News for 13 March 2021
All the news for Saturday 13 March 2021
ARG-GER and ARG-IND confirmed, other April matches postponed
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) is pleased to confirm that the upcoming FIH Hockey Pro League matches Argentina-Germany (Men and Women) as well as Argentina-India (Men) will take place in the South American country, on the initially scheduled dates (3-4 and 10-11 April, respectively).
In the Men’s League, Argentina is currently ranked 6th, just behind India (5th) and Germany (4th), precisely. India and Germany have played six matches so far, Argentina eight.
In the Women’s League, Argentina sits in second position, with eight matches played to this date, while Germany is 7th, but with only four matches played.
The other matches initially scheduled in April have been postponed (see revised match schedule here) due to the ongoing impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic and challenges in particular with international travel for the Australian, New Zealand and Chinese teams, together with no hosting of international teams currently being possible in the US.
FIH and the participating nations are working on rearranging the postponed matches, together with the remaining matches in this FIH Hockey Pro League season that are predominantly scheduled to take place in Europe, in May.
Keep up to date with all the latest news on the FIH Hockey Pro League via the Watch.Hockey app, event website and through FIH social media channels - Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
#FIHProLeague
Official FIH Pro League Site
Argentina to host Hockey Pro League matches but rest of April fixtures postponed
By Nancy Gillen
Argentina's men's team will play Germany and India in the Hockey Pro League next month ©Getty Images
Argentina will host International Hockey Federation (FIH) Hockey Pro League matches next month as the remainder of fixtures in April were postponed.
Both Argentina's men's and women's teams will take on Germany on April 3 and 4, before the men's side come up against India on April 10 and 11.
The matches are the latest in a coronavirus-affected 2020 Hockey Pro League season, which has been carried over to this year.
The Argentinian men's team, the reigning Olympic champions, have played eight matches so far and are ranked sixth.
India and Germany are fifth and fourth in the men's standings respectively after six matches.
In the women's table, Argentina are second after eight matches. 
Argentina are currently second in the women's Hockey Pro League ©Getty Images
Germany are down in seventh but have only played four matches this season.
The remainder of next month's matches, which were due to feature Australia, the United States, China and New Zealand, have been postponed.
This is due to the ongoing travel restrictions in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The FIH and the participating nations are working on rescheduling the postponed matches.
The majority of Pro League matches in May are set to take place in Europe, so there is optimism they can go ahead.
Inside the Games
Indian hockey team to start national camp on Saturday
The 18-day camp will conclude on March 31 before the team departs for the FIH Hockey Pro League against Argentina in Buenos Aires.
India led by PR Sreejesh secured a 6-1 win and 1-1 draw against Germany followed by 1-1 draw and 3-2 win over Great Britain in its maiden assignment of the year. - Biswaranjan Rout
Fresh from a memorable tour of Europe, the 33-member core probable group of the Indian men's hockey team will return to the SAI Centre in Bengaluru on Saturday for the national coaching camp ahead of the Hockey Pro League matches against Argentina.
The 18-day camp will conclude on March 31 before the team departs for the FIH Hockey Pro League against Argentina in Buenos Aires.
In their maiden assignment of the year, the Indian team led by PR Sreejesh secured a 6-1 win and 1-1 draw against Germany followed by 1-1 draw and 3-2 win over Great Britain.
"The team was given a brief three-day break to go meet their families before they return to the national camp on Saturday," chief coach Graham Reid said in a statement issued by Hockey India.
"I think this break was needed to refresh mentally as the upcoming weeks are going to be quite intense as we prepare for the FIH Hockey Pro League matches against Argentina," he added.
The Indian team has played six matches in the FIH Hockey Pro League so far and are currently placed fifth on the points table behind table toppers Belgium followed by Netherlands, Australia and Germany. India will resume its maiden campaign in the coveted Hockey Pro League on April 11 when they take on Olympic champions Argentina in back-to-back away games.
"We are looking forward to resuming our campaign in the FIH Hockey Pro League. Getting good competition in Europe was certainly very important ahead of the Pro League matches.
"We were in good nick when we played Netherlands, Belgium and Australia last year and we want to bring our 'A' game to the fore in the upcoming matches," stated Reid. The core probable group for the national coaching camp remains unchanged.
Core Probable List:
Goalkeepers: PR Sreejesh, Krishan B Pathak, Suraj Karkera.
Defenders: Birendra Lakra, Rupinder Pal Singh, Surender Kumar, Amit Rohidas, Kothajit Singh Khadangbam, Harmanpreet Singh, Gurinder Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Varun Kumar, Dipsan Tirkey, Nilam Sanjeep Xess.
Midfielders: Manpreet Singh, Chinglensana Singh Kangujam, Nilakanta Sharma, Sumit, Jaskaran Singh, Rajkumar Pal, Hardik Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad.
Forwards: SV Sunil, Akashdeep Singh, Mandeep Singh, Lalit Upadhyay, Ramandeep Singh, Simranjeet Singh, Shamsher Singh, Gurjant Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Gursahibjit Singh, Shilanand Lakra.
Sportstar
Ireland to take on Great Britain in SoftCo Series – Live on Watch.Hockey!
The SoftCo Series will take place in Queen’s University Belfast, with the Irish Women taking on Great Britain on Saturday the 13th, Sunday the 14th and Tuesday the 16th of March. Exciting matches ahead, with the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 in mind.
The matches are available worldwide on Watch.Hockey, except in Ireland and the UK. However, BBC Sport NI will be streaming all three matches on their website as well as the BBC iPlayer, while RTÉ will broadcast Sunday evening’s match live on RTÉ 2
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Watch Hockey
Three Scots selected for GB women to play Ireland
Scotland’s Sarah Robertson; Amy Costello and Charlotte Watson have been selected for the Great Britain’s women squad who will play Ireland in a series of three uncapped matches this weekend. The matches come as the squad continues to prepare for the resumption of the FIH Hockey Pro League and the Tokyo Olympics.
These games will provide the squad with the opportunity to put into practice what they’ve been working hard on at Bisham Abbey over the last few months.
The matches will be contested on 13, 14 and 16 March and broadcast live on the BBC Sport NI website, BBC iPlayer and the FIH’s Watch Hockey app.
Mark Hager is able to take almost his full squad out to Ireland, with nine players selected having been unable to play in the FIH Hockey Pro League matches against Belgium and The Netherlands in October and November last year.
Great Britain’s Performance Director Ed Barney said: “This trip presents a huge opportunity to the programme. Having committed some hard yards at Bisham, the players and staff are relishing the opportunity to compete on the international stage.
“With future trips planned and the FIH Hockey Pro League shortly upon us, these matches mark the start of an important competitive phase leading into the Tokyo Olympics.”
As these matches are uncapped, GB Hockey will not be directly reporting on them but we will provide details of how you can watch the games on our social media pages.
The current crop of Great Britain stars will then play their first matches on home soil since late 2019 when the FIH Hockey Pro League returns to London in two months’ time. They face China on 8-9 May, Argentina on 15-16 May and USA on 22-23 May.
Fixtures
Saturday 13 March: Ireland v Great Britain, 14:00 GMT
Sunday 14 March: Ireland v Great Britain, 17:00 GMT
Tuesday 16 March: Ireland v Great Britain, 15:00 GMT
GB Women’s Squad
1) Maddie Hinch (GK) – England
3) Amy Tennant (GK) – Reading HC/England
4) Laura Unsworth – East Grinstead HC/England
5) Sarah Evans – Surbiton HC/England
6) Anna Toman – Wimbledon HC/England
7) Hannah Martin – Surbiton HC/England
8) Sarah Jones – Holcombe HC/Wales
9) Susannah Townsend – Canterbury HC/England
10) Sarah Robertson – Hampstead & Westminster HC/Scotland
12) Charlotte Watson – Loughborough Students/Scotland
13) Ellie Rayer – East Grinstead HC/England
14) Tess Howard – East Grinstead HC/England
17) Leah Wilkinson – Holcombe HC/Wales
18) Giselle Ansley – Surbiton HC/England
20) Hollie Pearne-Webb (C) – England
22) Lizzie Neal – Loughborough Students/England
24) Shona McCallin – England
25) Sabbie Heesh (GK) – Surbiton HC/England
26) Lily Owsley – Hampstead & Westminster HC/England
27) Jo Hunter – Buckingham HC/England
29) Esme Burge – University of Nottingham HC/England
31) Grace Balsdon – Hampstead & Westminster HC/England
32) Amy Costello – East Grinstead HC/Scotland
33) Izzy Petter – Loughborough Students/England
38) Fiona Crackles – Durham University/England
Scottish Hockey Union media release
GB skipper Hollie Pearne-Webb says Belfast three-match series will be 'tough'
Hollie Pearne-Webb is among seven members of GB's Olympic-winning squad who will be involved in the Belfast series
Hollie Pearne-Webb is about to challenge Ireland's Anna O'Flanagan in a World League game in 2017
Great Britain captain Hollie Pearne-Webb says the three-match series against Ireland starting on Saturday will give the Olympic champions a clear indication of where they are at.
That Belfast series pits GB against an Irish side that clinched a surprise World Cup silver medal in 2018.
Pearne-Webb is convinced GB can retain their Olympic title in Japan but says the Irish will not be underestimated.
"They will be three tough games against a really good Irish side," she said.
While spectators will not be allowed at the Belfast matches because of the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, the series will be live on the BBC Sport website and iPlayer with Saturday's match followed by Sunday and Tuesday's contests.
The GB skipper added: "We're super excited to be here. We've haven't played games since the end of October when we had a couple of (FIH) Pro League matches."
Pearne-Webb, 30, is among seven members of the Rio-winning squad who will be in action in the Belfast series.
Games delay could boost GB says Pearne-Webb
The GB captain believes the delaying of the Games to this year could end up being to the relatively young squad's advantage.
"There has been a lot of transition in this cycle with (coach) Mark (Hager) coming in during 2019 as well so that extra year for a relatively young group is a really good thing for us. We're in a good place.
"I think we can achieve whatever we want to. If we're going to aim to go to Tokyo and we want to win a gold medal, we have the capability to achieve that.
"It will be a case of over the next few months and making sure we've in the best possible position to (do that).
"Games like these are the perfect preparation for us and that's how we learn the quickest and grow as a team. These three matches will give us so many learnings that we can take away."
Pearne-Webb insists that having one Olympic gold medal at home will in no way reduce her determination to achieve a repeat triumph in Japan.
"I remember being on the pitch in Rio having just got a gold medal and thinking 'I just want to do this all over again'.
"We had our ups and downs in our last Olympic cycle as well, so for me, it's definitely something I want to experience again."
Ireland star Lizzie Colvin says the home side are relishing the prospect of taking on the Olympics champions.
"We're so grateful we're getting the opportunity to play some games and also playing up north, just round the corner from me, is great," said the Armagh woman.
"The last time GB came over here I was just coming into the squad 13 years ago. It's fantastic that they want to come over here."
Like Pearne-Webb, Colvin said the series will be "a good marker to see how we've been progressing" since the encouraging January warm-weather series against Spain in Murcia which yielded two wins, two draws and a solitary defeat.
"Spain was a really good test for us to see where we were after the hard training over the winter months. We came away from that quite happy with our performance and we've just been building over the last few weeks.
"The fitness performance of the girls has just been incredible so we're feeling confident going into these games."
BBC Sport
Hockey plays its part in Tokyo 2020 sustainability drive
As you would expect from one of the biggest sporting spectacles on earth, the Olympic Games has an impact not just on sport but also on society and the environment. For Tokyo 2020, the theme of sustainability has been central to the planning of the Games since its inception, with the mega-event in Japan aiming to become the first carbon-neutral Olympics in history.
With an inspirational sustainability tagline of Be better, together – for the planet and the people, the Tokyo 2020 organisers have taken their responsibility to deliver a sustainable Games extremely seriously, stating their desire to “showcase solution models of global sustainability challenges to people in Japan and around the world”.
Even after the delay of the Games by one year due to the Covid-19 global health crisis, the commitment to make Tokyo 2020 the greenest ever staged – where sustainability concepts and legacies will be passed on to future projects both sporting and in the wider world – has remained steadfast.
Some of the efforts in Japan have already made the headlines, including the use of recycled materials for iconic Olympic symbols such as the medals and the torches that will carry the Olympic flame all over Japan on the torch relay. Even the medal presentation podiums will be made completely from recycled materials, with Tokyo 2020 targeting zero wasting and the 100% use of energy from renewable sources.
With sustainability being a fixed pillar of Tokyo 2020’s values, one that is in line with the Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) set out by the United Nations (UN), it is clear that all sporting facilities at the Games also have a significant role to play in making this a reality.
Hockey has very much risen to this challenge. At the stunning Oi Hockey Stadium complex, the four hockey turfs (two competition fields, two training fields) have been designed with sustainability in mind.The Poligras Tokyo GT pitches, developed by FIH Global Partner Polytan, use two-thirds less water than previous turfs, and are 60% made from material produced from bi-products of sustainably grown sugar cane.The ‘green’, water efficient turfs sit on a shockpad made from recycled truck and car tyres. This rubber is bound together using Polytan’s PolyBase, a climate friendly product which actually uses CO2 as a raw material thus preventing it from entering the atmosphere.
“The sustainability aspect of the turf is really positive”, says Kevin Dempster, Hockey’s Technical Operations Manager for Tokyo 2020. “We’re looking to cut back our impact on the environment wherever possible and the green technology in these turfs is helping us to achieve this. The reduced water system not only treads more lightly on the environment, it also requires less maintenance, making it a more user-friendly product which is also a win for us.”
With the post-Olympics legacy of the Oi Hockey Stadium complex already being known – the venue will become the central hub for Japanese hockey and also a multi-purpose sports facility – one question that might be asked is what will happen to the pitches when they reach the end of their natural playing life? This is something that has already been considered, with a comprehensive recycling programme available to ensure that the individual components can be reused in other projects.
While the sustainability aspects of the Oi Hockey Stadium are hugely significant, Dempster was also keen to stress the impact that this superb facility will have on the sport in Tokyo and the wider metropolitan area.
“Without question, the Olympic turfs have already made a big difference to hockey here. There hasn’t really been a proper hockey facility available to the public in Tokyo until now. Historically, most of them are privately owned and the only public facility available was the sand-based turf in the old Olympic venue. To have state-of-the-art turfs available to anybody is just wonderful and will be great for the future of hockey.”
For more information on sustainability at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, please click here.
FIH site
UniKL win Charity Shield after shootout
By Jugjet Singh
Players and staff of Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) celebrate after defeating Tenaga Nasional on penalties for the Charity Sheild trophy at National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil. - NSTP/MOHAMAD SHAHRIL BADRI SAALI
Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) took the "scenic road" to defend their Charity Shield when Tenaga Nasional held them to a goalless draw in the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) at National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
And in the shootout, the first round of five attempts ended 3-3, and it went into sudden-death.
UniKL skipper Marhan Jalil scored from the spot to hand his team the Shield after Tenaga's Syafiq Sumantri had missed from the spot.
In regulation time, UniKL were kept in the picture by their young goalkeeper Adrian Andy Albert.
Team manager Datuk Amir Azhar Ibrahim felt he did a great job.
"After three years being in the shadows of Irish goalkeeper David Harte, his game today (yesterday) showed some intelligent traits to save his teammates.
"He has put himself in contention for the No 1 jersey in the national team.
"Our local boys showed good temperament. Players like Pavandip Singh and Nur Rahul Hrsikesa had their moments in the match," said Amir.
Treble holders UniKL were nervous at times, but Tenaga failed to take advantage.
UniKL were denied penalty corners until the fourth quarter. However, Razie Rahim's two attempts were well-stopped by Tenaga runners.
"Although it was disappointing not to earn three points, we did not make our league title defence harder by losing the match," Amir added.
RESULTS
CHARITY SHIELD — Tenaga Nasional 0 Universiti Kuala Lumpur 0 (UniKL win 4-3 on penalty shootout).
FIXTURES
TOMORROW
THT v UniKL (6pm, Pitch I), UiTM v Maybank (6pm, Pitch II), Sabah v TNB Thunderbolts (8pm, Pitch I), NurInsafi v Tenaga Nasional (8pm, Pitch II).
* matches at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
New Straits Times
Poncelet says Léo’s professional outlook paying dividends ahead of EHL FINAL4
Two weeks since Royal Léopold’s return to action for the second half of the Belgian season and their form is bubbling up nicely in time for their massive EHL FINAL4 date with HC Bloemendaal.
In the past weeks, the Brussels club got the better of title rivals KHC Dragons and La Gantoise – who were unbeaten before Christmas – to put themselves in pole position in their section of the Honor Division and on course for a playoff place.
For Nicolas Poncelet – one of three Red Lions in the team along with Tom Boon and Max Plennevaux – he says that experience of hitting form at the right time is something Léo need to manage correctly if they are to make inroads in the EHL.
In 2019, their section of the KO16 draw seemed to offer them a manageable route to the FINAL4 but they showed a green streak against an experienced Real Club de Polo, letting a 3-2 lead turn into a 4-3 defeat in the last minute.
“We were happy with the draw, facing a Spanish team. Normally we are ok to manage their tactics but it was a surprise to play so bad,” he told the EHL website.
“It’s maybe something you don’t see when you watch from the outside but something you know when you are part of the team and know how good the guys can be.
“When you are in the EHL, some players feel it and it can be due to the stress, that they don’t dare to play their game, too many things on their mind. When we lost to Polo, we had the team to win but played a bad game. Experience can mean so much in this kind of games.
“We let that chance go and have to wait for this year! It was a good lesson. We have to play our best; everyone has to let the stress go. It’s only a game of hockey – at the best level, that’s true – but you still have to enjoy it, not to be scared.
Learning those lessons has been part of an ongoing journey for the 2019 Belgian champions with Poncelet feeling they are undergoing a strong transformation.
He grew up at the club, starting out age five, while his father is the first team manager. But he felt the need to seek out an alternative option with KHC Dragons to progress his game after some frustrating seasons.
As a teenager, Léo bowed out in ROUND1 to Irish side Banbridge and Poncelet said it was an indication things needed to change.
“With the team we had, we should have won but we struggled to adapt our game against teams with other tactics and you can see our big guys did not play their best. Belgian teams have what it takes to perform and win – you can see the WatDucks last time – but with Leo then, we didn’t react well.”
And so the following season he switched to Dragons, winning a national title in 2017 and playing in some crazy EHL games. 
Getting away from Bloemendaal’s Xavi Lleonart in 2018. Pic: ©: Frank Uijlenbroek / World Sport Pics
The first saw them battle hard against a Bloemendaal side stacked with Xavi Lleonart, jamie Dwyer, Thierry Brinkman, Florian Fuchs and Thierry Brinkman, ultimately coming unstuck.
The second game he describes as like a public service to hockey when they won 20-10 in a classification match against Three Rock Rovers, a result that helped scrap the two-goals for a field goal experiment.
“With Dragons, we had a super team in the Belgian league but Bloemendaal were really good. We conceded early on; we went man-for-man but they were really strong and when they played so well, you felt like you had no chance.
“We didn’t play badly but they were on the next level. When you saw Roel Bovendeert sliding in for that first goal, it was just super well-played and you can’t say much more than that!
“For the Three Rock game, it was a ridiculous moment. Of course, we were frustrated from the first game so really wanted to smash the second one. The history of hockey probably needed a game like that to understand why it was a ‘bad rule’. It’s like this in every sport. Some rules come in and you need this kind of situation to understand why it’s bad. It was like a public service!”
While he had plenty of fun, the lure of his home club came quickly and he was enticed back by a greater commitment to raising the level.
“I wanted something more professional and Léo understood this. They were on a good track and changed the mentality. Now, it’s much more professional and we, ourselves, became the Belgian champions!
“What I love about Leo is all the guys growing up spend a lot of time at the club and on the sidelines, watching the games. All my best friends are from Leo and that is one of our strengths. On the pitch, you can see it.
“Leo has always been a big family. But beside that, you also need to be a little professional to prepare. The year I left, it wasn’t sufficient. The club started to understand that, improving things like the video analysis, the recovery sessions… it is all getting better and better and that’s why Tom Boon and Max Plennevaux came to the club.
“They know it can be good for them, to have a team that can be champion. Everything in the week is already planned; the coaches are in contact with us a lot about what we have to train so we are in the right place to keep performing.” 
And Poncelet says it gives them their best shot at taking on Bloemendaal side who he admits will probably enter the tie as favourites.
“Bloemendaal is maybe the best team [on paper] of the FINAL4 in the EHL. It will be tough; we know how good they are. It gives us a chance to play against one of the best teams in the world and it is a really nice challenge.
“That kind of team has a lot of experienced players that can make a difference. We have to be at our best. The only thing I want is for our young players, the less experienced ones, is to make sure they enjoy it, that they are not stressed about it.
“Now, we have a team that is playing together for a while and every year we are moving up. Now, we are mature enough to be good enough to face the best in Europe.”
Euro Hockey League media release
Mombasa Sports Club sign 11 to fuel promotion mission
By Abdulrahman Sheriff
Zahra Nakaya, one of the new signings of Mombasa Sports Club (MSC) women hockey team, trains at the club's training ground on March 12, 2021.
Abdulrahman Sheriff | Nation Media Group
Mombasa Sports Club (MSC) women's hockey team have signed 11 new players in a bid to return to the Kenyan Hockey Union Premier League next season.
Team captain Brenda Wangila said in bolstering their squad, they have recruited 11 talented young girls and experienced players to achieve their target of winning the Super League title this season hence secure promotion to the top tier league.
"We are taking part in the Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) Super League's with an aim of winning the league and advance to the Premier League next season," said Wangila who expressed confidence the team will perform well and win the title.
Among the 11 newly recruited players are two from former national secondary schools girls hockey champions, St John’s Girls Kaloleni, Adiya Ali Haji and Zahra Nakaya who is currently studying at Mombasa Airways College.
Other new players are Sydney Charleen from the Lakers Hockey Team, Sharline Awino and Roseline Munini of St Charles Lwanga, Malta Mbinya from Thika Medical School, Joan Chepngeno of Kenya Coast National Polytechnic, Hellen Akoth of Coast University and Anne Wairimu Mbugua from Vikings Hockey Club .
Also joining the Mombasa-based side are Lydia Jeruto of Kenya Medical Training College and Pwani University’s Purity Moraa Mogaka.
The team will play a friendly match against a combined team on Saturday as part of their preparations for the league.
Meanwhile, MSC men's hockey team is expected to play against Coast Old Guards in a friendly match ahead of their Premier League campaign.
Daily Nation
Nittany Lions Shut Out Maryland in B1G Field Hockey Battle
Lions roar in home opener
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (1-1, 1-` B1G) shut out visiting Maryland (2-2, 2-1 B1G) in the home opener for head coach Char Morett-Curtiss' squad. Penn State scored a goal in the first, third and fourth quarters to roll to a 3-0 win in the first game played at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex this season.
In instances where teams are schedule to play each other twice during this year's Big Ten season, only the first game between the two squads is considered for the Big Ten regular season standings. Given that, today's game counts both overall and in conference.
The Nittany Lions controlled the tempo of the game from the opening whistle. After an early Maryland push that Penn State keeper Brie Barraco (Allentown, Pa.) turned away with the first of her seven saves, Penn State's offense worked the ball down to Maryland's circle. With Penn State freshman Sophia Gladieux (Boyertown, Pa.) and senior Emma Spisak (Boiling Springs, Pa.) pressuring the Terrapins, Penn State eventually picked up a penalty corner at the 9:50 mark. Bree Bednarski (Wyoming, Pa.) took the corner, moved the ball in to sophomore Elana Vos (Grave, The Netherlands), who stopped the pass perfectly. Junior Anna Simon (Hanau, Germany) finished off a perfectly executed corner with a sizzling shot that hit the back of the cage to give the Nittany Lions a 1-0 lead at the 9:37 mark.
Penn State controlled action in the second period as well. The Nittany Lions and Terrapins each had two first period shots, with Penn State connecting on one. The second quarter was all Penn State as the Lions got off four shots to only one for Maryland. Terrapin keeper Noelle Frost kept the visitors in the game with three saves and Penn State led by just one, 1-0, at intermission.
The Nittany Lions outshot Maryland 6-3 in the first half and had two corners to one for the Terrapins. Barraco had two saves, both in the first period, while Frost had four total in the opening two quarters.
Penn State's offense controlled the third period as it did the second, with Gladieux setting the pace from the start. The Lion freshman had a first shot early in the period go high but continued to press the Maryland defense. Gladieux and the Nittany Lion offense kept the ball on the Maryland side of the field for a large part of the third period and the pressure paid off with a penalty corner with just under 5:00 on the clock. Bednarski again took the corner, leading to another solid Simon shot. This time, however, Gladieux deflected Simon's shot just enough to slip the ball past Frost to put Penn State up 2-0 at the 1:05 mark of the third period.
Leading by two, Penn State opened up the fourth period and quickly put the game away. With Jemma Punch (McDowall, Australia) and Abby Myers (Hartland, Wis.) keeping possession in the midfield and clearing the ball down the right side, Gladieux took a pass and slid to the right of the Wisconsin circle. The Lion freshman passed the ball to Spisak, who pivoted and pushed a diving shot past Frost for Penn State's third goal with just under 2:00 gone in the fourth period. The three-goal cushion would stand as the Penn State defense, led Vos, Madison Hutson (Gloucester Point, Va.) and Kelsey Love (State College, Pa.) held off a late Maryland rally. Barraco was outstanding in the fourth period to earn the shutout with three saves in the final quarter alone.
Penn State outshot Maryland 13-9 over the course of the game and had a 5-4 edge in corners. Lion keeper Barraco earned her first shutout of the year with seven saves while Frost had six for the Terrapins.
"It was so nice to be at home and in front of our fans," said Morett-Curtiss. "It is nice to be home and nice to be playing this year. To see the improvement this team made over the course of the week was great. We made some moves, particularly in the backfield, getting some players back in spots where they were more in their comfort zone and that paid off for us."
Penn State is now 2-2, 2-1 in the conference standings. Maryland falls to 2-3, 2-2 in the Big Ten. The two teams will now meet once again in Happy Valley, taking to the field on Sunday, March 14, at 12 p.m.
Fans are encouraged to follow the Nittany Lion field hockey team online at www.GoPSUsports.com (click teams, click field hockey), on twitter @pennstateFH and on facebook at www.facebook.com/pennstatefieldhockey.
GAME BREAKDOWN
SCORING: 1 2 3 4 FINAL
PENN STATE 1 0 1 1 3
Maryland 0 0 0 0 0
STATS: PSU MD
Shots 13 9
Corners 5 4
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
1st: PSU – Anna Simon (Bree Bednarski, Elena Vos); 9:37
3rd: PSU – Sophia Gladieux (Simon); 1:05
4th: PSU – Emma Spisak (Gladieux; 13:02
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Brie Barraco 60:00 0 7
MD: Noelle Frost 60:00 3 6
TEAM (def.) 0 1
Go PSU Sports
Brie Barraco shines as Penn State shuts out Maryland field hockey, 3-0
Shane Connuck
Defender Hannah Bond looks on in Maryland field hockey's 3-1 win over Penn State on Sept. 20, 2019 at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex. (Gabby Baniqued/The Diamondback)
Emma DeBerdine took a shot from just outside the cage with about 10 minutes left. Once again, Penn State goalkeeper Brie Barraco came up with the save.
She couldn’t cover the ball, and Maryland field hockey continued to try and get the ball in the cage. But it couldn’t. And the Nittany Lions kept rolling and eventually closed out a 3-0 shutout of the Terps on Friday afternoon.
“We did not play well,” coach Missy Meharg said. “We played a good team that played very systematically as one. I applaud them.”
Penn State seemed to be in control for the entire match. The Nittany Lions’ offense took 13 shots against Maryland’s nine.
Just over five minutes into the match, Bree Bednarski fired an insertion on a penalty corner. Elena Vos set up an Anna Simon shot perfectly, and the junior defender took a shot that sailed past a diving Noelle Frost and gave Penn State (2-2) an early lead.
It took nearly 15 minutes for Maryland (2-3) to draw its first penalty corner. With three ticks left in the opening quarter, the Terps lined up for it, and defender Riley Donnelly sent a shot that was deflected and knocked away.
The Nittany Lions continued to show their strength in the second period, drawing a corner just 29 seconds in. Frost took care of the shot, diverting it away from goal. But the press was on, with Penn State’s attack growing in confidence throughout the frame.
The Terps struggled to get a shot off for the majority of the second period. With a minute left, defender Maura Verleg deflected a Penn State shot away and sent the ball upfield. Maryland’s attack charged toward the cage, a place where it hadn’t spent a lot of time in.
Bibi Donraadt ended up launching a deep, backhanded shot from the left side of the 23-meter line. Her shot was wide, and the Nittany Lions held onto their 1-0 lead going into the break.
“Outside of Bibi’s shot, I don’t really recall a lot of shots,” Meharg said. “We’re gonna watch the game tomorrow.”
And nothing changed as Penn State started attacking from left to right in the second half. As it continued to pressure Frost and Maryland’s defense, midfielder Sophia Gladieux took a shot that sailed high of the cage.
With eight minutes left, Maryland again tried to get its offense going. Forward Mayv Clune took a shot that was kicked away by Nittany Lions goalkeeper Brie Barraco.
“I feel like we were isolated the whole time and didn’t really attack and numbers,” Meharg said.
But Penn State’s pressure continued to intensify. And eventually, it broke through again. Off its fourth penalty corner of the match, Gladieux connected, slotting past Frost to extend the Nittany Lions’ lead to 2-0.
“The connection just wasn’t there between the lines today,” Brooke DeBerdine said. “We didn’t come out with a good mentality.”
And Penn State’s dominance continued into the fourth quarter. Two minutes into the final period, Gladieux had a hand in another Penn State goal, assisting when midfielder Emma Spisak found the back of the cage.
But Maryland wasn’t going away. The Terps peppered Barraco with shots, including a whipped DeBerdine effort. But like countless times before, Barraco came up with the save.
With just under five minutes to play in regulation, Maryland earned another corner. Off a Donraadt insertion, a shot from Taylor Mason came up empty.
Meharg’s side battled, sending shot after shot toward Barraco’s cage. But it couldn’t overpower Penn State’s powerhouse. Barraco made seven saves, safely protecting the Nittany Lions cage.
And Barraco is someone who many of the Maryland players know.
“I think we all know Brie from a couple different USA stuff,” DeBerdine said. “And she’s a very good goalkeeper; she’s very quick with her reflexes.”
It was too little, too late for the Terps, who failed to mount any sort of consistent offense en route to a third loss in the last four games.
Now, Maryland seems a world away from the national championship side it has revealed itself to be throughout Meharg’s tenure, a trajectory Meharg and her staff will hope to correct in the coming few weeks.
“The game is an enigma to me,” Meharg said.
The Diamondback
Field Hockey Tops Monmouth in OT Thriller
PHILADELPHIA - In its second-straight overtime game of the season, the Temple field hockey team defeated Monmouth 2-1 in the final minute of the first overtime period Friday afternoon. With the win, the Owls improve to 3-5 while the Hawks fell to 2-1 in their first loss of the season.
Recapping the Game
> Both teams had strong defensive performances in the first quarter, with both firing just one shot.
> Temple's best chance to score in the first half came off a penalty corner in the second quarter, but the Owls were unable to convert and the game was scoreless going into halftime.
> The Hawks scored less than two minutes into the fourth quarter, going ahead on a penalty stroke.
> The Cherry and White found the equalizer two minutes later, with Nienke Oerlemans scoring on a pass from Veronika Novakova off a penalty corner.
> Neither team could find the back of the cage as the fourth quarter wound down, forcing Temple's third overtime situation of the season.
> Sydney Beck was able to put the game away with an assist from Oerlemans, scoring with less than a minute left in the first overtime period.
Statistically Speaking
> Monmouth had the shot advantage, firing 15 to Temple's 11.
> Cristina Carotenuto recorded seven saves to set a new season-high.
> Novakova led the team with four shots, while Claire Thomas fired two and four other Owls fired one each.
> The Owls conceded five penalty corners, and successfully defended each of them.
Quotable
> "Our focus going into today's game was to control the controllable and have each person do their job. While I think there are times where our urgency can be a bit higher, I am wildly proud of the team for playing a solid game and keeping our emotions in check. It would have been easy to have gone in the wrong direction after the Monmouth goal. We have been focused on not worrying about the win or loss during the game, so the fact that we competed and were able to score right after getting scored on is phenomenal. Monmouth is a very strong team and extremely skilled. For us to compete with them show that we are moving in the right direction." – Temple head coach Susan Ciufo
Next Up
> The Owls will remain home for more non-conference play, hosting in-city rival Drexel Sunday afternoon.
Owl Sports
Field Hockey Opens MAC Play With 2-1 Win At App State
BOONE, N.C. - A true testimony to the Cardinals hard work in the off season paid off today as Ball State opened Mid-American Conference action Friday afternoon with a titillating 2-1 victory at Brandon & Erica M. Adcock Field.
"I'm so proud of the girls," Ball State head field hockey coach Stephanie Bernthal said. "People stepped up in critical moments of this game and across the board we executed a complex and aggressive game plan. We aren't able to do that if our whole team isn't fit and focused all year for the start of MAC play. App is a tough team and will challenge us as we face them again tomorrow. It's going to be another great battle. We will celebrate this win for a bit and quickly turn the page to preparing for tomorrow."
It was a defensive battle in the first 20 minutes of action as both teams went scoreless. The offensive battle began in the second period with the Mountaineers getting on the board first at around the 21:43 mark.
After that, true freshman Maureen Donegan found the back of the net with only two minutes remaining in the second frame to knot the game at one apiece at intermission. Donegan's goal against App State was the first of her career as a Cardinal.
In Bernthal's three years as the Cardinals' head coach she has certainly prepared her team for any defensive situation it may encounter and today it certainly showed. Ball State applied a lot of pressure against the Mountaineers' making it difficult for its opposition to score against BSU the remainder of the contest.
As time was winding down it looked as if the game may have to go into an extra period, but Ball State veteran redshirt senior connected on a shot off of the assist from newcomer Rachel Bohn which ended up being the game-winner.
The goal was Jefferson's 10th of her career as a Cardinal and first of the season.
Today's goalie for the Cardinals was sophomore Wietske Overdijkink who led Ball State defensively with six saves. Overdijkink now has 62 saves under her belt for her career.
Last year Overdijkink led the MAC in save percentage (81.4 percent) and goals against average (1.46) along with ranking second in the league in saves per game (6.75).
The Ball State field hockey team will wrap up its two-game league series against the Mountaineers on Saturday. The game is scheduled to begin at noon at Brandon & Erica M. Adcock Field.
Ball State Sports
PHF to rebuild Edhi hockey stadium
KARACHI: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has finally decided to rebuild the Pakistan’s most famous and historical hockey ground, Abdul Sattar Edhi hockey stadium in Karachi, ‘The News’ learnt on Friday.
The building structure is in a bad condition and so are parts of sitting areas for the spactators.
Informed sources said that PHF wanted rebuilding of the stadium for a long time but due to the financial constraints, the project was delayed. But now after the lease of hockey stadium, PHF finally decided to rebuild the stadium.
The Sindh government will provide financial help in the construction of the stadium.
It has to be mentioned that the sitting areas behind both the goal posts are dilapidated.
Sources said that the hockey stadium would be built gradually in four parts and all requirements needed for the development of any world class stadium would be met.
Sources mentioned that the hockey stadium would be rebuilt in a way that the stadium after the development is able to generate its own revenue as it has dozens of shops, godowns and offices around it. Besides, a tartan track would also be part of the project, which would be let to private educational institutions for their sports activities.
Hundreds of private schools and colleges in the city organise athletics competitions on regular basis but there is no tartan track in the city for them.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Hockey federation (PHF) has appointed Secretary Of Karachi Hockey Association Syed Haider Hussain as Coordinator of PHF camp office at Abdul Sattar Hockey Stadium.
Former international Haider Hussain represented Pakistan at both senior and junior levels from 1996 to 2002.
Haider was elected as Secretary of the KHA in 2016 and organised a large numbers of domestic events besides giving a new and decent look to the KHA Sports Complex. Haider is also a council member of the PHF . The PHF President has given him the task to give the stadium a new look.
The News International