News for 06 October 2020
All the news for Tuesday 6 October 2020
Revington, the man for grassroots
By Jugjet Singh
MHC president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal (second from right) hands over the appointment letter to technical director for development Paul Revington with MHC chief executive officer Faraha Hashim (left) and deputy president Datuk Dr S. Shamala present yesterday. -BERNAMA pic
Former national coach Paul Revington came into the Malaysia Hockey Confederation (MHC) set-up with a warm smile, even though he knows his job for the next three years will not be easy.
In August, Timesport revealed that the MHC had made an offer to Revington to become their technical director, and yesterday, the South African made an appearance from behind a thick smokescreen at the national body's head office in Bukit Jalil.
"I could not answer messages or emails before today (yesterday) as I had to sort out many things before my arrival here. And for that, my apologies," said Revington, who guided the national team to the 2014 Hague World Cup.
After undergoing a 14-day mandatory quarantine, he was unveiled by MHC president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal as technical director for development.
"Revington knows the culture here as he has been in the set-up before. He helped Malaysia qualify for the World Cup in 2014.
"The MHC know he is the best man to develop grassroots in Malaysia," said Subahan.
"It is a six-year plan to win the men and women's Asian Games gold medals. Revington will scout for new talent with the help from states."
Revington added: "I'm here as a development director, and unlike the previous technical directors in Malaysia, my main job is to focus on development at the grassroots and not the national teams.
"But if Arul (Selvaraj) or the other coaches need to have any discussions, I am always around, and I will be equally responsible for failures or successes."
The first question fired at Revington was why he left in a huff after then coach K. Dharmaraj's national team had finished last at the 12-team Hague World Cup?
"I was the consultant to the team in Hague, and on that episode, all I can say is that 'past-is-past'," said Revington.
And why did he come back, even leaving his post as coach of Britain women's elite development programme on short notice?
"I have some unfinished business, and I have liked Malaysia since I first set foot here," said Revington.
And while Arul, Nasihin Nubli (women's coach) and Wallace Tan (men's junior coach) will try to teach a new trick of 'playing not just for playing, but to win' to their players, Revington will start with the young.
"Its the right attitude to teach as Malaysia lost a chance to be in the Olympics as they were not mentally ready to take on Japan in the 2018 Asian Games final," added Subahan before Revington could reply.
Revington added: "I will stress on a winning mentality at the grassroots and make it a habit when they enter the national teams."
The stage is set for a long-time revival plan. With everything in place, not only do the players need to work as a team, but the coaches have to work in a similar direction to ensure success.
But if the various coaches and managers pull in different directions, it will just be another waste of money, time and effort.
New Straits Times
Training for Indian hockey teams underway, players confident of gaining full momentum
Both the men's and women's hockey teams are currently based out of the Netaji Subhash Southern Centre in Bengaluru.
Indian men's hockey team (Photo | PTI)
BENGALURU: The Indian men's and women's hockey teams have both resumed their training after practice was halted due to the nationwide lockdown imposed to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
The players are now hopeful of returning to their best soon and are satisfied with the safety measures adopted at the centre.
Both the men's and women's hockey teams are currently based out of the Netaji Subhash Southern Centre in Bengaluru.
Six players, including captain Manpreet Singh, on their arrival at the camp after taking a break were found to be COVID positive. They were provided all assistance and proper care at the SAI centre and empanelled hospital and are now back at training.
"I tested positive and when I returned back to training, we slowly started the procedures of getting back to play. The coaches have created a plan so that we gradually return to full momentum and I am really happy to be back practicing again," said Manpreet in an official release.
Proactive steps have been taken at the SAI centre to prevent a further outbreak, where athletes are tested at arrival during their quarantine phase.
Indian men's head coach Graham Reid said that the emphasis at the moment is on skill-based training focusing on individual basics which allows training to take place in small groups with social distancing.
"Using the SAI SOPs for various disciplines, we have been able to gradually increase the workload and intensity of the training to the point where we are able to have the majority of the squad up to pre-COVID levels by the end of the next camp. This has been a slow and deliberate process designed to produce maximum output while minimising the risk of injury," said Reid.
The players are happy with the safety protocols for them at the SAI Bangalore centre.
"It feels good that we have started training after such a long time and we are slowly bringing our body back to the same level which allows us to train the way we used to earlier. Alongside that, whatever safety protocols that are in place we are following that and we hope we return to our old form and rhythm in the next few months. But at the moment, it is important that we keep ourselves safe by following all protocols and train within them," said Indian women's hockey captain Rani Rampal.
New Indian Express
Hockey India's calculated approach has raised the level of Indian hockey, says Sardar
Sardar Singh praised Hockey India's meticulous planning which has reaped rewards for the Indian men's and women's hockey teams over the past decade.
Vijay Lokapally
Sardar Singh spoke about how the changes brought in by Hockey India mouled the national team players into professionals. - FILE PHOTO/K. MURALI KUMAR
These are testing times for sportsmen. The pandemic has driven them indoors and pressure has only mounted as the sporting world prepares for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. For Hockey India (HI), establishing a smooth working relation with the Union Sports Ministry and the Sports Authority of India has been the priority to ensure the players can focus on performance.
Veteran star Sardar Singh spoke for the hockey fraternity when he emphasized, "There are a lot of positive changes that have been implemented by HI since it took over (in 2009)."
The HI has a vision programme and the mission has been largely successful with men's team being ranked at No.4 in the world and women ranked at No. 9 in the FIH World Ranking.
When the COVID pandemic struck the world and sportsmen looked to resume their training, HI took the lead by submitting the SOP to SAI in April. In the opinion of a senior HI official, it was “mainly done to ensure national teams can resume activities at the earliest.” The SOP for domestic season to restart was also submitted to SAI well in advance.
As Sardar pointed out, "One of the key things that has helped both the men and women's team improve their performance and climb up the world ranking is the professional approach they have inculcated over the years and providing a well-rounded support system for the team."
The Khel Ratna awardee reflected on the scientific approach adopted by the HI in 2007-08. “There is now plenty of emphasis on diet, mental-preparation and fitness which has really helped the team and has made players self-conscious about what they eat, how they recover, and pay attention to their overall fitness.”
The immediate target for HI when it took over the game’s administration was to ensure the qualification for the Olympic Games in the men’s and women’s categories. The goal was achieved with women qualifying in 2016 and the men's team qualifying in 2012, 2016. Indian hockey will be seen in action in both the sections at the Olympics in Tokyo.
The Indian women's hockey team qualified for back-to-back Olympics for the first time. - Hockey India
"I believe the working relationship that HI has established with SAI and ensuring that they follow all the protocols and paperwork required by SAI to clear our tours and competitions has also been the key,” said Sardar. According to him, the ACTC is prepared well in advance. “At the beginning of the season, the team is aware of what tournaments they will be playing through the year and this helps the coaching staff and players prepare to peak at the right time,” he added.
"Additionally," said Sardar, “HI hosting some of the top tournaments in the country has helped in developing the sport and infrastructure in the country. India in the current scenario boasts of the best world-class facilities to host events, the world saw India's hosting capabilities during the 2018 Men's World Cup which raised the bar at a global level.”
Giving credit to the HI League, Sardar observed, "It helped players raise the bar. It was a big platform to groom young talent. Spending more than a month with world class foreign players did a lot of good as we could see personally how they go about their game, preparation and mental makeup, body language etc. I feel this experience has helped players individually and also as a team."
As part of its effort to regain the game’s glory, HI has chalked out plans to develop the game at the grassroots and domestic level. "The first big priority was to have annual National championships for all age groups i.e sub-junior, junior and senior (both men and women). Both junior men and women have shown considerable results in the international level," said an official from the HI.
As for the hockey activities, the National caching camps for men and women are currently underway at SAI, Bengaluru. The SAI had assured that the camps will continue until the end of November for men and until the second week of December for the women's team.
Sportstar
Navneet Kaur: “Best time for women in India to take up hockey”
Bengaluru: Citing various factors, Indian women’s team striker Navneet Kaur feels that present is the best time for Indian girls to take up hockey in a big way. According to Navneet, recognition, equal status and opportunities aside, the fan-following for women’s hockey too has grown in the recent past.
“I believe this is the golden period for women’s hockey in India. We are given equal importance, job security, financial benefits through cash awards when we win, all these are great encouraging factors to take up the sport professionally.”
Navneet Kaur in 2013 when won bronze at the Jr World Cup
“I feel the following for our team has also grown tremendously since our improved performances at the 2018 Women’s World Cup, Asia Cup, Asian Games and Asian Champions Trophy. It is very motivating to see fans leaving us messages on social media and expressing their support to us. I give credit to Hockey India who have given significant importance to the growth of women’s hockey and they ensure there are no shortcomings in our preparations for events. Even when a player is injured, they ensure we get the best treatment and rehab.”
The player from Shahbad Markanda, Haryana which is a hotbed for hockey also expressed that senior players always emphasis that the youngsters must respect the facilities they have today and this should encourage them to do better in the sport.
“Players like Rani Rampal and goalie Savita who have been with the team for over a decade always tell us how things have improved for women’s hockey over the years and how fortunate we are to be part of the team now. They motivate us to ride on this support to perform better in top events. We know that not only our lives will change if we win a medal at the Olympics but it will grow the sport by many folds in India.”
Speaking about the on-going National Coaching Camp in SAI, Bengaluru, Navneet said,
“Our intensity has increased this week onwards and we are able to take more load without facing any fatigue. We are happy that we are hitting the same fitness levels prior to the lockdown. The best part is that, since we continued our fitness regime through indoor workouts during the series of lockdowns none of us put on weight. These factors have helped us a lot.”
Stick2Hockey.com
PHF president optimistic national game hockey to overcome critical period
Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president Brig (retd) Khalid Sajjad Khokar has said that the hockey federation despite facing a shortage of funds is doing hard work for the betterment and progress of national game hockey. He was sure that recent meetings with PM Imran Khan, COAS Jawed Qamar Bajwa, IPC minister, and the chief ministers would bring positive results and resolve the issue of financial constraints.
He was optimistic that with the availability of the required amount of funds PHF would be able to resume the journey of success in the game of hockey and we would be able to regain the past glories of Pakistan hockey.
The PHF president informed that PHF is launching talent hunt programs in Kashmir, Northern Areas, and Gilgit to find fresh talent, which would be physically strong and having access to national hockey so that the strength and power of Pakistan hockey can be further strengthened.
Khalid Sajjad Khokar said that PHF always used the funds in the right place so that the journey of the improvement of the national game continues.
The PHF president said that it is true that there is a severe shortage of hockey infrastructure in Pakistan. In the Netherlands, alone, there are more than 500 modern hockey turfs. While in Pakistan there are a dozen hockey turfs but we must remember that Pakistan has won the Olympic gold medal thrice and won world cups four times and many other international hockey titles by playing on the same dozen turfs. We are trying to improve our hockey infrastructure and planning the journey to success, keeping in mind our resources.
The PHF president said that when he took over the charge of the hockey federation, he started many new departmental hockey teams and revive the closed departmental hockey teams. We had created employment opportunities which started to solve the financial problems of our hockey players to a great extent but later this process could not go ahead but now we are once again trying to solve the financial problems of our hockey players with the support of the Government and sure that we will soon be able to overcome this problem.
PHF Media release
Hockey's travelling players
Top flight club hockey across the globe is a multinational scene. International players will travel across continents to ensure they are getting the best club hockey to complement the work and training they are getting with their national team.
Playing hockey in a different country has a number of benefits, including playing alongside other international players, so always experiencing top quality hockey; being part of a different playing system, which expands game understanding; and working with different coaches – again a way of increasing and expanding knowledge of the game.
Additionally, players will also get to develop as people, as they experience new cultures and are exposed to different ways of life.
Corey Mayer is one player who is willing to travel to achieve her dreams.The 23-year-old USA development player joined English Premier Hockey League club Holcombe earlier this season after she finished her studies at James Madison University in Virginia, USA.
In January 2020 Mayer was selected for the USA development team and this whet her appetite to play hockey for longer than the American collegiate system usually allows for. With very little in the way of adult club hockey in the USA, Corey knew that she needed to look elsewhere if she was to continue along her path to a place on the national squad. And this, she realised, was something she really, really wanted.
“One glimpse of a national training camp in February made me realise that I still wanted to play hockey at the highest level possible, says the striker. “I knew I had to play abroad to get the experience and confidence to play at the top level.”
It is a move that is fully supported by the USA national team coaching staff, with many of the development squad travelling to mainland Europe and the UK to play in the tough domestic leagues.
“Knowing that other teammates were doing it and committing to it, made it easier to make the move to a different country and a different lifestyle,” says Mayer. “I get to play alongside athletes who have been to the biggest tournaments in the world. I knew I wanted to play at a level where both the coaches and the other players would push me to get better technically and tactically. At the same time, I would grow as a person through experiencing different cultures.”
To support herself during her time in the UK, Corey has been doing coaching at the club. One of her first sessions was with a group of under eight boys, an experience that the US striker says was “just so much fun.”
Away from the pitch, Corey and her fellow overseas players have explored parts of the UK when and where it has been safe to travel. But, although this is all a new and exciting experience, the short and long-term goals of this dedicated athlete are all about achieving as highly as she can in her sport. 
Another athlete who has travelled across continents to play hockey is South African international Matt Guise-Brown, who plays hockey for Hampstead and Westminster in the UK.
“When I left the University of Pretoria in 2014, I knew I wanted to do something different and to experience a different part of the world. I met Jonty Robinson [a former South Africa national team player] who was player coach at Southgate Hockey Club at the time, so I joined him there. I spent two seasons there before moving to my current club. The whole idea was that I would come overseas and play in a league that was stronger than the leagues in South Africa.”
Guise-Brown explains that South Africa is so vast that there is no chance of the top 10 teams in the country playing in one league as they do in England.
Guise-Brown is loving his life in the UK and has enjoyed much success with Hampstead and Westminster. He has a job teaching in a local junior school and has a strong and wide network of friends. But, he says, moving abroad to play in a new country is not always a case of ‘living the dream’.
“Of course, there are lots of positives to moving abroad. But it is difficult to come from a place where you have lots of mates and family and you feel comfortable, to a place where you don’t really know anyone. I genuinely didn’t have any mates when I first arrived and it takes time to build relationships that have serious meaning in them. It can be lonely at times."
On a lighter note, Guise-Brown adds: "And, of course, I have moved to a country which seems to have winter for eight months of the year."
Another well-travelled hockey player is Poland’s captain Marlena Rybacha. She agrees with Guise-Brown that it isn’t always easy to leave your own comfort zone and try to make a success of playing hockey elsewhere.
“Often, the hockey at the beginning doesn’t go as well as expected as it can take time to adjust, so it’s crucial to stay focused on the reason why you came to play abroad in the first place and don’t give up. Things mostly will go well, sometimes it just needs a little time and patience.”
Rybacha has spent a decade playing in the Netherlands. She currently plays her hockey at hugely successful HC Oranje-Rood in the Netherlands, a club she joined in 2016, after a few seasons with another Dutch club, MOP Vught.
Explaining why she plays her club hockey in the Netherlands rather than in Poland, the 33-year-old says: “The Netherlands has one of the best competitions in the world. I always had the ambition to compete a the highest level I can. So for me there was no other option than trying to play in the Dutch competition. That has worked out and now I am playing my 10th season here in The Netherlands.”
Rybacha says her decade of Dutch hockey has transformed her as a player. “I have grown into a more complete player – tactically, technically, physically and mentally. As the level is so high it attracts the best hockey talents from all over the world, to compete here. It’s not just about hockey skills but also mental strength, confidence, discipline and consistency. I’ve learnt to continually push myself to learn and evolve as a player to keep up with the rate at which hockey as a sport is developing.”
And it is not just the hockey that has won approval from the gregarious Polish player. “I really like the relaxed lifestyle of Dutch people. Obviously hockey is really popular here so it makes it special for me. But also life outside of hockey is great. Lunch/dinner in the city or “borrelen” (afternoon/ evening drinks and snacks) or my favourite, coffee dates, are really popular here.
“In my opinion it is the best opportunity to improve and develop as a player. Going abroad alone is definitely not easy, in fact it can take you well outside your comfort zone. But it helps to toughen you up a bit and shape character. When you are there, it’s important to stay connected with your teammates, especially in free time outside of hockey. The helps to get that family feeling and will make you feel like you belong as a part of the team.”
FIH site
Orée and La Gantoise set the pace in Belgian leagues
Orée and La Gantoise continue to set the pace in the Belgian men’s league after round six of the competition with wins Old Club and Herakles, respectively.
For La Gantoise, it was a close battle as they beat the Lier side 2-1, despite falling behind early in the game to a Nick Haig corner goal. Blaise Rogeau and Leandro Tolini responded in kind to secure their fifth win from six games and lift them to 16 points.
Orée have a perfect six from six to head the table by two points with a 5-2 success. It was close for a long time at 2-2 before Timothée Clément , Philippe Simar and Manu Stockbroekx scored three goals in a five minute spell to make the result safe.
Leuven continued their impressive start to the season with a 3-1 away win over Braxgata. Lautaro Diaz put them one up before the prolific Jérôme Dekeyser got the second from a penalty corner goal of the season.
Alex Casasayas got one back back but Dekeyser fired in another in the final minute to close out the result with his eighth goal of the campaign.
Léopold are in the top four with a handy 11-1 win over Namur, just ahead of Beerschot – 4-3 winners over Waterloo Ducks – and Dragons who got the best of Antwerp.
In the women’s competition, La Gantoise lost their first points of the season in a 1-1 draw with Herakles with Aline Fobe’s 67th minute corner tying the game.
Nonetheless, the Ghent club remain three points clear of Daring who also drew – 1-1 with third place Racing – while Antwerp are now in a share of fourth place with Dragons, the side who beat them 4-2 on Sunday.
Euro Hockey League media release
Old Alex and Railway Union make early running in Irish league
Old Alex and Railway Union sit top of the Irish women’s EY Hockey League table following their narrow wins on day two of the competition, both making it six points from six with 2-1 victories.
For Alex, they feature a strong squad this season with World Cup silver medalists Nikki Evans, Deirdre Duke and Lena Tice in their panel along and are looking to make a mark this term.
They built a 2-0 lead against Pembroke on Saturday through an Emma Russell rebound before Emilie Ryan Doyle netted the second with six minutes to go. Pembroke got one back through Sally Campbell but it was too late to change the direction of the points.
For Railway, they trailed to a goal from Muckross’s Sarah McAuley at half-time in their game at Grange Road but Sarah Hawkshaw continued her immaculate form to score the equaliser from a Martha McCready cross and then she set up the winner for Zara Delany. Hawkshaw has either scored or assisted each of Railway’s goals this season.
Loreto won the big battle with Pegasus in a meeting between the top two of the last two years, again via a 2-1 scoreline. The Beaufort club’s penalty corner efficiency was the key with clever moves leading to first half goals from Sarah Torrans and Siofra O’Brien. Ruth Maguire got one back from a penalty stroke with 14 minutes to go but they could not find an equaliser.
In the men’s competition, Monkstown, YMCA and Lisnagarvey kept their 100% records in tact with narrow victories on day two of the men’s EY Hockey League while Three Rock Rovers notched their first success of the campaign, too.
For Town, they have the edge on goal difference at this early stage thanks to Jeremy Duncan’s second goal in a week as they shaded Annadale 2-1.
The sky-blues were in a real battle when James Clark cancelled out Andrew Fogarty’s opening goal at Lagan College before Duncan popped up with the winner in the fourth quarter.
YM, meanwhile, withstood a late UCD onsalught but were good value for their 2-1 success at Belfield. It was built on a fine first half performance in which Ross Henderson and Ben Campbell put them two to the good. Guy Sarratt got one back but he could not capitalise on five penalty corners on the final hooter for a would-be equaliser.
Garvey got the better of Pembroke with Andy Williamson’s heavily deflected shot the odd goal in five, 3-2, at Serpentine Avenue. Pembroke led via Nick Burns but Daniel Nelson and Troy Chambers swapped the lead by half-time. Alan Sothern equalised for 2-2 before Williamson’s crucial strike.
Euro Hockey League media release
Olympian Nicola White makes emotional 'full circle' comeback
Concussion and repercussions had forced her out of elite competition for 2½ years but now she can follow dream of getting back to the top
By Rod Gilmour
Nicola White, right, made her comeback in Hampstead colours Credit: MARK CLEWS
After 2½ years since she last played an elite fixture, Nicola White doesn't know whether her long-term concussion is an injury or illness anymore. But there was clear emotion on Saturday as White, 32, made her comeback in Hampstead & Westminster's 4-2 'home' defeat by an impressive Loughborough Students side.
Her return came on the same Bisham pitch where she collided with an Irish opponent during a Commonwealth Games warm-up for England in March 2018. Ever since, the two-time Olympic medallist has been recovering from debilitating concussion symptoms. White revealed earlier this year that she had Botox injections across her scalp and forehead in an attempt to stave off the painful migraines, dizziness and being unable to handle daylight which had blighted her recovery.
Now here the midfielder was back in club action, albeit behind closed doors and playing in Hampstead colours for the first time after her move from Holcombe. "It's been a long time and anything I ever wanted was to get back on the pitch playing and there were times I didn't think it was possible," said White, who scored Great Britain's third goal in the Rio Olympic women's final to take the match to a shoot-out. "I felt overwhelmed with the day, but to play a competitive game I really loved it, despite the result.
"I had nerves coming over to Bisham, had butterflies and felt sick. It felt like things had come almost full circle from being injured in March 2018 to making my first game on the Bisham pitch. It was a bit odd and if this wasn't a sign, I don't know what is. I was so excited that I got through it unscathed and now I can progress forward."
Last December, White was removed from the GB women's programme at Bisham, a decision which left her "hugely disappointed". Yet, she has never given up hope of a return to elite level. She added: "When it [concussion] happened, I was adamant I would be back pretty soon, but I've never stopped to get back trying to play international hockey again.
"The fact that I have been able to get fitter and healthier has shown it's possible to play. If it's possible to tolerate the ongoing symptoms and pain, at the end of the day it's like anyone else who has to deal with a chronic illness and it doesn't have to stop you from doing something you want to do. Many athletes suffer but still go on to compete at amazing levels.
"I guess it's an injury, I don't even know what to call it anymore as I just live with it daily. But I'm just optimistic things are looking better for the future. My life has completely changed but it doesn't mean I can't stop aspiring to get back to where I was."
Kate Richardson-Walsh, Hampstead's co-head coach, said: "Nic and I have known each other for a long time and I had kept in touch over the last two years as a friend and ex-team-mate. She wanted to get back into the GB side and to do that she has to play club. She's been training fully and has been a great addition. She's not full Nic White double Olympic medallist yet, but there are really good signs she will get there again."
Students stifle Hampstead class
Buoyed by a rare retention of players for a university side, Loughborough's regular contact time has paid dividends this season. After GB international Sarah Robertson's opener for Hampstead on familiar training territory, the Students led 2-1 after only nine minutes thanks to open play goals from Lucy Millington and Alice Rolfe. They were difficult to break down, played with an energetic tempo and as the game wore on, a largely scrappy contest suited Loughborough's aggressive style. Two second-half goals in as many minutes from Izzy Petter and Jane Kilpatrick then kept Hampstead further at bay as the Students moved into third place in the table.
Loughborough Students moved up to third with 4-2 win Credit: MARK CLEWS
Brett Holland, Loughborough's coach, admitted that the university's zero tolerance restrictions to Covid-19 had left his players to be "galvanised around hockey". He added: "They are all about being social and enjoying their time but that side of things has been taken away a little bit. We know that a lot of the girls are here from last year and there is a really special opportunity this year. They have taken the rough with the smooth but some of the restrictions have allowed us to play hockey. This is the normality they are having in a world that is really abnormal."
Meanwhile, Hampstead are hopeful of a return to their Paddington Rec home in November, with the club reliant on the council to finish relaying their pitch. Training has been "challenging", according to Richardson-Walsh. Currently, various sites are being used, including Lee Valley, Southgate and Bisham for midweek sessions. Their next home game against East Grinstead on Oct 18 could be held at Lee Valley.
Weekend round-up
Loughborough are the standout university side across the England Hockey Premier Divisions. After three games, University of Birmingham and Swansea are at the bottom of the women's top flight without a point, while the three men's university teams are also in the Premier Division bottom three. Loughborough are level on points with Surbiton, who enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 win over Birmingham and a return to the top.
Second-placed East Grinstead kept up their record of scoring in every match since last September thanks to a late Ellie Rayer goal in a 1-1 draw. Wimbledon, meanwhile, left it even later as Olivia Chilton scored a last-gasp winner against Holcombe to move the Londoners into the top four. On Saturday, newly-appointed assistant coach Alex Danson will come up against Kate Richardson-Walsh on the sidelines for the first time in their coaching careers. Surbiton and East Grinstead, last season's top two clubs, will contest an eagerly-anticipated clash at Sugden Road.
Women's Premier Division
Results
Hampstead & Westminster 2 Loughborough Students 4; Beeston 4 Swansea 0; University of Birmingham 0 Surbiton 3; East Grinstead 1 Buckingham 1; Holcombe 1 Wimbledon 2
What's on this Saturday
Swansea v Clifton Robinsons, 12pm; Loughborough Students v Buckingham, 2pm; University of Birmingham v Beeston, 2.30pm; Surbiton v East Grinstead, 4pm; Wimbledon v Hampstead & Westminster, 4pm*
*All times as published by England Hockey
The Telegraph
GB Hockey’s Harry Gibson on wedding plans and Tokyo 2020
Team GB hockey hopeful Harry Gibson says he’s had to dig deep to manage his mental health after the postponement of his wedding and the Olympic Games in the same year, writes Tom Harle.
The goalkeeper was making final preparations to marry fiancée Jessica in October, the highlight of a summer that should have included the Tokyo Games in July.
Covid-19 meant both have been pushed back to 2021 and Gibson says keeping physically fit and learning acceptance were key pillars of his pandemic journey.
“This was meant to be the best year ever and while I’m very lucky to have my health, it’s been rather rough for Jess and I,” said the 27-year-old.
“We gave ourselves a three-month window to postpone the wedding and ended up pulling the plug in June, the stress of it got too much.
“Tokyo was postponed on the day before my birthday, which was another thing ruined in 2020! I’d been targeting that Olympics since I was 15 because the dates worked out.
“It’s been a year full of lessons. My mental health has been very up and down this year. The isolation of lockdown and the lack of human connection as someone who works in a team has been tough.
“I’m prone to overthinking and worrying about the future and the uncertainty caused by COVID has affected that. The main focus is being present and taking it day-by-day.
“I got into long-distance running in lockdown – which as a goalkeeper is very alien – and I can’t stress enough how that did wonders for my mental health. It’s been a tough year, but I’ll look back on and be grateful for – eventually.”
With their wedding pushed back and having unexpected financial wiggle-room, the couple decided to sell their house in Acton and move to Isleworth.
They used Purplebricks – the official estate agent of Team GB – and Gibson greatly valued the smooth nature of the selling process.
Gibson’s Olympic dreams are still alive and Great Britain’s preparations for the rearranged Games begin in earnest when they face Netherlands and Belgium later this month.
The Surbiton stopper wants to help Britain onto the podium in Tokyo and feels the Games will act as a global moment of celebration.
He said: “We absolutely want to win a medal and there’s no reason we can’t. It will be incredible for the world to come together next year and share in the Olympic spectacle.
It’s such a special event and there’s never been a more important time for it than now. It will be the most memorable Olympics ever.”
Purplebricks is the UK’s leading estate agent and offers customers a transparent and convenient way to buy, sell, or let. As the Official Estate Agent of Team GB, they are supporting the national squad in the build-up to Tokyo. For more information visit www.purplebricks.co.uk
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Duke field hockey drops home-opener to North Carolina in penalty-filled contest
By Sasha Richie
Duke's offense has struggled to begin the 2020 campaign, notching one goal through three games. Photo by Courtesy of Nat LeDonne/Duke Athletics | The Chronicle
The Blue Devils looked to rebound from a disappointing double-header last weekend at Louisville.
But ultimately, two-time defending national champion North Carolina proved too strong, as Duke fell to its Tobacco Road rivals 4-0 Sunday afternoon at Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium.
It was about as perfect of a day as you can get, and Duke came out with the fire of a team trying to turn around a somewhat lackluster start to the season. The Blue Devils lost their opening two games against the Cardinals, but it’s hard to scorn them for the defeats after those same Cardinals went on to snap the Tar Heels’ 47-game win streak, the second-longest in NCAA field hockey history.
Sparks of a great Duke team shined through despite its losses, and the group left Louisville on a hopeful note. Those sparks were still there against North Carolina Sunday, but the Blue Devils may start wondering when those sparks will become a fire.
“We just need to learn how to sustain our level of play and sustain the level of attack,” head coach Pam Bustin said.
Duke (0-3, 0-2 in the ACC) largely controlled the first quarter. The Blue Devils looked confident, their passes were connecting and, while they weren’t taking a whole lot of shots, the Tar Heels (2-1, 1-1) were barely touching the ball at all. That final push to the striking circle and into the back of the goal cage felt like it was coming.
But, after stealing the ball from a regroup attempt, North Carolina forward and reigning National Player of the Year Erin Matson rushed down the field on a breakaway and scored unassisted with just two minutes remaining in the period.
The energy of the game changed after that first goal. With more confidence and more aggression, the Tar Heels put the Blue Devils on the defensive and quashed any opportunities in the striking circle. Duke finished the first half with just one shot against North Carolina’s eight.
Shots and goals don’t tell you everything about a game, however. The Blue Devils did a great job of maintaining possession when they got the ball, though that possession often went nowhere.
“I think we’re approaching the circle, and we’re attacking the circle, but we’re not doing it with the mindset to shoot for some reason,” Bustin said.
When the Blue Devils did turn the ball over, the Tar Heels outpaced them and wasted little time in getting the ball to the striking circle, exploiting every little mistake from their opponents. North Carolina went on to score another goal in the third and two in the fourth.
It was in these moments that Duke cracked. With North Carolina outworking them in the striking circle, the Blue Devils panicked and resorted to fouling, conceding eight penalty corners throughout the afternoon.
Though she wants to work on limiting those corner opportunities in the future, Bustin was satisfied with the work of the corner defense as well as freshman goalie Piper Hampsch. The Tar Heels only scored on one of those penalty corners, and that was largely because of the organized, calm play of the defense.
In fact, while it might seem odd to say with four goals against on the board, Hampsch was a standout throughout the contest. Coming into the season, she had some big shoes to fill stepping in for four-year starter Sammi Steele. But it's safe to say that this game’s score would have looked a lot different had Hampsch not picked off a number of dangerous shots and scoring opportunities.
Though this is certainly not the outcome the Blue Devils wanted, and they have a lot to work on in the next week, Bustin is not discouraged.
“I still have so much confidence and belief in this group,” Bustin said. “We’ve just got to get everybody kind of firing with the same cylinders at the same time.”
It has been a rocky start to the season, but the building blocks for a solid year are still slowly stacking up, just maybe not as fast as the team would like. Duke’s next contest isn’t until Oct. 16 against Boston College at home.
The Chronicle
Field hockey sweeps Syracuse in a weekend double-header
With the help of some late-game goals, the Cavaliers were able to prove their perseverance and win both matches against the Orange.
By Sarah Pettycord
After rattling off two wins against Syracuse, Virginia now sets their eyes on powerhouse North Carolina, who have won the past two NCAA Championships.
Courtesy Virginia Athletics
In the second weekend of Virginia field hockey at Turf Field, the Cavaliers extended their winning streak to three games by defeating Syracuse in a double-header over the weekend. The Cavaliers (3-1, 2-0 ACC) won the first game 1-0 with the only goal against the Orange (0-2, 0-1 ACC) coming in the 58th minute of play. In double-overtime Sunday, the Cavaliers scored the game-winner in the 76th minute to win 3-2.
Game 1 — Virginia 1, Syracuse 0
Freshman striker Lilly Hengerer and freshman midfielder Meghen Hengerer both took excellent shots at the goal in the first quarter, but they were saved by the Orange before they could make it in. These were two of four shots by the Cavaliers this quarter — none of which the Cavaliers could capitalize on.
On the defensive side in the first quarter, the Orange took five shots at the goal — four coming after a penalty corner — but sophomore goalkeeper Taylor Henriksen was able to stay poised and hold Syracuse scoreless.
Virginia’s defense remained strong in the second and third quarters, preventing Syracuse’s six shots from reaching the net and recording three saves as a team. On offense, the Cavaliers took five shots themselves but were not able to convert.
“Our defense right now, they’re playing as a unit,” Coach Michele Madison said. “They just know each other so well instinctively and just cover for each other and very composed in their tackles.”
Heading into a scoreless fourth quarter, both teams picked up the pace — in the first 13 minutes of the quarter, eight shots in total were fired off.
With less than two minutes left before they would head into overtime, Virginia passed the ball in from a penalty corner. Sophomore striker Laura Janssen fielded it and took the game-winning shot from the right side, sending it into the net.
“It was really tough,” Janssen said. “We had so many opportunities and … everyone had to work.”
Scoring the game winner for the second game in a row, Janssen looks to be an incredible asset to the team this year as they push to win the team’s first ACC Championship since 2016.
The Virginia defense — anchored by Henriksen with four saves — held firm throughout the game, securing its second straight shutout. Senior back Rachel Robinson added a defensive save as well.
Game 2 — Virginia 3, Syracuse 2
Two days later, Virginia faced off against Syracuse again, hoping to end the weekend of competition on a strong note. After the tight first game between the Cavaliers and the Orange, Virginia fans were treated to yet another close matchup Sunday.
The Cavaliers scored their first goal of the game late in the first quarter. Sophomore midfielder Adele Iacobucci deflected a shot by junior back Amber Ezechiels to Virginia up 1-0 with just over two minutes left in the quarter. Defensively, Henriksen saved the one and only shot Syracuse attempted all quarter.
In the second quarter, the Cavaliers scored on their next corner. Freshman striker Anneloes Knol and sophomore midfielder Danielle Husar both assisted Ezechiels in scoring off the circle — this was her first goal of the season.
With a 2-0 lead, Virginia would head into the half having fired off 10 shots — seven more than Syracuse — and successfully defended against any scoring attempt from the Orange.
“The first half, we put so much defensive pressure on,” Madison said.
However, this pressure was well challenged in the second half. Syracuse came out with newfound energy and got on the board within the first five minutes of the third quarter. Though Virginia took five shots, none of them made it past junior goalkeeper Syd Taylor.
Completing the comeback, Syracuse freshman midfielder Florine van Boetzelaer tied it up with a goal off of a deflection. The teams both engaged in some back-and-forth action before running out the clock, sending the game into overtime with a score of 2-2.
In overtime, the Cavaliers and the Orange continued to press forward as each team looked for the golden goal. However, neither team was successful in their efforts — though Janssen came close for the Cavaliers — and the teams went to a second overtime period.
Just over halfway through the second overtime, senior striker Makayla Gallen sent a perfect pass to Ezechiels, who sent a pinpoint shot into the net to secure a Cavalier victory. Notably, this was the fourth of the last seven games between the Cavaliers and the Orange that has ended with overtime.
“I’m so proud of the team’s effort today,” said Madison. “We’ve just got to keep shooting and keep attacking and find a way to get the ball to the goal.”
Virginia will look to do exactly that this weekend as they travel to Chapel Hill, N.C. and face reigning NCAA Champion North Carolina in a double-header Oct. 11 and 12.
The Cavalier Daily
Senior Erin Kelly is a model of consistency for Penn field hockey
The midfielder started all 34 games during the last two seasons
By Joyce Davis 6 hours ago
Senior midfielder Erin Kelly has been a constant force for Penn field hockey the past three years, earning an All-Ivy honorable mention her sophomore year. Credit: Michael Warren
If there’s one thing that field hockey has taught Erin Kelly, it’s that persistence is key to getting through uncertain times.
Hailing from Bethlehem, Pa., senior Erin Kelly is a midfielder for Penn field hockey. Despite playing the sport for 11 years, field hockey was not Kelly’s first choice.
“My sisters had played and started later, like in high school, and then came back and said to my mom, she needed to start me early because there were so many younger girls’ tournaments that they went to," Kelly said.
Kelly began her field hockey career in eighth grade just going through the motions, admitting that she was only playing it for her sisters. Gradually, however, Kelly began to love field hockey, and when college application deadlines approached, finding a school that allowed her to balance field hockey and academics was her main priority.
“I was looking at NESCAC [New England Small College Athletic Conference], thinking that was the only way I’d be able to balance … what I wanted out of college," Kelly said. "As I was going through the recruiting process freshman year of high school, I thought I wasn’t going to be able to get that. … And I remember that’s why I was happy that Penn came into the picture because I didn’t think it was going to be possible to find that balance, and that’s what really stuck out to me when I was here.”
Luckily for Penn, Kelly brought her skills to Philadelphia, receiving an Ivy League honorable mention and setting a personal record in goals and assists in her sophomore and junior year, respectively.
Playing field hockey in college, however, was much different in comparison to field hockey in middle and high school. From the little things, like the surface of the field, to the big things, like the opposing team’s strengths, everything was an adjustment.
“It was calming to know that the game itself didn’t change, it just got faster and people made less mistakes," Kelly said. "When you’re playing with bigger name teams, getting on the field is the first part, but when you’re playing, you don’t remember the name on the back of the jersey. You’re just playing at that point.”
Losing five consecutive games in her junior year was also something that took some getting used to from Kelly. However, from something bad stemmed something good, as Kelly learned important life lessons from the hard days in field hockey.
“College athletics, in general, has taught me that I can go through anything and be fine," Kelly said. "There are so many emotional and physical ups and downs that make me realize how much I can push myself. The sun will still rise, no matter what happens on or off the field.”
Not only did she gain important lessons, but she also gained her first win against Syracuse on no other perfect day than on her birthday.
Of course, Kelly didn’t get to this position alone. Kelly's family and team were what kept her motivated through all the tough times. Her older sister played field hockey at Franklin & Marshall, so she has been able to gain valuable insight on how the sport is played from her.
Despite COVID-19, Kelly’s goal for the incoming field hockey freshman is to experience the same team spirit that she's enjoyed for the past three years. This includes virtual team workouts and bonding exercises because, according to Kelly, the best memories of field hockey come at spontaneous moments with the team.
Still a student, Kelly also makes sure to prioritize her academics. As a History major and Sustainability Environmental Management minor, Kelly admits that everything is a work in progress. With the huge amount of work she’s given, plus the demanding field hockey schedule, Kelly realizes that she can’t do it all.
“[I] have to remember that I’m not going to check every box, or else I’m not going to get enough sleep or I’ll never be able to see friends or take care of yourself, mentally or emotionally … I need to just know what I can do," Kelly said.
As this chapter in her college career closes, another one opens for Kelly as she prepares for graduate school. Because of the wide breadth of environmental management-centered programs and internships, Kelly is kept busy with narrowing down her options.
Wherever her goals end up taking her, Kelly will remember to go through each obstacle with her head held high, filled with the lessons of resilience she learned from her years as a field hockey star.
The Daily Pennsylvanian