News for 07 November 2017
All the news for Tuesday 7 November 2017
Guatemala scores 6 goals in their first match of the tournament. Jamaica finishes Day 2 on top
Guatemala off to firing start. Puerto Rico remains winless.
Photo: John Williams
GUA vs PAN
The first 5 minutes at the overcast JN Hockey Field in Kingston, Jamaica started off a bit slow but Guatemala picked up the pace shortly after. Aldahir Ornano made an attempt to clear a reverse stick shot from Didier Monterroso, but Agustin Depaz took the rebound and put the men in blue ahead of the Panamanians in the 6th minute. A swift pass from Jose Anzueto to Adrian Medina resulted in another goal to put them 2 nil up before the end of the second quarter.
Angelo Boodie of Panama got a shot at goal after receiving a beautiful pass from Felix Tenorio but goalkeeper Jorge Lopez denied him. Rodrigo Flores went for the rebound which was no match for the impenetrable Guatemalan defence.
Jorge Ramirez made it 3-0 two minutes into the third quarter by converting a penalty corner and Depaz scored his second goal a minute later. Guatemala was awarded a penalty stroke after a deliberate foul by goalkeeper Ornano. Leonidas Leiva took to the penalty spot and was successful in putting Guatemala 5 goals ahead of the Panamanians. The final goal of the match made it a hattrick for Depaz and Panama’s second 6 nil loss of the competition.
JAM 3 vs PUR 0
The Puerto Ricans had the host team under tremendous pressure throughout the first quarter of the game. Ottus Feliciano made a pass to Francisco Maldonado for the tip in which ended up going wide of the goal. Gilberto Monserrate broke away and had a one on one with goalkeeper Kardiff Davidson who stopped him in his tracks.
Puerto Rico was awarded a penalty corner, but the Jamaican defence swept the ball away for a counter attack. Brandon Clarke found himself on the receiving end of the ball and wasted no time to put it pass goalkeeper Luis Torres. A backline dribble and pass to the penalty spot from Captain Kishawn White gave Oshane Haseley the chance to put Jamaica 2-0 in front. The 3-0 win came in the 53rd minute when Kemar Mitchell capitalized on a penalty corner.
Pan American Hockey Federation media release
Bermuda and Guyana now tied on 4 points trailing Jamaica
Puerto Rico struggles to score, recording another goalless draw
Photo: John Williams
GUY 0 vs PUR 0
The first female match of Day 2 left Guyana and Puerto Rico without a goal despite many opportunities.
The first penalty corner of the game was won by Puerto Rico, but a slow pull and hesitation at the top of the D gave the Guyanese defenders enough room to clear the ball. Goalkeeper Briawna Gordon denied Marisa Miro a chance at scoring in the second period of the game.
Puerto Rico endured a great deal of pressure from Kerensa Fernandes but Kayla Chapman and Captain Josephina Freaney intercepted their efforts to put Guyana in the lead.
BER 4 vs GUA
The scorching sun at the JN Hockey Field caught Bermuda fighting for a chance to score their first goal in the CAC Qualifier. Guatemala was left to play a very defensive game –as Bermuda did not hesitate to apply the pressure. Jasmine Patterson’s penalty stroke was saved by Norma Quevedo, but moments later she returned to put Bermuda 1-0 ahead in the 12th minute of the game. The second came in the 39th minute from Selina Whitter. Bermuda kept penetrating the circle, hungry for more goals, and succeeded in the 50th and 51st minute courtesy of Keishae Robinson and Chrysda Smith respectively.
PAN 0 vs JAM 3
The final match featured Panama who were looking to gain points and Jamaica looking to remain at the top of the table. Jamaica instantly attacked the Panamanian half of the field, and remained dominant throughout. In the 11th minute Kamille Griffiths put Jamaica in front by way of a penalty corner and she struck the back board a minute later to put her team 2 goals ahead.
Panamanian goalkeeper Daryeli Castro made a remarkable save to deny Griffiths of what could have been her hattrick. Captain Celina Portugal and Castro held steady in the defence to keep Jamaica from widening the gap. Ebony McLean closed off the scoring in the 38th minute from a penalty corner.
Pan American Hockey Federation media release
Jamaican teams make it two wins straight in CAC Games hockey qualifiers
BY GERALD REID
Jamaica's Shareeka Elliott (second left) challenges Rosa Sanchez of Panama for the ball as Sanchez's teammate Jetzabell Rodriquez (left) goes in to lend support during their match in the CAC Games hockey qualifying tournament, at the JN Mona Hockey Field in Kingston yesterday. (Photo: Karl McLarty)
Jamaica's women's hockey team completed a quick double when they easily brushed aside Panama 3-0 in the 2017 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games qualifying hockey tournament at the Jamaica National (JN) Mona Hockey Field in Kingston yesterday.
Kamille Griffiths got a brace for Jamaica in the 11th and 12th minutes, while Ebony McLean got the other goal in the 38th minute.
In other results, Guyana, who had whipped Panama 6-0 on Sunday, were held 0-0 by Puerto Rico, and Bermuda defeated Guatemala 4-0.
The Jamaicans, who had defeated Guatemala 6-0 in their opening encounter on Sunday, now lead with maximum six points ahead of Guyana (four points), Bermuda (three points), Puerto Rico (one point) and Guatemala (zero).
The teams are vying for one of two spots in the field hockey competition at the 23rd CAC Games, which will be held in Barranquilla, Colombia, next year.
It was a bright start by the Jamaicans as they took control of the game by dominating position of the ball. From the consistent pressure, Griffiths found the back of the net in the 11th minute through a penalty corner taken by Krystal Holgate. Griffiths grabbed her second a minute later from a field play to put Jamaica 2-0 up at the end of the first quarter.
Although the Jamaicans dominated and produced attacking plays which should have increased their lead, they squandered many goalscoring opportunities and were goal-less in the second quarter.
The Jamaicans then wrapped up the game in the third quarter when McLean slammed one past Castro Daryeli in the Panamanian goal in the 38th minute from a penalty corner, again taken by Holgate.
While Jamaica's coach Christine Bartley was happy for the win, she admitted that the level of play from her team was below average.
“The performance was below our expectations or the level which we should be playing, but we have won, as getting the three points was the most important thing. We now have to correct our mistakes and improve on our showing for the next game,” Bartley told the Jamaica Observer.
Panama's Team Manager Ademir Montenegro said it was still a learning process for his team.
“This is a very young team as we only have five senior players in the squad, but the performance was an improvement from our last game. Our players did well to restrict Jamaica to only three goals,” he said.
Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Jamaica's men's team also chalked up their second win from as many games when they defeated Puerto Rico 3-0. Brandon Clarke opened the scoring for the hosts in the 24th minute, while Oshane Haseley (29th minute) and Kemar Mitchell (53rd minute) got the other goals for the Jamaicans.
In the other men's game, Agustine Depaz scored a hat-trick as Guatemala swamped Panama 6-0. Depaz, who became the second player to have scored a hat-trick following Jamaica's Nicholas Beach, who got his also against Panama, scored in the sixth, 37th and 46th minutes. The other scorers for Guatemala were Adrian Medina (13th), Jorge Ramirez (32nd) and Leonidas Leiva (38th). It was Guatemala's first game for the tournament, while the Panamanians were losing their second-consecutive game.
Jamaica lead with six points ahead of Guatemala (three points), Guyana (three points) and Panama (zero).
Action continues tomorrow with Jamaica taking on Guyana at 12:30 pm in the women's category after Panama tackle Bermuda at 8:30 am, and Guatemala oppose Puerto Rico at 10:30 am.
In the men's section, Jamaica will be out of action, but Guyana face Guatemala at 4:30 pm before Puerto Rico and Panama square off at 4:30 pm.
Jamaican Observer
Terengganu beat Melaka to stay on track for title defence
By S. Ramaguru
In a tussle: Melaka’s Muhammad Firdaus Omar (right) losing his stick as he tries to challenge Terengganu’s Muhammad Amirul Mirza Rozi in the Razak Cup Group A match at the Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh yesterday. — SAIFUL BAHRI/The Star
IPOH: Terengganu stayed on track to defend their Division One title after an emphatic 6-1 win over Melaka in their second Group A match of the Razak Cup hockey tournament at the Azlan Shah Stadium.
The east coast side, who were held to a 4-4 draw by Penang on Saturday, lead the group with four points. They just need a draw against Kuala Lumpur tomorrow to make the semi-finals.
Terengganu coach Sarjit Singh was pleased with the team’s performance yesterday.
“This was a more disciplined show. But there are still some areas that we need to work on. We still have KL to play but at least we can play with greater confidence now.
“Against Penang, we were making a lot of mistakes. Today we kept the errors to a minimum. The players can only get better,” he added.
Terengganu, however, were lucky to get off unscathed as they conceded four penalty corners in the opening five minutes to Melaka.
Then in a quick counter-attack, Terengganu made Melaka pay for their profligacy with Shahrin Mohamed scoring a field goal in the seventh minute.
In the 28th minute, international forward Faizal Saari doubled the lead with another field goal.
Faizal netted his second goal, this time from a penalty corner in the 38th minute for a 3-0 lead.
Fitri Saari also got into the scoring act with a field goal in the 44th minute.
Melaka managed to reduce the deficit through former national forward Ismail Abu in the 47th minute. But Terengganu turned on their power again with two more goals by Shahrin (48th) and Syamman Mat Tee (57th).
In another Group A match, Penang held KL to a 3-3 draw.
Both are on two points but Penang are second by virtue of scoring more goals.
Penang took the lead in the 21st minute when Mohamed Haikal Abdul Mutalib scored with a penalty corner drag flick. But KL stormed back with a field goal by Mohamed Sabri Mohamed in the 24th minute.
KL led for the first time in the 35th minute when international Mohamed Shahril Saabah scored a field goal.
But their joy was short-lived as Penang hit back a minute later with skipper Izwan Firdaus scoring after a quick counter-attack.
Izwan was again on target in the 51st minute to give Penang a 3-2 lead. But 19-time winners KL managed to secure a point with Mohamed Aslam Mohamed scoring a field goal in the 59th minute.
KL coach I. Vicknesweran said they conceded the goals due to poor defending.
“We held the lead but allowed Penang room to hit back. Just like in the match against Melaka we had to score in the last minute to salvage a point. We cannot go on like this. We need to kill off the game at all times.”
The Star of Malaysia
Police top men league standings: 2013 winners inch closer to this year's title
Former champions maintain 12-point-lead.
By Elizabeth Mburugu
Kenya Police player Amos Barkibir in the air when they played Green Sharks in the Men Premier League at City Park. Police scored 1-0. ON 09/04/2017 PHOTO; JENIPHER WACHIE
Front-runners Kenya Police and Telkom inched closer to winning this season’s Kenya Hockey Union league titles.
Former men’s Premier League champions Police enhanced their campaign with another victory at the weekend to maintain a 12-point lead as they seek to end a three-year trophy drought.
The law enforcers have been in top form this season maintaining an unbeaten run as the league inches closer to the end.
Topping the table with 52 points from 18 rounds of matches, the 2017 title is theirs to lose as their closest challenger Greensharks have played 21 rounds of matches and have 40 points.
Butali Sugar Warriors are third with 36 points from 16 rounds of matches and have won 14 and lost two -to Police during the first round and Greensharks at the weekend.
Police captain Oliver Echenje said they are seeking to maintain their good run because they want to reclaim their title.
“So far so good but we still need to do more and ensure we don’t drop points,” Echenje said.
Wazalendo are fourth with 35 points from 10 wins, five draws and three losses, while United States International University of Africa (USIU-A) are fifth with 34 points from 20 outings.
Reigning champions Strathmore University Gladiators, who have had little to show this season, are one place above relegation.
The Gladiators are fourth, but from the wrong end of the table, with 19 points from 16 rounds of matches. Premier League debutantes Technical University of Kenya (TUK) seem not to have ready for real business in top flight and have began their journey back to the lower division league. They are last with five points from 19 rounds of matches.
In the women’s title hunt, hockey queens Telkom are closing in on their unprecedented 20th league title. They lead with 36 points and are yet to lose a match this season.
USIU-A Spartans, who are chasing a ticket to the Africa Cup for Club Championships, are second with 31 points from 12 rounds of matches, while Amira Sailors are third with 30.
Strathmore University Scorpions are fourth with 27 points, while Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology are fifth with 25.
Winless University of Nairobi are last with one point, while Multimedia University have three.
The Standard Online
Updated FIH Hero World Rankings released
The latest International Hockey Federation (FIH) Hero World Rankings have been revealed following the conclusion of the 2017 Continental Championships’ cycle.
Olympic champions Argentina remain the number one ranked men’s team after winning the Pan American Cup back in August. October’s Oceania Cup winners Australia retain second position however European rising stars Belgium have moved up to third after picking up the silver medals at the 2017 Rabobank EuroHockey Championship.
Pakistan continuing to climb back up the rankings, leapfrogging Korea into 13th position whilst the biggest rise was Wales who moved up eight places into 24th position.
The top three women’s teams remain unchanged as World and European champions Netherlands retain number one spot, with England (Great Britain) in second and 2017 Pan American Cup champions Argentina in third.
USA have dropped down to seventh, with 2017 Oceania Cup winners Australia replacing them in fourth position. New Zealand and Germany also leapfrog USA, taking up fifth and sixth position respectively.
Following yesterday’s Asia Cup win, India have made it into the top 10, edging Spain into 11th position, whilst Chile have made considerable gains, moving up five positions from 20th to 15th after they picked up the silver medals in this year’s Pan American Cup.
Along with Chile, the Czech Republic (now 19) and Singapore (35) were amongst the biggest risers for the women, all moving up five positions.
The next series of FIH Hero World Ranking updates will take place after the Hockey World League Finals have finished later this year. They take place over the following dates:
Sentinel Homes Women’s Hockey World League Final Auckland 2017 – 17-26 November
Odisha Men’s Hockey World League Final Bhubaneswar 2017 – 1-10 December
For a complete guide to the FIH Hero World Rankings, click here.
FIH site
Indian women break into top 10
The Indian women’s hockey team has broken into the top 10 in the FIH World rankings following its Asia Cup title triumph.
India gained two places to be placed at number 10 behind Korea and ahead of Spain.
European champion the Netherlands tops the chart, followed by England and Pan American Cup champion Argentina.
USA has dropped to seventh, with 2017 Oceania Cup winner Australia replacing it in fourth position.
New Zealand and Germany also leapfrogged USA, taking up the fifth and sixth positions.
The Hindu
Hockeyroos Rise, Kookas Second, In Latest Rankings
Ben Somerford
The latest International Hockey Federation (FIH) Hero World Rankings have been revealed following the conclusion of the 2017 Continental Championships’ cycle.
The Hockeyroos have moved up from fifth to fourth, moving above USA following last month’s Oceania Cup triumph in Sydney.
The Kookaburras retain second position, sitting 20 points behind number one ranked Argentina, having also won the Oceania Cup in October.
Olympic champions Argentina remain the top ranked men’s team after winning the Pan American Cup back in August, while European rising stars Belgium have moved up to third after picking up the silver medals at the 2017 Rabobank EuroHockey Championship.
The top three women’s teams remain unchanged as World and European champions Netherlands – who will compete in Melbourne this week - retain number one spot, with England (Great Britain) in second and 2017 Pan American Cup champions Argentina in third.
The next series of FIH Hero World Ranking updates will take place after the Hockey World League Finals have finished later this year.
Hockey Australia media release
Wales Men see significant rise in World Rankings
Following an intense period of international hockey, the FIH have earlier today released an update to the FIH Hero World Rankings and it is good reading for Wales. On the back of a solid summer of performances Hockey Wales are thrilled to announce that the Wales men’s team have risen a colossal 8 places in the world, whilst the women’s team remain in 26th place holding a strong position.
Now siting at 24th in the world; this 8-place rise puts Wales men at the top of the climbers list this year as well as seeing the highest jump from Wales in many years.
Head of Performance, Dan Clements shared his delight at this exciting news: "After a positive 2017 we are really pleased to see the players and coaches hard work over recent years being rewarded with the latest World ranking updates. To have both genders in the mid 20's is a fantastic achievement and is testament to recent performances and results. It’s great to see our men as the highest climbers overall, climbing 8 places is a huge achievement and one the nation should be proud of. The most pleasing aspect of this however is the potential of where both groups could go given the desire that exists within each group, it promises to be an exciting few years ahead for both”
Wales Men’s Head Coach, Zak Jones said “I’m obviously delighted with the news and pleasantly surprised by the number of places we have advanced. The updated rankings are a reflection of all the passion, commitment and hard work the players and staff have put into the programme over the past couple of years, and are a clear indication of the progress we have made in that time both on and off the field. The challenge for us as a group now, is to try and maintain that momentum through the next two-year cycle and to continue to build a culture and environment that will allow us to improve further whilst competing regularly with those teams ranked above us."
Wales men recently celebrated the success of securing their place in the top Division in Europe in 2019 after beating France in a tense semi-final 4-3 during the EuroHockey Championship II held in Glasgow; the 2nd place finish that has unequivocally formed part of today’s new rankings.
Wales Women’s Head Coach, Kevin Johnson explains the importance of the women retaining their world ranking position “It’s obviously pleasing to see us retain our World ranking position after having a sizeable rise last time round, as well as accruing more useful points after a good performance at the Europeans in the summer. As a group we continue to look to develop in all the areas we have identified in order to give us the best chance for the future success in tournaments and ultimately further improvement in our ranking position.”
Hockey Wales media release
USWNT Drops Test Match to Australia Before IFOH
Image Courtesy of Joel Peterson
BENDIGO, Australia - Just before opening up the round-robin competition of the 2017 International Festival of Hockey (IFOH), the U.S. Women's National Team faced hosts Australia in a test match in Bendigo. In what spanned to be an even contest with both teams seeing chances, it was Australia who came out on top with a 2-0 victory.
Early in the game USA's striker Casey Di Nardo (Virginia Beach, Va.), who recorded her first international cap for Team USA, missed good early chances. Australia's Emily Hurtz was in a similar situation at the other end, missing opportunities, before Madi Ratcliffe converted from close range in the 14th minute after good skill from Hurtz to take the lead. Hurtz is making her first appearance in green and gold since 2014.
USA's goalkeeper Alesha Widdall (Whitney Point, N.Y.) denied Ratcliffe and Jane Claxton in the second term and came to the USWNT’s rescue again in the third, with saves on Emily Smith and Savannah Fitzpatrick’s efforts in quick succession.
In the 48th minute, Brooke Peris won Australia a penalty corner, which Ashlea Fey fired in and Hurtz deflected in from close range to make it USA 0, Australia 2.
Renee Taylor was denied three times from a final quarter penalty corner, while goalkeeper Rachael Lynch kept Australia’s clean sheet with a last-gasp save from Michelle Vittese (Cherry Hill, N.J.).
Now in it's second year, the International Festival of Hockey is a world-class tournament and will see the nations of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, The Netherlands and the USA battle it out across a week-long competition. To start IFOH play, the U.S. Women's National Team will face Japan Tuesday, November 7 at 11 p.m. ET.
Set your DVR! For the first time in history, all USWNT games and the women’s medal matches of IFOH will be broadcast live on the Olympic Channel. A per cable subscription at no additional cost, the Olympic Channel is the home for Team USA in a fully dedicated Olympic sport coverage network. Field hockey fans will have the pleasure of tuning in where they want, when they want, to cheer on Team USA in the coming month.
Today, new FIH Hero World Rankings were released. The USWNT dropped three spots to No. 7 following a third-place finish at the 2017 women's Pan American Cup.
Portions of Content Courtesy of Hockey Australia
USFHA media release
Schopman Adds Two from Development Squad to USWNT
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Back in September when the U.S. Women’s National Team returned to training, a few athletes from the U.S. Women’s National Development Squad joined in to enable a larger group for practice. Following the two-month period, USWNT Head Coach Janneke Schopman and coaching staff have moved Mary Beth Barham (Fairfax, Va.) and Catherine Caro (Martinsville, N.J.) up to the senior squad effective December 1.
“It was great to have the four players from the Development Team training with us the past 2 months,” said Schopman. “It gave us the opportunity to prepare better for World League [Final] and at the same time we as a staff had the opportunity to observe these athletes in our day-to-day environment. All four of them did a great job but we feel that Cat and Mary Beth can add depth to our team when we start our preparation for the World Cup in December.”
Barham first got her start in field hockey when she played for her high school team, W.T. Woodson, in Fairfax, Va. After falling in love with the sport, she started to play club for Capital Pegasus, but not having participated in the Futures Program, she was late the recruiting process. Barham went on to play collegiately at Yale University ('13) where she helped lead the Bulldogs to an Ivy League title her junior year. In 2009, she was named All-Ivy Honorable Mention and in 2011 she earned Second Team All-Ivy League. In her season year she was named Second Team All-Mideast Region by NFHCA and First Team All-Ivy League.
Avid within the Olympic Development Pipeline, Barham entered the Futures Program in 2008 and competed in events such as the Junior Women’s National Championship, High Performance Centers and senior indoor and outdoor team trials. In 2015, she was named to the U.S. Women’s National Indoor Team and traveled to South Africa for the SPAR 4 Nations Tournament and Austria in 2017 for the International Rohrmax Cup. She is coming off an impressive, historic gold medal finish at the women’s Indoor Pan American Cup held in Guyana. The title earned the Indoor USWNT a spot at the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup in 2018.
In June, Barham was officially named to the U.S. Women’s National Development Squad where she attended training camp weekends and various other opportunities that worked on developing the players’ skills, vision and tactical understanding.
"I am incredibly grateful to everyone that has supported me along this journey so far," said Barham. "I am beyond excited to join the team and for the opportunity to train and compete at the highest level."
“Mary Beth has impressed me in the past couple of weeks, whilst she was training with us on Monday and Tuesday she also still coached at Yale and prepared for the Indoor Pan America Cup,” commented Schopman. “Her ability to do all of this and train at a high level shows me what she’s made of. With her mentality and work ethic she will push our team in the right direction.”
Barham has experience coaching collegiately where she spent the 2014 season as a volunteer assistant coach at Georgetown University. In 2015, she returned to her alma mater as the assistant coach and in 2016 that position elevated to a full-time role where she serves as the team’s recruiting coordinator.
Barham would like to thank Indoor USWNT Head Coach Jun Kentwell and Yale Head Coach Pam Stuper who have played instrumental roles in her field hockey growth.
Caro will add depth to the USWNT’s midfield, after a stellar career at Princeton University, where she graduated in May. From Martinsville, N.J., she attended Bridgewater-Raritan High School and was a member of the Spirit Eagle club team, that attended various USA Field Hockey National Events. As a Tiger, she earned Second Team All-Ivy honors her sophomore year, and First-Team All-Mid-Atlantic Region and Second-Team All-Ivy League honors her junior year. She captained the team in both her junior and senior years, and as a senior, she helped lead the team to the NCAA Semifinals, where they fell to eventual National Champions Delaware. The impressive 2016 run also earned her Longstreth/NFHCA Division I First Team All-American honors, First Team All-Mid-Atlantic Region, First Team All-Ivy League, Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year and a spot on the NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Team.
To add to her personal accolades, Caro has been involved with the Olympic Development Pipeline for a few years having made her way through the ranks of the junior program. She participated in the Futures Program from 2008 to 2013, and was selected to various National Futures Championships, AAU Junior Olympic Games and Junior National Camps before being named to the U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team in 2011. With that squad, she competed in a Canada American Series. Two years later, she was named to the U.S. U-19 Women’s National Team and a year later she participated in the Young Women’s National Championship. From that event, she was selected for the U.S. U-21 Women’s National Team, where she got to compete at the 2016 women’s Junior Pan American Games and secure a second-place finish. That placement earned the squad a spot at the 2016 women’s Hockey Junior World Cup in Santiago, Chile, where they finished eighth, but an unfortunate injury forced Caro to return home early.
“It truly is a dream come true to be named to the senior women’s national team and be given the chance to play under such an incredible coaching staff and alongside such amazing women,” said Caro. “Wearing red, white and blue and singing the national anthem at the junior level was beyond surreal, so I am so thankful to have the opportunity to do that at the senior level.”
“Cat is a versatile player that I have known a bit longer, a successful start at the Junior World Cup came to an early end last year when she got injured in the game versus Korea,” added Schopman. “She showed me the last few weeks that she is a smart player who is aware of what is needed on and off the field and I hope she will continue her growth for the better of herself and our team.”
Caro would like to thank Janneke, Phil and the rest of the USWNT coaching staff for giving her this opportunity. She’d also like to thank her family for all their love and support on and off the field. Lastly, she’d like to thank all her former Princeton, Bridgewater and Spirit Eagles coaches and teammates who helped her become the player she is today.
USFHA media release
Hockeyroos plot upset of The Netherlands in International Festival of Hockey in Melbourne
GILBERT GARDINER
HOCKEYROOS goalkeeper Rachael Lynch says the “reasonably young” national team can upset The Netherlands, the benchmark for women’s hockey, in Melbourne.
The all-conquering Dutch will use the International Festival of Hockey as a tune-up for the Hockey World League Final in Auckland, New Zealand later this month.
Lynch, 31, who grew up in Warrandyte, has represented Australia for the past 11 years but never played in front of her home crowd.
“I always know when we play the Dutch I’m going to be busy,” Lynch told the Herald Sun.
“It’s never an easy game but it’s such a great challenge.
“I don’t remember the last time we beat them, it’s been quite a while and to do that in Melbourne would be pretty special with the group that we’ve got.”
The Dutch, USA and Japan stand between the Hockeyroos and Sunday’s gold-medal game, while the Kookaburras, the men’s national team, will face New Zealand, Pakistan and Japan during the six-day festival of hockey, which started in Bendigo last Sunday.
The round-robin event is crucial in Hockeyroos planning for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April.
“It’s a reasonably young team but we’re also looking towards Commonwealth Games and world cup next year,” Lynch said.
“It’s an opportunity to get some experience together and play against top sides.
“We want to win this tournament, it’s at home, it’s important for our progress and … there’s nothing more powerful than a win as far as confidence goes leading into a big event next year.”
Herald Sun
Pakistan to play in Melbourne Tournament
By Shahid Khan
The Pakistan hockey team will have a rare opportunity to participate at an invitational tournament when they play at the Festival of Hockey in Melbourne from 8th -12 November.
In addition to the hosts Australia ranked number two in the world, Greenshirts will also take on New Zealand (8th) and Japan (17th) as they continue to build towards playing in next year’s World Cup in India.
Record four times World Cup holders Pakistan failed to qualify for the last World Cup and also did not in feature Rio Olympics and have had difficulty getting international opposition in recent times.
With foreign teams unwilling to travel to Pakistan citing security reasons and also being overlooked by organisers of other friendly tournaments abroad such as Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia, the south Australian tournament will give a welcome international exposure to the team which will include five debutants.
Seven players, who were part of the 18-member national squad which competed in the recently-held Asia Cup in Dhaka, have been dropped including experienced players Rizwan Senior, Rashid Mahmood and goalkeeper Mazhar Abbas.
In their opening fixture Greenshirts will take on Australia who are coming off a series victory against New Zealand (2-0) last weekend. Their coach Colin Batch, despite missing key players wants Kookaburras to ‘perform consistently and looking forward to playing Pakistan and Japan who play with different styles’.
Japan will be Pakistan’s opponents on the 2nd day, the teams settled for 2-2 draw in their encounter at the Asia Cup where Pakistan secured bronze medal whilst their opponents ended fifth.
Greenshirts final opponents in the round robin stage will be New Zealand against whom Pakistan registered a 2-1 series victory in a five match test series in New Zealand earlier in the year. The Black Sticks will be hoping to turn tables around having had a disappointing year themselves, finish 6th at the world league semi-finals thus missing next month’s world league finals.
Fixtures at Festival of Hockey in Melbourne
Wednesday 8 November 2017
New Zealand v Japan, Australia v Pakistan
Thursday 9 November 2017
Pakistan v Japan, Australia v New Zealand
Saturday 11 November 2017
New Zealand v Pakistan, Australia v Japan
Sunday 12 November 2017
bronze medal play off Gold medal playoff
Fieldhockey.com exclusive
Shahbaz sees Pakistan in Int’l Hockey Festival final
ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary Shahbaz Ahmed Senior believes national team will reach in the final of the International Hockey Festival to take place in Melbourne, Australia from November 8 to 12.
Shahbaz said Pakistan squad is a blend of young and experienced players and hopefully the team will do extremely well in the mega event. “Pakistan, hosts Australia, New Zealand and Japan will be competing in the men's event,” he said. M Irfan Sr will lead the team while Umar Bhutta will be his deputy.
The team includes Amjad Ali, Irfan, Abubakr Mahmood, Atif Mushtaq, Hassan Anwar, Ammad Shakeel Butt, Tassawar Abbas, Rizwan Junior, Arslan Qadir, Shajeeh Ahmed, Shan Irshad, Umar Bhutta, Atiq Arshad, Ajaz Ahmed, Bilal Qadir and Khizer Akhtar.
The five players, who have won selection for the national side, are Khizer Akhtar (Tando Jam, district Hyderabad), Shajeeh Ahmed (Sargodha), Hassan Anwar (Faisalabad), Bilal Qadir (Pir Mahal, district Toba Tek Singh) and Shan Irshad (Sheikhupura).
The Nation
Fox Sports To Televise International Festival Of Hockey
Ben Somerford
In great news for hockey supporters, Fox Sports will televise all matches at the International Festival of Hockey in Melbourne this week.
Fox Sports will broadcast Wednesday and Thursday’s games live on their 507 and 506 channels respectively.
Among that line-up of games is the eagerly anticipated match between the Hockeyroos and world number one Netherlands on Wednesday night from 7.30pm AEDT.
Saturday’s Hockeyroos-Japan game (5pm AEDT) will be televised live on 506 as well.
Not all matches on the weekend will be televised, but these matches will be available through Fox Sports’ digital assets including their website and app.
All matches will be available live via Epicentre.tv worldwide excluding Australia, NZ and USA where rights are in place.
Hockey Australia media release
Great Britain announce squad for Germany tour
GB celebrate a goal against Australia
Great Britain have announced their squad which will travel to Germany for three Test matches.
Coach Bobby Crutchley has named 24 athletes who will travel to Mannheim to contest the three matches between the 13 and 16 November.
Last time out Great Britain were gold medal winners at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia beating Australia in the final in May.
One of Great Britain's three captains, Ian Sloan, will miss the trip through injury as will Jonty Griffiths and Michael Hoare.
Full squad:
1. James Albery (Beeston)
2. David Ames (Holcombe)
3. Liam Ansell (East Grinstead)
4. Tom Carson (Reading)
5. David Condon (East Grinstead)
6. Brendan Creed (Surbiton)
7. Adam Dixon (Beeston)
8. Alan Forsyth (Surbiton)
9. James Gall (Surbiton)
10. Harry Gibson (GK) (Surbiton)
11. Mark Gleghorne (Beeston)
12. David Goodfield (Surbiton)
13. Chris Grassick (Surbiton)
14. Chris Griffiths (East Grinstead)
15. Ed Horler (Wimbledon)
16. Harry Martin (Hampstead and Westminster)
17. Barry Middleton (Holcombe)
18. George Pinner (GK) (C) (Holcombe)
19. Phil Roper (C) (Wimbledon)
20. Liam Sanford (Reading)
21. Luke Taylor (Surbiton)
22. Sam Ward (Beeston)
23. Henry Weir (Wimbledon)
24. Ollie Willars (Beeston)
Fixtures:
13 November - Germany 6pm
14 November - Germany 6pm
16 November - Germany 10am
England Hockey Board Media release
Asia Cup winning women's hockey team to get Rs 1 lakh each
NEW DELHI: Hockey India on Monday announced a cash award of Rs 1 lakh each to the 18-member squad which won the Asia Cup in Kakamigahara, Japan.
India pipped China 5-4 in shootout in the final on Sunday, securing a World Cup berth in the process.
Coach Harendra Singh will also get Rs 1 lakh and members of the support staff Rs 50,000 each.
India last won the Women's Asia Cup in 2004 when the event took place in New Delhi.
The team remained unbeaten in the tournament, scoring 28 goals and conceding five.
"This is truly a commendable achievement by the Indian team, bringing back the Asia Cup after 13 years. They have shown great spirit and determination to win this tournament and have rightfully qualified for the World Cup next year as Continental Champions," said Mushtaque Ahmad, Hockey India secretary general.
The Times of India
Girl power: on the Women's Asia Cup hockey win
The women’s hockey team presents the best reason for enhanced support, by winning
India may have won the final of the women’s Asia Cup hockey tournament against China in a penalty shootout, but it was a fully deserving victory. Throughout their campaign in Japan, team members played out of their skin to register the win, which has secured them a spot in next year’s World Cup emphatically on merit, not as wild-card entrants. The triumph came against formidable hurdles, and in the absence of any expectations. Indian women were never the favourites, going into the tournament ranked 12th in the world and fourth in Asia — behind World No. 8 China, Korea and Japan. Incidentally, India defeated defending champion Japan in the semi-finals. This happened despite a degree of pre-tournament disarray. The team lost its second coach in the space of a year, and Harendra Singh came to the assignment just a month before the Asia Cup, that too with no previous experience of having worked with a women’s hockey team. The team had other issues to grapple with as well; the fitness and skill levels had slipped. The lack of expectations, sadly, was clear from the fact that there was no live telecast, not even online streaming. Such live updates as there were came via social media.
The hockey federations must heed this victory and use this occasion to considerably scale up support to the women’s game. The insistence on appointing foreign coaches, despite the clear discomfort and disconnect among the women in matters of communication, has unnecessarily cost India too much time. The inadequate competitive exposure made available for the team was unfortunate. Unlike the men, women players start early; some in the senior team are as young as 16. Their careers often end early. That the women, most of them in their early 20s, still continue to go out and give their best is a testament to their dedication. Railways remains the biggest provider of employment — but goalkeeper Savita Punia, the star of the final, and a veteran of over 100 matches and perhaps Asia’s best, is yet to get a job. Harendra Singh has his work cut out too. He has a reputation for being obsessed with results. He is a disciplinarian who has the ability to coax the best from his players, lead from the front and put in the hard yards. In fact, it is a reflection of the team’s hard work, dedication, discipline and focus on the game that someone who is regarded as the most difficult Indian coach to work with is already in awe of his players. The road ahead is arduous, and 2018 will be crucial for the women and men, with the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games as well as an Olympic spot to be secured through the Asian Games. Captain Rani Rampal’s girls have shown they can do it.
The Hindu
Zambia Hockey Association penalized
The Zambia Hockey Association has been fined for failing to travel to Egypt for the African Hockey championship last month.
Spokesperson Elly Van Der Vinne says the association is still waiting to hear from the African Hockey Federation on what other action will be taken.
Van Der Vinne says the association failed to take both the women’s and the men’s team to the Africa cup due to lack of resources.
She says the tournament was initially supposed to be held in South Africa but was moved to Egypt pushing the association’s budget further.
Van Der Vinne was speaking in a telephone interview with ZNBC News in Lusaka .
ZNBC
Grange and Clydesdale win U18 Club Cup finals
Scottish under 18 cup winners Grange – photo by Duncan Gray
Grange boys and Clydesdale Western girls won the U18 Club Cup at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.
The day started with the first of the placing games for positions 4th to 6th in the boys’ competition. The sun graced the pitch just in time to get play underway after a frosty morning in Glasgow. The pool was set to be a well contested one after day 1 of competition. Uddingston drew first blood with a goal from Ben Carroll after nine minutes. Watsonians were not deterred with a reply within seven minutes through Conal Milligan. Both goal keepers deserve recognition as both pulled of some great saves to deny their opponents. The game ended splitting the points.
Grove Menzieshill started their day securing three points over Inverleith, Sam Carrotte and Captain Jamie Golden converting.
In Watsonians boys’ second game of the day Fraser Heigh fired the team in front within five minutes after being awarded a penalty stroke. The Western Wildcats reply came from Roshan Anderson. In the Second half Wildcats turned the screw and converted 3 goals without reply.
In the battle for 1st place the first game in the pool was Perthshire taking on Clydesdale. Perthshire took the lead via a penalty corner just before half time. They extended their lead with a great open play goal from the captain John Stephen. Clydesdale managed to pull a goal back a minute later through Matthew Lonergran but his side couldn’t beat the Perthshire keeper again, leaving the score 2-1 for the Midland based side.
Aberdeen Grammar’s first match of the day was against Inverleith. The Edinburgh side made the advance with three goals. Three minutes from time Grammar managed to pull a goal back through Nicolas McCormack. A minute later another goal came for Grammar Rennie Ewan making the final 2 minutes a little “on edge” for the Edinburgh Side. Grammar pushed for another but Inverleith’s defence stood strong.
Photo by Mark Pugh
Western Wildcats and Uddingston faced off in their final match in the competition. Western took the first chance of the match through Rory McDiarmid. An early penalty corner in the second half extended the Wildcats lead. Uddingston converted through Barry Platt to bring the game back to 2-1. Fraser Moran and the cats responded within a minute to kill off the game and take 4th place.
Grange played their first game of the day against Clydesdale. Grange scored within two minutes through Robbie Croll from a penalty corner. They added a second to their tally in the first half. In the second half Grange extended the lead with a brace from Jamie Rintoul.
In the final matches for the lower placings, Aberdeen Grammar played Grove Menzieshill. A hat-trick from Jamie Golden, one penalty stroke and two penalty corner conversions, and goals from Dale Shearer, Sam Carrotte and Samuel Knight made the final score 6-0 for Grove Menzieshill.
In the last game of the day in the boys’ competition Perthshire played off against Grange, this match deciding first and second place. Grange took the lead early on from a rebound after a penalty corner was saved by Perthshire’s keeper in the first instance. The second of Grange’s goals came from open play by Jamie Rintoul. Perthshire replied with a goal early in the second, but grange stretched the game once more to gain the title.
Scottish under 18 cup winners Clydesdale Western – photo by Duncan Gray
In the Girls competition, the 5th and 6th placing match was between Granite City Wanderers and Uddingston. The Aberdeenshire side went ahead within eight minutes, Hannah Lowrie getting the final touch beyond the keeper. In the final minute of the first half Wanderers won a penalty corner and converted to take them into half time with a two-goal lead. In the second half Uddingston could not get the ball to fall for them, troubling the Wanderers keeper only a couple of times. Two more goals sealed the win for Wanderers to finish 5th in the girls’ competition.
In the first semi-final for the girls, Clydesdale Western took on Inverleith. Clydesdale went in as favourites being last year’s champions. The two teams challenged each other across the pitch, Clydesdale drew first blood through Sarah Lonergran with a great deflection in front of the keeper. Clydesdale extended their lead 4 minutes later. The final goal of the game came from Margery Justice with a flick passed the keeper sealing a chance to retain the title. In the second semi-final Fjordhus Reivers took on Watsonians. Lucy Hogarth scored in the thirty fifth minute to take the Final spot for Watsonians.
Photo by Mark Pugh
In the girls’ final Clydesdale looked to retain their title playing Watsonians. Margery Justice led the charge but the Watsonians reply was swift. Clydesdale extended to two goals to one in the first half. In the Second Western moved further ahead with a goal a brace goal for Justice. The title staying in Glasgow.
Scottish Hockey Union media release
Maryland field hockey’s Sabrina Rhodes capitalized on a rare opportunity vs. Penn State
By Scott Gelman
Forward Sabrina Rhodes attempts to keep the ball away from two defenders in Maryland's 2-1 win against Penn State on Oct. 15, 2017. (Marquise McKine/The Diamondback)
After Maryland field hockey practice, forward Sabrina Rhodes occasionally asks defender Carrie Hanks to pass balls to her in the circle so she can practice shooting. Rhodes traps the ball and takes shots, helping improve her quickness.
That repetition proved valuable in Maryland's Big Ten tournament loss to Penn State on Friday in East Lansing, Michigan. Rhodes possessed the ball after Penn State blocked Maryland's initial shot. She didn't hesitate and scored for just the second time this season.
The Terps are confident Rhodes will establish herself as a presence on the field as Maryland begins its NCAA tournament run Saturday against Wake Forest.
"For her to be able to pick up a rebound like that and get a shot away, we were really excited for her," Hanks said. "That's something she's been trying to hone in on."
A penalty corner in the 15th minute of Maryland's 3-2 loss set up Rhodes' shot opportunity. Midfielder Lein Holsboer drove toward the net, but Penn State back Bes Bovelander got her stick on the ball to prevent a score. Holsboer was positioned to take a second shot, but instead she escaped the crowded offensive zone to make room for Rhodes.
Then, with the ball still feet in front of the net, Rhodes sent the ball into the lower-right corner of the net with a backhanded stroke. The goal tied the game at one about 10 minutes after the Nittany Lions scored the contest's first goal.
It was Rhodes' first score since Aug. 27, when she scored the go-ahead goal in the Terps' 2-1 season-opening win against Saint Joseph's.
Since arriving in College Park, Rhodes has started five games but appeared in all but one. She's recorded two assists, unable to match her production with the national champion Blue Hens last season, when she scored three times.
But Holsboer admires how often Rhodes practices shots from different angles.
"Her backhand is amazing," Holsboer said. "She wants to learn a lot and always wants to do better. Having that energy around is helpful."
Rhodes, who alternated between the forward and back lines early in the year after serving as a midfielder at Delaware, initially had an unclear role. Now, Meharg prefers to keep the 5-foot-10 Rhodes alongside the other forwards.
The payoff hasn't been evident in terms of goals, but Rhodes' athleticism has enabled her to use her long stride to pass opposing defenders, Holsboer said. After attempting just 12 shots entering Friday's matchup, though, Rhodes capitalized on an early opportunity.
"She's really stepping up," Holsboer said.
The Diamondback
Sindh CM approves Rs100m grant for Pakistan Hockey Federation
Habib Khan Ghori
KARACHI: While approving a Rs100 million recurring grant for the Pakistan Hockey Federation to promote the game across the province, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murah Ali Shah on Monday announced to revamp the Abdul Sattar Edhi Hockey Stadium.
The chief minister said this while talking to a PHF delegation led by its president retired Brig Khalid Sajjad Khokhar who called on him here at the CM House.
Those who were present in the meeting included PHF vice-president Tariq Huda, secretary Shahbaz Ahmed Senior, Principal Secretary to CM Sohail Rajput, Finance Secretary Hassan Naqvi, Sports Secretary Chief Engineer of Karachi Cantonment Board Zohaib Mujahid Bukhari and Chief Engineer Sports Department Aslam Maher.
The chief minister expressed his keenness to revive field hockey, once Pakistan’s source of glory in international sports arena.
Abdul Sattar Edhi Hockey Stadium to be renovated
“I would extend you all-out support — whatever you need — but [on your part] you have to activate the clubs across the province, and start international hockey in the [Karachi] city,” the CM told the PHF delegation.
“There should be bylaws of the clubs to be governed by the PHF. If clubs are run on professional lines we will be able to develop world-class players. The game of hockey, like cricket, needs to be made commercial. [In this regard] I would help and support you,” the CM assured the federation.
Speaking on the occasion, the PHF president said the federation has been facing financial problems while regretting the dilapidated condition of the Abdul Sattar Edhi Hockey Stadium — previously Hockey Club of Pakistan — which over the years has hosted world’s top hockey events.
“The PHF needs a substantial annual grant to continue its operation across the Sindh province,” Khalid said.
While approving the Rs100 million annual grant to the PHF, the chief minister directed the finance secretary to release Rs3.5 million within three days and also assured the PHF chief that the provincial government would also revamp the Abdul Sattar Edhi Hockey Stadium.
In this regard, the CM directed the chief engineer sports to start the survey of the stadium.
It was also decided during the meeting that an international hockey event would be organised in Karachi on Jan 10, 2018 featuring international players from the Hall of Fame.
Dawn