News for 07 May 2021
All the news for Friday 7 May 2021
2021 Test matches RSA v NAM (M) - 7 May
Johannesburg (RSA)
1 May 2021 RSA v NAM 7 - 0 (Watch the match replay here)
2 May 2021 RSA v NAM 2 - 1
4 May 2021 RSA v NAM 3 - 0
5 May 2021 RSA v NAM 6 - 0
7 May 2021 19:00 (GMT +2) RSA v NAM
No Spectators allowed due to COVID restrictions
All matches to be streamed live on the Watch Hockey App
FIH Match Centre
Great Britain seek to hit targets against Germany
Sarah Evans is a midfielder for England and Great Britain. With 113 caps to her name [England and Great Britain combined], she has cemented her spot in the squad with her energetic and skilful performances in midfield.
After a five month break from FIH Hockey Pro League action, Evans and her Great Britain team mates are more than ready to take to the field for their two-game encounter with Germany, which takes place on the 12 and 13 May.
Currently, Great Britain are in fourth place in the league, with Germany just one place and one point behind them, but with two games in hand [Great Britain has played eight, Germany has played six].
Evans explains that although the Great Britain squad has had a lot of trips cancelled in the past few months, they have managed to recently get some competitive games against Ireland under their belts.
“We have been able to play some international matches against Ireland, which has been brilliant. We played Ireland early in the year and didn’t really hit the sort of form we wanted to, so we are pleased that we have been able to get back up to standard in these most recent games.”
When lockdown first struck, Great Britain had only recently appointed Mark Hager as Head Coach. Evans explains how the postponement of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, conversely, has worked in the team’s favour in many ways. In particular, it has allowed the squad an extra year to master the principles of play introduced by the former New Zealand Head Coach.
“It has also given players with niggling injuries more time to get back to fitness and it has allowed us time to get back together as a squad. Even throughout Covid, we were able to come back to our training base which has really helped us with our preparations.”
Looking forwards to the match against Germany, Evans says: “I always look forward to playing against Germany. It is always a tactical and physical battle. They play quite a similar style to us so we are familiar with how they play. We will look forward to having a good game against them.
“We have done our homework and there has been plenty of scouting [of Germany] so we will be very prepared going into those games and seeing how our training has readied us for the competition.
“We always go to the matches to get the win but we are also very process driven, so we want to hit certain targets in each game. If we hit the targets and stick to the processes, then the outcomes take care of themselves.”
Reflecting on the past year and how it has affected her personally, Evans says: “I have always been passionate about diversity, equality and fairness. This time has made me pause and look at our sporting landscape and see that it is not good enough. We need to do more to make our sport more diverse and inclusive and to break down barriers. I have gained a much clearer perspective on that and, as a team we will be doing more to counter that.”
Great Britain women play Germany women on 12 and 13 May. For the full interview with Sarah Evans, click here.
#FIHProLeague
Official FIH Pro League Site
Long wait for Trans-Tasman hockey action is over
After 14 months without any international hockey, New Zealand and Australia will go head-to-head in the Sentinel Homes Trans-Tasman series in Palmerston North starting in three weeks.
The four-match series for both men and women will be the final selection event before the two countries name their Tokyo Olympic squads.
The new Massey University turf will play host to the series between the Vantage Black Sticks and the Australian Hockeyroos and Kookaburras on Thursday 27, Friday 28 and Sunday 30 May and Tuesday 1 June. They will be the first internationals in New Zealand since the FIH Pro League was interrupted by Covid-19 in March 2020.
Hockey New Zealand Chief Executive Anthony Crummy said the two nations had been working together to get a series off the ground since the Trans-Tasman bubble was announced.
“It’s really pleasing to see the willingness from both countries to do what it takes to make this series happen so quickly and ensure our Tokyo-bound Vantage Black Sticks have world-class opposition as the Olympic countdown begins.
“Given the unfortunate 14-month hiatus in international hockey for both teams, this series will be vital as both a selection event and in our final preparations for Tokyo.”
Crummy said Palmerston North was chosen as the host city for the series because it offered flexibility if there was a change in Covid alert levels.
“The playing surface at Massey University is also the same as the one in Tokyo, and we’ve received phenomenal support from Hockey Manawatū and the wider community to pull this together in such a short timeframe.”
The matches will be the first internationals in Palmerston North since 2014 when the Black Sticks women played the USA.
Hockey Australia Chief Executive Matt Favier said the Kookaburras and Hockeyroos coaching staff and players are excited to have the test-series confirmed.
“We are really pleased that we have been able to collaborate with our Trans-Tasman neighbours and lock in these matches,” said Favier.
“Similarly to New Zealand, our athletes’ resilience and adaptability has been tested without any international competition since March last year, particularly in the lead up to an Olympics.
“This four-match series against quality opposition will be invaluable.”
The two nations are also working to confirm dates for their postponed FIH Pro League matches, with hopes of a two-match series to be played in Australia in late June.
The Black Sticks squads of 18 for the Tokyo Olympics will be named in the week after the Trans-Tasman series.
The Kookaburras and Hockeyroos Olympic squads are scheduled to be announced on 14 June.
The last time the Black Sticks Women played the Hockeyroos was in the Oceania Cup in Rockhampton in September 2019, where the Kiwis won the series to qualify for Tokyo.
At the same time the Kookaburras won the men’s Oceania Cup with two victories and a draw.
Sentinel Homes Trans-Tasman series
• Thursday 27 May, Friday 28 May, Sunday 30 May and Tuesday 1 June
• Massey University turf, Palmerston North
• Match times: 5.30pm and 7.30pm on Thursday, Friday and Tuesday, 1pm and 3pm on Sunday.
• Tickets available from Tuesday at www.blacksticksnz.co.nz
Hockey Australia and Hockey New Zealand Media release
Black Sticks men and women get back on home turf after long wait
George Heagney
Black Sticks goalkeeper Georgia Barnett is excited to get back playing international hockey on her home turf in Palmerston North. Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images
The Black Sticks will make a long-awaited return to international hockey when the men’s and women’s sides play eight tests in Palmerston North.
The men’s and women’s teams will play Australia in respective four-match trans-Tasman series at Massey University in Palmerston North at the end of the month, their first international matches in 14 months due to Covid-19.
It will be the first internationals in New Zealand since the Pro League was interrupted by Covid-19 in March last year and the series will be the final selection event for the two countries before the Tokyo Olympics.
The Black Sticks women haven’t played in Palmerston North since 2014 during a series against the United States, while it’s been even longer for the men, who last played in the city in 2009 against Malaysia.
The Black Sticks men have played six times in Palmerston North and the women 13 times.
Black Sticks goalkeeper Georgia Barnett, from Palmerston North, is excited to be back playing international hockey, especially in her hometown.
The 26-year-old says New Zealand has been trying to organise games with Australia for a while without knowing where the games would be.
“Whatever it takes to play, we don’t mind where it’s going to be for sure. The last game we played was in February last year. It’s been well over a year now.
“As much as we try and replicate what we’re doing with who we’re playing here, we’re playing boys and stuff, it’s never the same feel as the international game. It’s exciting to get international teams back.”
The squad has been training in Auckland and playing teams like the North Harbour under-18 boys.
The Black Sticks will be back in action finally when the men and women play tests in Palmerston North later this month. Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images
The Black Sticks have been planning as if everything, including the Olympics, would go ahead, so they were ready when test matches were confirmed.
Squads of 18 will be selected for the Tokyo Olympics after the series.
“If these are the last international games we play before [Olympic] selection it will play a big part in that. That’s why we’re all still here.
“[The Olympics] get postponed and we’re all still here. We want to make it to the games.”
Hockey Manawatū general manager Neil Ulrich was thrilled at the announcement.
He said he had been asking Hockey New Zealand for a long time to host international games and it was huge for the region to secure the tests.
Hockey New Zealand chief executive Anthony Crummy said the two nations had been working together to get a series off the ground since the trans-Tasman bubble was announced.
“Given the unfortunate 14-month hiatus in international hockey for both teams, this series will be vital as both a selection event and in our final preparations for Tokyo.”
He said Palmerston North was chosen because it offered flexibility if there was a change in Covid-19 alert levels.
“The playing surface at Massey University is also the same as the one in Tokyo, and we’ve received phenomenal support from Hockey Manawatū and the wider community to pull this together in such a short timeframe.”
Trans-Tasman series: Thursday, May 27; Friday, May 28; Sunday, May 30; Tuesday, June 1. Match times: 5.30pm and 7.30pm on Thursday, Friday and Tuesday, 1pm and 3pm on Sunday.
Stuff
Covid-19 crisis has not affected India hockey team's focus on Tokyo 2020 - Coach Graham Reid
There is a possibility that India might not get any competitive action before flying to Tokyo
The coronavirus crisis afflicting India has seen several foreign countries have stopped incoming flights to the country, hitting the preparations of many Tokyo-bound teams and athletes.
One example is the India men's hockey team, who have hit a roadblock as their FIH Pro League fixtures were postponed after the UK 'red flagged' flights from the country.
Their matches against Spain and Germany have also been postponed as both the European nations are reluctant to allow India to come and play due to the massive spike in cases. Even New Zealand who were supposed to visit India later this month for their away match have chosen to refrain from travelling to the country for the same reason.
This has left the Indian team in a lurch as there is a chance that the side might not have be able to get competitive minutes under their belt before they fly to Tokyo for the Olympics.
"We are extremely disappointed that we can't travel for the FIH Pro League matches because of the ensuing conditions due to Covid-19. Hockey India, in consultation with FIH, is looking for alternative dates," stated Graham Reid to TimesofIndia.com.
If the fixtures are not rescheduled to a later date, India might participate in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia. But that could also be in jeopardy if Malaysia bans travellers from India. The tournament is slated to take place from June 18-27.
"This (postponement of Pro League fixtures) has not affected our focus or determination to improve. The players remain motivated in their pursuit to do well at the Olympics," Reid said.
Currently, the Indian men's team is at a national camp at the Sports Authority of India centre in Bengaluru.
During their last trip to Argentina, they won both the matches against the Albiclestes. In the first game, they won on penalties (3-2) after it ended 2-2 at the final whistle and in the second match they convincingly won by a three-goal margin.
Olympic Channel
'Fitness one of the key elements for team,' says Indian Men's Hockey defender Surender Kumar
'Fitness one of the key elements for team,' says Indian Men's Hockey defender Surender Kumar Photograph:( Others )
Indian Men's Hockey Team's defender Surender Kumar, who has played 135 matches for the national side, feels fitness played a pivotal role in helping the team put up a solid show on their recent successful tours to Europe and Argentina.
Indian Men's Hockey Team's defender Surender Kumar, who has played 135 matches for the national side, feels fitness played a pivotal role in helping the team put up a solid show on their recent successful tours to Europe and Argentina.
"I feel fitness played a pivotal role in helping the team put up a solid performance on both the tours. I don't think we would have had a successful outing in Argentina and Europe if our fitness level were not up to the mark," said Surender.
He further added, "When your fitness level is up to the mark, you automatically perform well on the field. You know, when you are away from the competition for such a long time, it becomes difficult to maintain such fitness levels. Hence, to keep our fitness level on track, we also gave importance to our physical strength at the camp, apart from technical aspects of the game."
The World No. 5 side, who pitted against the Olympic Champions Argentina registered 2-2 (3-2 SO), 3-0 wins in their Hockey Pro League tie and secured 4-3, 4-4, 0-1 and 4-2 results in their practice matches. Speaking about the team's performance against the hosts Argentina, the 27-year-old defender said that the team focused on keeping things simple and played to their strengths without doing anything extra.
"It's not that easy to compete in a high-level competition after almost a year, especially against a strong team like Argentina, who had more international exposure than us. We focused on keeping things simple and played to our strengths, without doing anything extra, and I feel it worked out for us on the tour. And, would like to continue doing it in the Olympics as well. So, yeah, it was a good tour considering the fact that we defeated the Olympic Champions on their home soil as well as we got a great exposure before heading into the Olympics," said Surender.
The Karnal-born player, who is with the Core Group at SAI, Bengaluru further highlighted that the team is working on improving their fitness level. "We are working on improving our fitness level as it has been one of the key elements for us. As I said, if you want to put up a good show on the field, you need to have that fitness level," said the experienced defender.
With the marquee event Olympic Games just around the corner, Surender also emphasised that the team is taking one day at a time, and this approach has helped the team excel on their recent tours.
"We are taking it one day at a time, and this approach has also helped us excel on our recent tours. I think it will help us in the Olympics as well. For now, we are just focusing on our training and working hard to improve our levels each and every day," he concluded.
WION News
Extremely happy with the way I have started my international hockey career, says Rajkumar
The Indian Men's Hockey team midfielder Rajkumar Pal, who made his debut for the Indian senior team against Belgium last year, expressed that he is very happy with the way he has started his International career.
Kaushik critical, hope rests on life-saving drug
With his body not responding to medication, doctors decide to try out the option
Uthra Ganesan
M.K. Kaushik. | Photo Credit: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA
Former Indian hockey coach and Dronacharya awardee Maharaj Kishen Kaushik’s condition has deteriorated and is now critical. He has been kept under observation at a hospital here but doctors are not too hopeful.
Kaushik had been admitted with pneumonia-infected lungs after developing COVID-like symptoms but testing negative for the same on April 17. His blood Oxygen level kept fluctuating, going down to as much as 50 at night.
However, with his body not responding to any medication, doctors at the multi-speciality hospital decided to give him a life-saving drug which was expected to show results within 24 hours.
“That period got over this afternoon but there has been no change in the situation. However, other doctors in our acquaintance have said that it can sometimes also take up to three days to start showing results. That is our big hope at the moment,” his son Eshan said.
He continues to be under observation but doctors have warned that if the drug — costing upwards of ₹4 lakhs — doesn’t work, his body might collapse completely.
He added that Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju had been helpful in making arrangements at a bigger hospital but proper care and facilities at the current set-up, accompanied by his delicate condition, made them decide to stay put.
“Moving him in this condition was not advised. Also, the doctors made it clear that the line of treatment would be the same elsewhere also, so it did not matter,” he explained.
The 66-year old Kaushik has been one of the most decorated hockey coaches in the country for both the national men’s and women’s teams. A member of the 1980 Olympics winning team, he coached the men to gold at the 1998 Asian Games after a gap of 32 years and the women to bronze at the Doha Asian Games in 2006. He was given the Arjuna Award in 1998 and the Dronacharya in 2002. He had recently retired from Khelo India.
Ravinder Pal critical
Meanwhile, his 1980 Olympics teammate Ravinder Pal Singh too remains critical in a Lucknow hospital.
Ravinder Pal has been in ICU with severe COVID symptoms since April 24 and his family has been struggling with ballooning expenses.
Earlier in the day, Hockey India had approved ₹5 lakh each for both players as support.
The Hindu
Hockey India extends monetary help to former coach MK Kaushik
The 66-year-old Kaushik, a member of the 1980 Moscow Olympics gold-medal winning Indian team, had tested positive for the dreaded virus last month.
Hockey India (HI) on Thursday said it will transfer Rs five lakh to help in the treatment of former India player and coach M K Kaushik who is fighting the battle against COVID-19 in a city nursing home here.
The 66-year-old Kaushik, a member of the 1980 Moscow Olympics gold-medal winning Indian team, had tested positive for the dreaded virus last month.
"Hockey India will transfer Rs 5.00 Lacs to the Hospital where Mr M K Kaushik Hockey Olympian is being treated in Delhi on opening of Lockdown in Delhi on Monday 10th May, Mr Eshan Kaushik Son of Mr M K Kaushik has been told about it on phone," HI said in a statement.
Despite showing symptoms, Kaushik's RTPCR and RAT tests had returned negative on April 17. However, a CT scan on chest on and pneumonia due to COVID was detected a week later.
"Since then he has been hospitalized and his condition is between, neither stable nor serious. His oxygen level drops drastically at night which is a major issue," Eshan had told PTI.
Kaushik had coached both the senior men and women team. Under his coaching, India men's team had won an Asian Games in Bangkok in 1998.
Also, Indian women team had won bronze medal at the Doha Asian Games in 2006 under his coaching.
He was awarded the Arjuna Award in 1998, before being bestowed with the Dronacharya award in 2002.
India is battling a devastating second wave of COVID-19 pandemic which has been killing over 3,000 people everyday.
Sportstar
UK could host Hockey World Cup before 2031
Women's World Cup 2018 was hosted in London Photo: Simon Parker
Hosting a Hockey World Cup and EuroHockey Championships form part of UK Sport’s mission to create “the greatest decade of extraordinary sporting moments” after unveiling a list of opportunites over the next 10 years.
According to UK Sport, hosting a home World Cup is currently a “live feasibility” before any bid is made.
Bidding for the next World Cups from 2026 has yet to open, while The Hockey Paper has asked UK Sport whether any potential bid would be for a dual gender tournament or standalone men or women’s World Cups.
UK Sport said there was also an “opportunity” to host a EuroHockey Championships before 2031.
Almost 100 event hosting opportunities across 44 sports are being considered, which collectively represent potential £7bn boost to UK economy.
Sally Munday, UK Sport chief executive, said: “With the support of The National Lottery and Government the UK has built a global reputation as a first-class destination for the biggest sporting occasions.
“Combining a knowledgeable and passionate sporting public with our well-established infrastructure and technical event hosting expertise means the UK is primed to maintain its position as a global sport event hosting force for many years to come.”
The strategy will also see sport stars used to inspire children from poorer backgrounds and to help make Team GB more diverse in its stature.
“We want to reach kids from deprived inner-city environments whose lives can be transformed by sport and to inspire more diverse talent to take that first step, which will swell that future talent pipeline,” said UK Sport chair Katherine Grainger.
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The Hockey Paper
Hockey players, management vaccinated
LAHORE: Pakistan junior hockey team players have started receiving the vaccine against Covid-19 at Karachi’s Abdul Sattar Hockey Stadium.
The coaching and ground staff have also been vaccinated. The camp includes 27 players and seven officials. Overall, 70 individuals were vaccinated against on Thursday. The second dose of the vaccine will be given on May 26.
The junior team camp for Junior Asia Cup is currently under way in Karachi.
Olympian Khawaja Junaid, the head coach of the senior team, was vaccinated at the PHF headquarters in Lahore.
The process of administering first dose vaccine to senior team officials and players has also started at Lahore.
PHF secretary Asif Bajwa said: “We sincerely welcome the government of Pakistan, the government of Punjab, the government of Sindh and the Chairman of the NCOC Asad Umar, Dr. Faisal Sultan for their support.”
The News International
Most valued volunteer a role model for young and old
2020 Sky Sport Most Outstanding Young Person – Finn Caske (Manawatū)
Finn Caske has become what you may call an informal staff member at Hockey Manawatū. In 2020, his work ethic and love for hockey shone through in the endless number of tasks he helped out with to progress hockey in the region.
From the many hours spent at the turf running the hooters, timer and scoreboards to watering the turf, turning on the lights and staffing the gate during Covid-19 Level 2, Caske clearly does not hesitate to get involved if he sees something that needs to be done.
What is even more impressive is that he has single-handedly recruited more volunteers for Hockey Manawatū over the past year than anyone else before, while also teaching them how to operate the scoreboards and the likes to be self-sufficient.
Caske also umpires club, secondary school and junior hockey. He umpired at a number of tournaments last year and was named Most Improved Umpire at the Super 8 event. He also umpired every week in the senior summer club competition, and took the initiative to serve as Technical Official in our Secondary Schools InterCity competition – recruiting a number of up-and-coming umpires to do the same.
Last year he was the youngest ever recipient of Hockey Manawatū’s President’s Cup for being the most valued and valuable volunteer in our community, a role model for young and older members, and a massive asset to Hockey Manawatū and our sport.
Caske is the embodiment of a volunteer, but even more, he does much to recruit and energise others to volunteer as well.
Hockey New Zealand Media release
CALA Homes continues sponsorship of Edinburgh Hockey Club for the 13th year running
Edinburgh Hockey Club, known locally as “CALA Hockey”, has welcomed the news that CALA Homes (East) will continue its sponsorship for the 13th year running.
The announcement comes at a time of excitement and hope for the sport, with outdoor contact sports for 12–17-year-olds resuming in April. CALA’s financial commitment will support the club as it continues to navigate its return to training and matches over the coming months.
Club President Colin Fraser, said: “CALA’s sponsorship will be integral in our post-Covid return to normality. While we were unable to train for the majority of last year, we’re looking to be back training full time by early summer.
“CALA’s sponsorship allows us to buy new equipment, provide match opportunities for all ages and levels, and increase participation. One thing that’s come to the fore in the past year is the huge benefit of fitness and sport for physical and mental health, so it’s great to see businesses like CALA supporting teams and clubs in local communities.
“At Edinburgh Hockey we believe we’re kindred spirits with CALA in the sense that we strive to be the best. CALA has a reputation for excellence and we are proud to have the name emblazoned on our shirts.
“Around Edinburgh we’re probably more commonly known as “CALA Hockey”.
The club is a merger of Edinburgh Gymnasts founded in 1922 and Edinburgh Civil Service founded in 1958, becoming Edinburgh Hockey Club in 2005. It has stayed close to its home roots and built its reputation, not only playing top-flight hockey but also actively encouraging young people to take up the sport. The club currently holds the title of Under-16 Scottish Champions.
Colin added: “Since our relationship with CALA started back in 2009, we’ve had more than 20 young players represent Scotland from U16s to full international, including Great Britain defender Amy Costello, who we all hope will be competing at Tokyo this summer.
“But it’s not just about the top players – It’s about participation. We want to be a role model for other clubs by being as inclusive as possible. We have everyone from under eights to over 80s playing with us and are considering how to facilitate disabled hockey once restrictions allow.
“At the moment we have more than 650 players, with 400 parent supporters – all of us are grateful to CALA for helping us continue to nurture Scotland’s future hockey stars.”
Through an outreach programme, the club engages with more than 250 high school students from Edinburgh and the surrounding area, including Boroughmuir High School, Firrhill High School and Holyrood High School.
Throughout lockdown, the club has continued supporting its members’ wellbeing by coordinating a series of online challenges and fitness sessions. The most recent challenge saw more than 200 members covering a total of 25,000 km by walking, running, or cycling, to ‘visit’ other hockey clubs around the world.
Phillip Hogg, Sales and Marketing Director with CALA Homes (East), said: “Edinburgh Hockey Club is a huge part of the city’s sporting community and a great asset to players of all ages, and we’re delighted to continue our support.
“We look forward to seeing players return safely to both training and competitive fixtures over the coming weeks and months.”
Scottish Hockey Union media release
Iowa field hockey set to take on North Carolina in Final Four
Hawkeyes head to 12th Final Four in program history
Leah Vann
Iowa teammates celebrate a goal by Anthe Nijziel (6) at a University of Iowa game with Maryland at Grant Field in Iowa City on Sunday, April 4, 2021. Iowa won 3 - 0 their first win against Maryland since 1994. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
IOWA CITY — Iowa field hockey goalkeeper Grace McGuire said that this has been the most stressed she’s been all week.
Not because the team is playing in the Final Four on Friday, but because she was being interviewed about it. She cracks a smile and laughs when a reporter asked about her calm, smiling demeanor.
“Right now, this interview, not the hockey,” McGuire said. “We train all the time. We train overtime situations. We train with a player down. That’s the easy part — to put it all to use. But I’m nervous about this interview, I’m sweating right now.”
No. 4 Iowa played most of its season as the favored team, but enters as the underdog against No. 1 North Carolina at noon (CT) Friday (ESPN3). Iowa is in its 12th Final Four, while the Tar Heels are the reigning national champions, entering their 12th consecutive national semifinal appearance.
“Typically this season, we had a huge target on our backs every game,” Iowa head coach Lisa Cellucci said. “On paper, we're the underdog, but I'll tell you, North Carolina is taking us very seriously. They know what type of team we have. They know what type of outstanding defense we have.”
That defense is anchored by junior Anthe Nijziel, the Big Ten Player and Defensive Player of the Year. The Hawkeyes have only allowed 11 goals, 39 shots on goal, and 80 overall shots this year, and shut out six teams through eight games in the Big Ten season.
“What I improved in my game is my communication,” Nijziel said. “Without Lokke (Stribos) and Harper (Dunne), I wouldn’t have had that award. It’s definitely a team award, our team defense has been awesome this year, but with our communication and connection, we know how we’ve trained and how we can put that into our game.”
McGuire has stayed steady in goal with 29 saves on the season, allowing 11 goals.
That defense will be important against players like junior forward Erin Matson, a three-time ACC Player of the Year who spearheads an offense that averages 3.22 goals per 15.9 shots.
Earlier this season, Iowa struggled with four losses in the month of April, including two against No. 5 Northwestern and a semifinal loss to No. 2 Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament. But it’s riding the momentum of a revenge tour, coming off a 3-1 victory over the Wildcats to earn its Final Four berth.
“If I could do it again, and know that we would get to the end of the season, we probably would have changed our training regimen back in January because I think we had kind of a point of fatigue,” Cellucci said. “The team has rebounded from those four losses, especially those two Northwestern games, and we definitely have been on the revenge tour now.”
Iowa’s offense is led by seniors who have been waiting for this stage for years. Maddy Murphy currently leads the Hawkeyes with 15 points, including eight goals. Ellie Holley has 12 points, including three goals. They’ve been there for Iowa’s elimination in the first round of the NCAA tournament in 2017-18, a Sweet 16 appearance in 2018-19, an Elite Eight appearance in 2019-20, and now the Final Four.
And it’s the second year in a row the Hawkeyes will meet the Tar Heels on the national stage. UNC leads the two teams’ meetings 30-3. The last time Iowa defeated UNC was in 2008.
“We're all very excited but I think under the surface, we're not at all surprised,” Murphy said. “I think we deserve to be here. We've worked really hard to get to where we are today. We’re going to bring everything we’ve got.”
The Gazette
Louisville field hockey set for Final Four game against Michigan
By Jody Demling
The University of Louisville field hockey team will make its first appearance ever in the NCAA Tournament Final Four on Friday.
The No. 3 seed Cardinals (14-5) will take on No. 2 seed Michigan (14-2) in the second game of the day on Friday at 4 p.m. at Chapel Hill, N.C. Two-tine defending national champion North Carolina (17-1), whose only loss in three years was to Louisville back in October, plays No. 4 see Iowa (12-5) at 1 p.m.
The championship match is slated for 7 p.m. on Sunday.
"We have been building to this moment for the 10 years I have been here at the University of Louisville," head coach Justine Sowry said. "We have been making small gains each year. It's so hard to even make the NCAA Tournament let alone advance within that tournament. There was definitely a few moments maybe four or five years ago that I was like, 'Wow, are we ever going to do it.' But we just kept working and kept recruiting and kept going.
"This is massive for our program. Not only to be able to do it once in 2019 and make it to the Elite Eight, but to do it again and go one step farther. We are moving in the right direction and we feel good about where we are as a program."
U of L also feels good about its chances this weekend.
The ACC was the only conference to play field hockey in the fall and the Cardinals won the ACC regular-season championship. U of L then lost to North Carolina in the ACC Tournament championship game and had several seniors opt-out of playing this spring.
But that hasn't slowed the Cardinals.
U of L beat Wake Forest on the final weekend of the regular season to secure a spot in the 12-team NCAA field and then last weekend knocked off perennial power Connecticut 1-0 to make it to the school's first-ever Final Four.
"This year has been a long year, it's been a hard year," senior Alli Bitting said. "It was just so rewarding to first hear our name called but then to be able to play and advance into the Final Four. It makes it feel like all of our hard work has paid off. It's been so exciting and we've had so much emotion."
The ACC leads all conferences in field hockey with 20 overall titles and has two of the four Final Four teams this weekend. The league currently owns a streak of 32 straight years with at least one team in the Final Four.
For Louisville, it marks the sixth time in seven years the Cardinals have been in the NCAA Tournament. But prior to last season when the Cardinals beat Michigan in the opener the program had never won a game in the NCAAs.
Two of Louisville's five losses have come at the hands of top-ranked North Carolina, but Louisville also has a win over the Tar Heels in the 2020-21 campaign. The Cardinals' 3-1 win over UNC last October stands as the Tar Heels' only loss in their last 64 games.
Louisville back Julia Kouijzer is tied for fifth nationally in defensive saves. All-ACC forward Mercedes Pastor ranks 19th nationally in goals scored and 22nd in points per game.
The game can be seen on ESPN3.
Cardinal Authority
Fixtures for Second SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge
Wembley College; Greytown: Saturday 8 May
Wembley College XI Hockey Captain Sarah Barber (right) and Vice Captain Leah Tedder (left) get ready to welcome three other teams to the school's astro for the second tournament in the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls' Hockey Challenge which takes place on Saturday, 8 May. Photo Supplied
Fixtures for the second tournament of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge have been announced for the uMvoti, uThukela and uMzinyathi Regional on Saturday 8 May.
A fabulous four teams will take to the turf at host school, Wembley College this year. Joining Wembley are Domino Servite and previous regional winners Greytown High School and Wartburg Kirchdorf School.
A round robin format sees six games being played, each game lasting 30 minutes with a five minute break between matches. Following on from the round robin, the top two teams will meet to reveal the overall regional winner.
Of the four teams featured on the day, three have ventured to the Grand Finals in previous years with Wartburg Kirchdorf dominating this area in the ten year history of this SPAR KZN hockey tournament. Greytown High School technically are the defending champs, having lifted the trophy in 2019.
In an action-filled month of hockey, Danville Park Girls’ High from the Durban North Regional took the top honours in the first tournament this past weekend, and teams from the Highway area take to the turf on Sunday 9 May. Five more tournaments take place around KZN on the remaining weekends in May, and the final two of the ten regions rolling out in early June.
SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge media release
The SoftCo Bucket Challenge
The Challenge
Using the hockey stick, the ball must be passed by all players in the air without it hitting the ground, with the last player passing the ball into the bucket (see age categories below for details on the number of players). Your Challenge must be recorded & timed. The winner is the team who complete the challenge in the quickest time. There can only be 1 entry per team, but a club or school can have multiple entries from different teams within the same age category.
Challenge Entry Dates
Challenge is open to entries between April 30 to May 31
How to Enter
Each recorded Video Entry must be posted on twitter or Instagram by an authorised teacher or coach with the hashtag #softcobucketchallenge and tag @softcogroup on Twitter and @softco_life on Instagram. The winners in each group (see age categories below) will be the team who complete the challenge in the quickest time.
Want to see how the GreenArmy handled the challenge? Go to: https://twitter.com/SoftCoGroup/status/1388099470550839301
Irish Hockey Association media release