

Madison Maguire makes her presence felt

Forward Madison Maguire, the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, has been a force in Maryland’s attack, scoring 12 goals and adding 10 assists.

And despite the Terps’ offensive struggles, the forward continued to make her presence felt, recording five shots — more than any other player on the pitch.

Early in the opening frame, Maguire crept into the shooting circle and rifled a shot toward the roof of the cage. Barraco flashed her pad, though, pushing the ball out of the area.

As the game progressed, Penn State keyed in on Maguire, rushing toward the senior when she would drift into the circle and flashing across the goalmouth to block her shots.

Still, the senior continued to press on, forcing Barraco into another save midway through the fourth.

And she looked to have finally found a breakthrough deep in the final frame, squirting the ball out of Barraco’s grasp before rifling it into the net.

But forward Bibi Donraadt was judged to have fouled Barraco in the build-up to the goal, knocking the goal off the board.

Shift to a shortened bench fails to make a difference

The Terps have relied on their depth throughout the season, with their high-intensity style of play requiring constant freshness and energy. As a result, Maryland often would finish regular-season games with 17 or 18 players seeing the field.

Meharg chose to roll with a shortened bench on Friday, though, as forwards Kyler Greenwalt, Jen Bleakney and Mayv Clune were the only players to come off the bench.

Likely a consequence of Penn State’s early goal and pragmatic style of play, the Terps seemed to prioritize fluidity in the final third. And with midfielders Linda Cobano, Brooke DeBerdine and Kelee Lepage proving capable of logging heavy minutes throughout the season, it looked as if the move was going to pay off.

However, as the Terps’ offensive struggles persisted, Meharg’s decision to carry on with a shortened bench was unexpected — especially after relying on digging deep into Maryland’s talent pool throughout the season.

The Diamondback



Elis close out season with win against Brown

Drew Beckmen


Credit: Sam Rubin

The Yale field hockey team capped off its 2019 season with a resounding 4–1 victory against Ivy foe Brown.

Coming off a perfect two-win weekend, the Bulldogs (7–10, 3–4 Ivy) showed no signs of slowing down as they jumped out to an early lead against the Bears (5–12, 1–6). The Elis netted two first-half goals, sending them into the break with a 2–0 lead. Early in the fourth quarter, the Bears fought back with a goal of their own, narrowing the margin to just one. Forward Anissa Abboud ’21, however, had other ideas. Abboud tallied two goals in two minutes to seal the Bulldogs’ fifth win in six games.

“When Brown narrowed it to a one goal game, I think we were rattled for a bit, but we really managed to calm down and focus,” midfielder Olivia Levieux ’21 said. “When Anissa got her first goal to make it 3–1, I knew we were going to win because I looked around and everyone was so focused and determined and wanted to win so badly. It was great.”

With a pregame ceremony celebrating the senior class, it was only fitting that captain Bridget Condie ’20 provided the first spark in the game. As midfielder Imogen Davies ’21 dribbled down the right side of the field, she attracted the attention of the Brown defense and goalkeeper. After pulling the keeper out of position, Davies found Condie in front of goal with a wide-open net. Condie maintained her composure and drilled the ball into the back of the net.

In the second quarter, forward Lena Ansari ’23 extended the Elis’ lead with a tip-in on a penalty corner. Ansari finished the season with three goals in the final four games, providing an extra spark to the Bulldogs’ offense, which has relied heavily on Condie, Davies and Levieux.

After Ansari’s goal, neither team could find twine for almost thirty minutes. Brown, who had a strong third quarter outshooting Yale 7–1, finally broke through in the final period with a goal by midfielder Lexi King. Despite the Bears’ strong offensive performance in the second half, Yale stymied any chance of a comeback as Abboud scored two goals in two minutes.

Yale’s 4–1 victory was a triumphant end to what was, at times, a frustrating season. The Elis challenged themselves early in the season with matchups against the nation’s top programs, such as current No. 4 Virginia and then No. 16 Liberty. Although the Bulldogs only recorded two wins in their first 11 games, their early-season challenges proved critical to their success later on in the campaign. The Elis finished the year on a dominant run, winning five of their last six.

“The seniors are such a big part of the team and the program overall,” forward Josie Jahng ’23 said. “Their experience, determination and strength proved crucial in keeping the team together and lifting us up during all points of the season — both at our highest moments and our lowest.”

Although it took Yale much of the fall to find its best form, its strong performances in the latter half of the season are an optimistic sign as the team heads into the offseason. The Elis’ return 16 players, including Davies, Levieux, and standout goalkeeper Sydney Terroso ’21, next year. If the Bulldogs build upon their their dominant end to the season, they will surely be a team to be reckoned with come 2020.

“Our focus for the first half of spring will be strength building as the season takes a real toll on the body,” Davies said. “Following that roughly two month period, we will be looking to just adjust to playing without the seniors and really bringing up the confidence of our younger players and trying out some new positions and things. We will try to figure out what went wrong in the middle of the season and what went so right at the end and just look to carry on with the momentum from the last few games.”

The Bulldogs finished the season tied for fifth in the Ivy League.

Yale Daily News



Iowa field hockey wins Big Ten Tournament

The Hawkeyes got the job done in overtime on Sunday to take home the Big Ten Tournament crown.

Anna Kayser


Iowa forward Maddy Murphy jumps to block a pass during a field hockey game between Iowa and Northwestern at Grant Field on Saturday Oct. 26, 2019. The Hawkeyes defeated the Wildcats 2-1. Hannah Kinson

The No. 2 seed Iowa field hockey team didn’t need more than 23 extra seconds after regulation ended to clinch the Big Ten Tournament title on Sunday, 1-0, against five-seeded Penn State.

Freshman Esme Gibson ran the ball along the right sideline before passing it into the circle. Iowa’s leading scorer in the regular season, Maddy Murphy, was positioned near the left corner of the goal and shot the ball in off a pass from sophomore Leah Zellner.

“I saw the open space down the sideline, and I knew Maddy would be in there for the tip,” Leah Zellner said. “I just kept pulling in, carrying it strong on the baseline, gave her the pass and she put it in.”

Getting to that point took a full four periods of defense, which Iowa has been known for all season. Goalkeeper Leslie Speight saved five shots on her goal in the first half to keep the game scoreless.

Iowa’s offense put pressure on the Nittany Lions in the second half, with junior Ellie Holley stepping up and taking the ball to the perimeter of the circle multiple times.

“The first few seconds of the game it was unreal,” Zellner said. “We knew Penn State was going to be a really tough game, and it came down to who wanted it more, and I just think we really wanted it a lot.”

The journey to this moment didn’t happen overnight. Last season, the Hawkeyes got close but finished as runner ups in the conference final. This year, they worked hard to take that extra step and come out on top.

“We worked so hard for the past twelve months with putting [in] a lot of effort,” Murphy said. “We stayed through the summer, we put in every day, we’re coached by just fantastic coaches, and our seniors are incredible. Everyone on this team just put in every single day, so today was just one of the fun times.”

Iowa got through Ohio State in the first round of the tournament to make it to the semifinals against Northwestern. The semifinal game was postponed twice due to weather and field conditions, but the Hawkeyes rolled past them to make their second title game in as many years.

Senior Katie Birch was a big part of that action, taking home the honor of tournament MVP. She was also named one of three unanimous 2019 first-team All-Big Ten selection.

“We had game changers [on Sunday] all over the field, and actually through the course of the tournament,” head coach Lisa Cellucci said. “Everyone contributed, and that’s what you need to do to win a championship.”

The Daily Iowan

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