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All the news for Friday 18 October 2019

3 Nations Invitational : IRL v BEL v KOR (W)
Abbottstown (IRL)

RESULTS

14 Oct 2019     BEL v KOR (RR)     2 - 0
16 Oct 2019     IRL v BEL (RR)     2 - 4
17 Oct 2019    IRL v KOR (RR)     0 - 1

FIH Match Centre

2019 Sultan of Johor Cup
Johor Bahru (MAS)

Fixtures

18 Oct 2019 16:10     GBR v IND (RR) (Click here to watch the LIVE stream)
18 Oct 2019 18:10     MAS v JPN (RR) (Click here to watch the LIVE stream)
18 Oct 2019 20:40     AUS v NZL (RR) (Click here to watch the LIVE stream)

19 Oct 2019 15:40     5th RR v 6th RR (5/6th Placing) (Click here to watch the LIVE stream)
19 Oct 2019 18:10     3rd RR v 4th RR (3/4th Placing) (Click here to watch the LIVE stream)
19 Oct 2019 20:40     1st RR v 2nd RR (Final) (Click here to watch the LIVE stream)

Pool standings

FIH Match Centre

GB U21 Men need a point against India to reach Sultan of Johor Cup final



GB U21 Men play India tomorrow and a point from the match will guarantee a place in the Sultan of Johor Cup final in Malaysia. GB is defending its title after lifting the trophy in last year’s tournament.

Scotland’s Jamie Golden; Andrew McConnell and Callum MacKenzie have played a big part in the tournament for GB with four games played so far.


Photo by PMF Images

The tournament got off to a great start for GB with a 2-0 victory over New Zealand thanks to decisive goals from Thomas Russell and James Oates.

It was followed by a 2-1 win over Japan in their second outing thanks to goals from Ioan Wall and Nicholas Park.

Scotland’s Jamie Golden scored the only goal in a 1-0 success over Australia in a hard-fought game three of the tournament for GB. GB took the lead with just over five minutes on the clock with a beautifully constructed goal. Nicholas Park played the ball across the face of goal to the unmarked Golden who stroked the ball in on the reverse stick with an accomplished finish.

In their last outing GB lost 1-0 to Malaysia. The defending champions lost their 100% record in the tournament thanks to a goal from Muhibddin Moharam.

They dominated much of the game but found it difficult to break down a Malaysian defence determined to make up for a heavy loss to New Zealand the day before.

The result means GB currently sit second in the group needing a point in their final game against India on Friday to ensure they are still in with a chance of retaining their title.


Photo by PMF Images

Scottish Hockey Union media release

Reid happy with team’s consistency in lead-up to Olympic Qualifiers


Graham Reid, chief coach of the Indian men’s Hockey team. File   | Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar

Chief Coach Graham Reid is impressed with Indian hockey team’s all-round growth and wants his players to play at the highest level while tackling Russia in the upcoming FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers.

The Indian team won the FIH Men’s Series Finals Bhubaneswar in June and followed that with victory in the Tokyo Olympics test event in August.

The team remained unbeaten on its recent Belgium tour, where it won all five matches against the world champions hosts and world number eight Spain.

Reid said he had a lot “good takeaways” from the Belgium tour.

“Our GPS numbers were great, which means that the running, effort, speed and intensity was actually even higher than last year’s World Cup. So they were very good numbers for us to see, and for the players to understand that to play at that level, you need to be achieving those consistently,” said Reid.

“Another part was the consistency of our performances against Belgium and Spain, and it was good to see that we kept building momentum as the tour progressed.”

Reid said they have almost completed the “debriefing” the Belgium tour

“There were things like good pressure on the ball, good structure and those things were quite evident when we went back to see how we played in Belgium. We’ve had a good week here in Bhubaneswar to determine what were the outcomes from that preparatory tour, and now is the time to continue working in that direction,” said Reid.

Reid, who took over as the chief coach in April 2019, said while taking on Russia in the the FIFA Qualifiers on November 1 and 2, his wards will be focused on doing the right things.

“There is always the concern about playing a team like Russia and it is, that they hold the ball very well, they like to be in possession. Trying to get the ball off them is always difficult, so that is something we need to keep an eye on, and make sure that our tackling, interception, and pressing skills are at the highest level.

“We want to make sure that we are playing at our best, and there will be no complacency. It does not matter who we play, we will approach the game in the same manner, that is, in a professional and respectful way.”

The Hindu

Black Sticks Men name side for winner takes all Tokyo qualification series



Darren Smith has named his strongest side possible to contest the winner takes all Olympic Qualification event in Stratford starting on November 2nd where the New Zealand Men will take on the World Number 16 ranked Korea.

Vantage Black Sticks Men’s Coach Darren Smith commented on the teams' preparation “It was a very valuable 9 days together playing Japan at the venue of the Olympic Qualifier. Japan proved to be tough opponents and to get the opportunity to match up against a quick/aggressive team was ideal preparation”.

On the challenges that the selection of the squad Smith said “The selection was tough with some players who have vast experience missing out. Once we analysed the Pro League, Olympic Test Event, Oceania Cup and the recent series we feel that this is the best 18 that can perform against Korea in two weeks’ time”

"Steve Edwards, Leon Hayward Simon Child and Dylan Thomas who were added to the team following the Oceania Cup have all been selected for the Korea series. Especially pleasing was Simon and Steve who return after long absences to get stronger and stronger through the four games against Japan”

“Over the next two weeks, we will see fixtures throughout the world where teams will be matching up for Qualification. With this comes pressure and how we manage the moments in the game and deal with the times of consequence that will come our way will decide who will be in the starting blocks at Tokyo. We need to be prepared and ready to win those moments."

The side will now turn their attention to the Koreans “They have been preparing for these games for over a year. Returning to their squad is a number of players who are proven internationals and over 2019 they have had success at the Azlan Shah, World Series and in their test series that they have played. This is a dangerous team who will be highly motivated to get the Olympic ticket but so are we.

Kane Russell has been in outstanding form in 2019 for the New Zealand side. Russell has played in 20 matches this year and scored 10 goals. Not only has Russell been in impressive form with his drag flicks, his play at right half has been electric for the side as he has been putting opposition defences under a lot of pressure with his great acceleration and stick skills. 

Since the start of August, the Vantage Black Sticks Men have been in great form having a record of 6 wins, 4 losses and a draw. The New Zealand side has been playing with more confidence and aggression on the attacking end of the field and this has been reflected in some outstanding results against some quality opposition.

New Zealand and Korea haven’t met since 2016 where New Zealand would go on to win their four-match test series 2-0. Stephen Jenness would go onto finish that series as the leading goal scorer with four goals for the series. Eight of the Black Sticks squad from the 2016 series return and will be counting on that experience to help them against a Korean side who is incredibly dangerous.

Jihun Yang is a great penalty corner flicker and is no stranger to scoring against the New Zealand team. In the four matches that yang has played the New Zealand side, he has managed to find the back of the net four times. Look for the New Zealand penalty corner runners to shut down his flicking lanes and attempting to nullify his opportunities.

FIH Olympic Qualification Series - Vantage Black Sticks Men vs Korea – 2nd and 3rd November.

Hockey New Zealand Media release

Oltmans takes 'insurance' on Malaysian team

By Jugjet Singh



NATIONAL coach Roelant Oltmans clearly believes in “safety in numbers”.

He has named 20 players, including two as “insurance” against injuries, as Malaysia head to Amsterdam on Sunday ahead of their Olympic Qualifier against Britain next month.

World No 11 Malaysia will play two friendlies in Amsterdam and Dutchman Oltmans will decide on the final 18 a few days before they take on World No 7 Britain in the Nov 2 and 3 qualifier against Britain at the Lee Valley Stadium in London.

The winner of the two-legged tie will advance to next year’s Tokyo Olympics.

In Amsterdam, Oltmans’ men will play two matches — against Gazellen-Combinatie (Oct 26) and HC Bloemendaal (Oct 27).

They will leave for London on Oct 28.

“We have done everything possible to qualify for the Olympics (for the past year), but there is still no guarantee that we will qualify.

“Britain will surely start as favourites but still, we have done everything possible to prepare our team.

“We believe in the ‘extra’ ability of every player in the team to shine on the two match days,” said Oltmans.

MALAYSIAN SQUAD —

Goalkeepers: S. Kumar, Zaimi Mat Deris; Defenders: Shukri Mutalib (capt), Faiz Helmi Jali, Najib Abu Hassan, Razie Rahim, Syed Safiq Syed Cholan;

Midfielders: Nabil Fiqri, Marhan Jalil, Ashran Hamsani, Joel Samuel van Huizen, Fitri Saari, Azrai Aizad, Meor Azuan Hasan, Nik Aiman Nik Rozemi;

Forwards: Shahril Saabah, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin, Noor Firdaus Rosdi, Faizal Saari, Nor Syafiq Sumantri.

New Straits Times

Please have some faith in us, says national skipper Sukri

By AFTAR SINGH

KUALA LUMPUR: Have faith in the team and don’t write us off.

National hockey skipper Mohd Sukri Abdul Mutalib made this plea during the press conference at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

Malaysia will face Britain in two playoff matches in London, Nov 2 and 3, to win a spot at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The Speedy Tigers, ranked 11th in the world, have not beaten world No. 7 Britain in their backyard in the last decade and hockey enthusiasts have written off their chances.

Sukri, who has worn the captain’s armband since 2016, said that they are adamant to prove them wrong.

“My teammates and I are focused on just one thing... to achieve the impossible, ” said Sukri.

“We managed to hold England to a 3-3 draw in Barcelona (August) before going on to win the four-nation tournament.

“Britain are made of players from England, Wales and Scotland and they play a similar style.

“I’m confident we can spring a bigger surprise this time, ” added Sukri, who is the most experienced in the team with 349 caps.

Sukri added that as captain, this will be his toughest assignment as a place in the Olympics is at stake.

“But I’m ready for the challenge as I believe nothing is impossible if you put your heart and soul into the game.

“When we played in the World League Semi-finals in London in 2017, no one believed that we could qualify for the World Cup (in Bubaneswar, India, in 2018) but we did.

“We can repeat the feat... have faith in us, ” added Sukri.

Malaysia will depart for Amsterdam on Sunday to play two matches against club sides – HOC Gazellen-Combinatie and HC Bloemendaal – on Oct 26 and 27 respectively to get familiarised with the chilly conditions in London.

Coach Roelant Oltmans have named a 20-man squad for the two matches and will drop two players before the playoffs.

THE SQUAD

Goalkeepers: S. Kumar, Mohd Zaimi Mat Deris

Defenders: Mohd Sukri Abdul Mutalib, Faiz Helmi Jali, Mohd Najib Abu Hassan, Mohd Razie Abdul Rahim, Syed Mohd Syafiq Syed Cholan

Midfielders: Nabil Fiqri Mohd Noor, Mohd Marhan Mohd Jalil, Mohd Ashran Hamsani, Joel van Huizen, Mohd Fitri Saari, Muhd Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal, Meor Mohd Azuan Hasan, Nik Muhd Aiman Nik Rozemi

Forwards: Mohd Shahril Saabah, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin Tengku Abdul Jalil, Mohd Noor Firdaus Rosdi, Faizal Saari, Nor Syafiq Sumantri.

The Star of Malaysia

Massive interest in hosting next FIH Men’s and Women’s World Cups



Lausanne, Switzerland: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has received no less than eight bidding dossiers, from three different continents, to host the next edition of the FIH Men’s and/or Women’s World Cups.

The bids received are as follows:

For the preferred time window 1-17 July 2022:

-        Germany: Women’s World Cup
-        Spain: Women’s World Cup
-        Spain/Netherlands: Women’s World Cup
-        Belgium: Men’s World Cup
-        Malaysia: Men’s World Cup

For the preferred time window 13-29 January 2023:

-        India: Men’s World Cup
-        Malaysia: Women’s World Cup
-        New Zealand: Women’s World Cup



FIH CEO Thierry Weil said: “It’s great to see that so many national associations and countries want to host our quadrennial flagship events. This is encouraging for the further growth of our sport.”

An FIH Task Force will meet on 6 November to thoroughly examine all bids and make a recommendation to the Executive Board (EB). The EB will make the final decision on both events’ hosts on 8 November 2019 during their next meeting in Lausanne.

FIH site

India withdraws bid to host women’s World Cup

India, which had initially showed interest in hosting either men's or women's world cup, has now presented its bid only to host the men's tournament.

Uthra Ganesan


India, which has hosted the men's World Cup thrice, wants to conduct the event in the January 13 to 29, 2023 window.   -  Hockey Indian Twitter

Hockey India has withdrawn its application to host the next women’s World Cup and has bid for the men’s event in 2023. The final decision on hosting rights will be decided by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) on November 8. .

The final list of bidders for both events – to be held in 2022-23 – was announced on Thursday and is vastly different from the original list of national federations who had expressed interest in hosting the quadrennial events. Interestingly, the window for applying and the date for deciding the hosts has also been changed repeatedly citing requests from countries.

The application date was initially extended till January 31, 2019 after the FIH finalised the two windows for hosting the tournaments – July 1-17, 2022 and January 13-29, 2023. Back then, Germany and India were the only two bidders open to hosting either men or women but while Germany preferred the first window, India opted for the second. Belgium and Netherlands were not in the reckoning for either and Australia had expressed desire to host the women’s competition.

Final bids received:

    For July 1-17, 2022
    Men’s World Cup: Belgium and Malaysia
    Women’s World Cup: Germany, Spain and Netherlands
    For January 13-29, 2023:
    Men’s World Cup: India
    Women’s World Cup: Malaysia and New Zealand

A decision was to be taken in June 14 but on June 4, the FIH announced it had postponed the announcement to November following request from several bidding countries “in order to give them more time to finalise the governmental guarantees”.

There was no mention of re-opening bids, though, which remained the same as in February, leading one to assume it was only an administrative issue. However, on September 3, the FIH re-opened the bidding process till the end of the month.

Australia withdrew then, while the rest remained the same. But now, Germany has opted only for the women’s event, as has Spain, with Netherlands joining the battle. Malaysia has jumped in for either gender after initially being interested only in men and is joined by Belgium as a fresh applicant for the men’s event.

An FIH Task Force would meet on November 6 to examine the bids and make a recommendation to the Executive Board which would make the final decision on November 8, 2019. The previous World Cups were held in London (women) and Bhubaneswar (Men) in 2018. India would become the first country to host back-to-back editions of the tournament if it gets the nod.

Sportstar

India presents bid to host men’s Hockey World cup in 2023


FIH CEO Thierry Weil. Photo Credit: Biswaranjan Rout

India is among the three nations who have presented their bids to host the next edition of the men’s World cup, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) said on Thursday.

India, who have hosted the men’s World Cup thrice, wants to conduct the event in the January 13 to 29, 2023 window.

Belgium and Malaysia are the other two nations who have also sent their bidding dossier to conduct the men’s event but they prefer to host the event in the July 1 to 17, 2022 window.

For the Women’s World Cup, five countries have presented their bids, the FIH said in a release.

While Germany, Spain and the Netherlands want to host the event in the July 1 to 17, 2022 window, Malaysia and New Zealand are keen to conduct the tournament in the January 13 to 29, 2023 window.

“It’s great to see that so many national associations and countries want to host our quadrennial flagship events. This is encouraging for the further growth of our sport,” FIH CEO Thierry Weil said.

An FIH Task Force will meet on November 6 to thoroughly examine all bids and make a recommendation to the Executive Board (EB).

The EB will take the final decision on both events’ hosts on 8 November 2019 during their next meeting in Lausanne.

The Hindu

Welch excited to have back issues behind him

Nic Kerber



When Kookaburra Jack Welch eventually looks back on his playing career, it is almost certain that he is going to remember 20 October 2019 as a telling moment in his hockey journey.

This Sunday, six days out from his 22nd birthday, Welch will make his long-awaited return to competitive hockey when he runs out for the Tassie Tigers against the Canberra Chill in the Sultana Bran Hockey One League.

Back on 11 April 2019 in the middle of the Kookaburras’ Pro League campaign, Welch received news after having an MRI scan that he had a stress fracture in his lower back.

That is hard news for anyone to take, let alone a 21 year old representing his country in the sport he loves. So for the past seven months, Welch has learnt the full extent of what it means to be patient. He resigned himself to the fact that being patient was all he could do, as there was no use in wallowing or complaining about it.

“Initially it basically meant a lot of rest,” Welch recalls on the only thing he could do when he was given the prognosis.

Then as the days and weeks went by, he gradually undertook the slow rehabilitation process.

“I started off with doing nothing for a month and then built up to doing a bit of strength work, a bit of slow jogging and then a lot of Pilates,” said Welch.

“A lot of the rehab was about doing certain exercises and a lot of work around Pilates, strengthening those muscles and using correct techniques.

“There was a lot of conditioning in the middle months and it took me about five months until I was able to do any training with the stick and ball, and it has now been seven months.

Adding to challenge of playing the patient game of rehabilitation was that it was the first time Welch had experienced an injury of that extent. As they say, there’s a first time of everything.

“It was definitely tough, considering it was my first major injury and my longest period of time out,” said Welch.

“I guess I didn’t look too far forward, just did what I had to do in the moment. I didn’t want to get caught up thinking about when I’d get back or how long it was going to take.

“The time seemed to go pretty quickly. It was tough having to sit on the sidelines and watch but you just had to deal with it.

But now that is all behind him and after restoring his fitness and being back in full training, excitedly the time has finally arrived.

“It almost felt like a bit of a fresh start…there was a moment where it was pretty good getting back on the stick and ball,” said Welch.

“It has been a long time and I’m ready to go. I’m fresh, I’m ready and I’m excited. It has been a long ride and it’s going to be awesome to get out there.”

“I’m looking forward to the game the most, not for any particular reason, I just love getting out there and competing.

With his back issues behind him and having developed renewed core muscle strength, Welch is thankful and grateful for the attention the Kookaburras physios and medical staff invested in his recovery.

“I definitely had a lot of attention from the physios. They helped a lot, gave me a lot of their time and a lot of guidance in what I needed to be doing,” said Welch.

“I was checking in with them before and after every session, getting rub downs…they put in a lot of work.”

Preparing for his Sultana Bran Hockey One debut on Sunday, Welch’s attention is now on helping his home town side, the Tassie Tigers, secure a spot in the top four.

The Tigers take on Brisbane Blaze tonight before heading to Canberra to face the Chill on Sunday.

“We are close to being full strength. I think we’ve done pretty well so far but we’ve definitely got room for improvement,” said Welch.

“There is a lot of belief in the group so I don’t see any reason we couldn’t have a crack at the title.

“Tasmanian guys are always proud to put on the Tassie colours and represent the state, and I think we do pretty well as one of the smaller states, so we definitely go out there and have a real crack.”

Hockey Australia media release

PREVIEW: Investec Women's Hockey League



After battling to a dramatic 4-4 draw at second-placed Hampstead & Westminster last weekend, East Grinstead host the University of Birmingham this Saturday as they search for their first win of the season in the Investec Women’s Hockey League Premier Division.

Third in the final table last season, East Grinstead have had a tough start to the 2019-20 season with four of their first five matches having been against teams in the top five.

But last weekend’s match at Hampstead showed glimpses of what they are capable of.

“The draw shows we can score goals and play with intensity,” said East Grinstead coach Mary Booth. “However, at 3-0 up we lost momentum and allowed Hampstead & Westminster back in the game.

“We have had a frustrating start to the season. Apart from one game we have played quite well but are very short on points. We have a lot of new players and have lost established ones, so it does take time to embed players into the team.

“The University of Birmingham will come into the game full of confidence having won last weekend. We know three of their players very well as they played at EG last season!

“We will be without our internationals and have a couple of injuries so it will be a very interesting contest.”

Elsewhere leaders Surbiton will be aiming to make it six out of six away to Holcombe, while Hampstead & Westminster will be looking to get back to winning ways after last week’s draw with East Grinstead as they go to Loughborough Students.

Third-placed Buckingham travel to Beeston to take on a side who buoyed by their first win last weekend. The team they beat, Clifton Robinsons, go to Bowdon Hightown.

In the Investec Women’s Division One North, unbeaten leaders the University of Durham travel to second-placed Leicester City in a battle for the early lead.

Meanwhile, Swansea are third and could also go top if they beat visitors Stourport.

There are three unbeaten teams in the Investec Women’s Division One South, and two of them face each other on Saturday with Canterbury going to Reading. Meanwhile, leaders Wimbledon will want to stay top as they go to Harleston Magpies.

* Bowdon Hightown have been deducted the three points gained in their 2-1 defeat of Loughborough Students on 28 September in the Investec Women’s League Premier Division. This is due to the participation in the game of Alex Lukin, who, whilst registered as an EHL player, had played for Bayleys Midlands Hockey in the Ford New Zealand National Hockey League between 19-22 September 2019. This made her ineligible to subsequently participate in the league. Alex has now been re-registered by Bowdon Hightown.

FIXTURES

Investec Women’s Hockey League (Sat, 19 October 2019):

Investec Premier Division
Beeston v Buckingham 12:00
Bowdon Hightown v Clifton Robinsons 13:45
Loughborough Students v Hampstead & Westminster 14:00
East Grinstead v Univ of Birmingham 16:30
Holcombe v Surbiton 16:30

Investec Division 1 North
Olton & West Warwicks v Brooklands-Poynton 12:00
Swansea v Stourport 12:00
Gloucester City v Belper 12:30
Ben Rhydding v Leeds 13:30
Leicester City v Univ of Durham 14:00

Investec Division 1 South
Trojans v Isca 12:00
Slough v Sevenoaks 12:15
Harleston Magpies v Wimbledon 13:30
Reading v Canterbury 13:30
Cambridge City v St Albans 14:30

Investec Conference East
Barnes v Chelmsford 12:00
Canterbury v Bromley & Beckenham 14:00
Horsham v Southgate 14:00
Wimbledon v Ipswich 14:00
Broxbourne v Bedford 14:30

Investec Conference North
Univ of Nottingham v Wakefield 13:00
Fylde v Timperley 13:30
Alderley Edge v Sutton Coldfield 14:00
Beeston v Doncaster 14:00
Cannock v Pendle Forest 14:00

Investec Conference West
Exe v Oxford Hawks 12:00
Cheltenham v Surbiton 12:30
Oxford University v Basingstoke 13:15
Univ of Bristol v Team Bath Buccaneers 13:15
Clifton Robinsons v Univ of Birmingham 15:00

England Hockey Board Media release

Scottish Premiership pole position up for grabs



Pole position in the Premierships are up for grabs this weekend; in the women`s the winner of the clash between unbeaten Dundee Wanderers and Clydesdale Western will occupy that lofty spot, while Grange could take over at the top of the men`s if they beat Wanderers on Saturday and then Uddingston the following day in a catch-up fixture.

Wanderers and Clydesdale may have opened up a three point lead at the top – the former are just ahead on goal difference – but they have taken somewhat different routes.

The Taysiders have played mostly sides from the lower echelons of the division, only third placed Watsonians have caused them any anxiety. There Iain Strachan`s charges emerged with a single goal victory, courtesy of a strike from Vikki Bunce.

A fact acknowledged by Strachan after last weekend`s six goal win over Gordonians. “I`ve not much to add on today`s game, it`s all a prelude to the next few weeks’ big games ahead.”

Strachan is aware that Clydesdale come to Tayside on the back of some impressive victories, especially over Western Wildcats and champions Edinburgh University last weekend.

Wanderers have some class players able to find the net against the tightest of defences – the likes of Bunce, Emily Dark, Lucy Williamson and Charlotte Watson to name but a few.

But the Clydesdale defence has been particularly stingy this season, conceding only two goals in four league games so far. Also impressive was the almost total dominance the Titwood-based side extended over last weekend`s 3-1 victory over champions Edinburgh University, in fact the two-goal gap could have been even greater.

Ironically Clydesdale succumbed to the students in last Sunday`s Scottish Cup tie, losing 2-0, so perhaps there is vulnerability there.

Whatever the outcome on Tayside, both Watsonians and Western Wildcats will be waiting to pick up the scraps. The Edinburgh side have slipped into third spot on the back of victories over Edinburgh University, Glasgow University and Grove Menzieshill. Keith Smith`s squad will be aiming to maintain the pressure with three points away to GHK.

Although Western Wildcats are six points behind, they have a game in hand. On Saturday they travel to Peffermill to take on the wounded champions and then entertain GHK the following day at Auchenhowie.

Western Wildcats tasted their only reversal at the hands of Clydesdale a couple of weeks ago, but are more than capable of putting a further dent into Edinburgh`s drive to retain their league title – witness their single goal victory over the students in last season`s European Qualifier semi-final.

In the other fixtures Grove Menzieshill will hope to kick-start their campaign with a home win over bottom side Merlins Gordonians. Finally, after their first three points with a win over Grove Menzieshill last weekend, Hillhead might hope to progress further from the bottom rungs with a follow-up victory at Glasgow University.

The new regime under Vishal Marwaha has taken Western Wildcats to the top of the Premiership after four games – a position they have not occupied for some time.

However, the real pressure is perhaps yet to come as they face the sides nearer the top of the division. Saturday`s away fixture against fourth-placed Edinburgh University could test Western Wildcats` resolve, especially with the absence of the influential Andrew McConnell on GB under-21 duty in Malaysia.

After losing their opening match to Watsonians, the Edinburgh students have put three wins in a row together, although coach Graham Moodie has not always been satisfied with his squad`s performance on the pitch. For example, it took a belated strike by Jack Jamieson to secure a 5-4 win over Wanderers on Tayside, and Moodie observed that “we got out of jail.”

If Western Wildcats are to be serious challengers for honours this season, this is perhaps the sort of tricky fixture they must take the three points from.

Whatever the Wildcats outcome, Grange could resume pole position with six points from this weekend`s double-header – and both games are at home against Wanderers and Uddingston, that would give the champions a two-point cushion.

For the last couple of years Uddingston have taken on the mantle of upsetting title aspirants with surprise draws or even victories, especially at Bothwell Castle Policies. They did it again last Saturday with a 4-3 victory over Grove Menzieshill.

Perhaps the upset was on the cards, the Dundonians had struggled to overcome the resistance of Watsonians at home the previous week.

However, Grove Menzieshill coach Neil Allan will be anxious to steady the ship with a home victory over Clydesdale. That might not be so easy as the Titwood outfit have arguably played better than their results have shown so far.

Also there could be some movement in the lower echelons of the table, after playing the top three top sides Kelburne will believe they have the chance to move up with a double header against Watsonians and Dundee Wanderers over the weekend.

So also Hillhead and Uddingston who clash on Saturday – this is frequently a fixture not easy to predict.  The former showed a bit of grit with a 4-3 win at Watsonians last weekend that moved them up to seventh in the table.

Scottish Hockey Union media release

Weekend College Games



USA Field Hockey's weekly feature of highlighting some of the top college games in Division I, II and III is here for the 2019 season.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17



DII: Belmont Abbey at Bellarmine | 6:30 p.m. ET

This evening at 6:30 p.m. ET in Louisville, Ky., Belmont Abbey will take on Bellarmine in a redemption match from earlier this year. In the first meeting this season, Bellarmine took the 5-2 win with two goals from Teresa Schmidt. However, Schmidt and the attack were shut out in their last game against No. 4 Saint Anselm, leaving the score at 2-0 in favor of their opponent. Belmont Abbey also comes off a loss, but theirs came at the hands of Limestone who bested them 3-0, even though they matched each other in penalty corners earned. Since the game will not count toward conference standings, both teams will look to simply improve their overall record with a strong win over the other.



DIII: Husson at No. 4 Bowdoin | 7:00 p.m. ET

No. 4 Bowdoin will host Husson today at 7:00 p.m. ET in Brunswick, Maine for another out-of-conference match-up. Bowdoin broke into the top five this week in the Penn Monto/NFHCA Division III National Coaches Poll landing at No. 4 after slowly climbing the ranks each week. They have only one loss on the season against No. 1 Middlebury, 1-0,  but have since built their winning streak to seven games. Bowdoin’s most recent win was over Connecticut as Kara Finnerty added two of the five-goal total. Husson has suffered a few more losses this year, including in their last contest against UMaine-Farmington who scored two goals in the second half that Husson could not answer. The 2018 meeting of these teams saw Bowdoin dominate, but Husson attempted a comeback that fell short. Will this year tell a similar story?

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18

DI: No. 4 Duke at No. 7 Virginia | 4:00 p.m. ET

Two top-10 teams will look to improve their records in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) on Friday at 4:00 p.m. ET. Looking at last year’s contest, Duke walked away victorious with the 1-0 win, but Virginia will not back down, especially with a few new weapons of their own this season. This week, Virginia’s Cato Geusgens was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Week, and she will help to earn a shutout against the Blue Devils just as she did last week when they faced Miami. Geusgens also scored the lone goal of the game off a penalty corner strike, making her a double threat against Duke. The Blue Devils also come off a win, having beat Old Dominion 1-0 off a goal by Leah Crouse toward the end of the first half. The two teams are closely matched, so this contest will surely be one to watch this week.



DI: No. 2 Maryland at No. 9 Michigan | 6:00 p.m. ET

No. 2 Maryland and No. 9 Michigan will meet in a Big Ten Conference battle on Friday at 6:00 p.m. ET. Maryland earned two Big Ten Conference awards this week as forward Madison Maguire was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week and goalkeeper Noelle Frost was named Defensive Player of the Week yet again. Maguire contributed an assist and Frost stopped five shots in the Terrapins game against Indiana the week prior as they beat them 6-0. Michigan has only lost three games this year, and two of them went down to the wire in shootouts against top-20 opponents. The Wolverines' last game was a strong win over Ball State where Emma Tamer tallied two goals and an assist. This match-up last year was a tight game until midway through the second half when the Terps found the go-ahead goal to secure the win. Michigan could topple Maryland who is first in the Big Ten standings with a hard-fought win on Friday.



DII: Franklin Pierce at Southern Connecticut | 3:00 p.m. ET

Franklin Pierce will meet conference foe Southern Connecticut on Friday at 3:00 p.m. ET. Franklin Pierce comes in to Friday off back-to-back wins in their last two games and defeated American International in overtime. It was Christine Jarowicz who had the last say for Franklin Pierce as she secured the win close to the end of the overtime period. Southern Connecticut picked up their first win of 2019 on Saturday by beating Molloy 4-1. Karley Wells added a goal in that game, as well as the only goal in their most recent loss to Pace on Tuesday. Northeast Ten Conference games have been hit or miss for both teams, so they will both look to add to their wins in conference play this weekend.

DII: Queens at Limestone | 4:00 p.m. ET

South Atlantic Conference Carolinas teams Queens and Limestone will battle to better their record in conference play on Friday at 4:00 p.m. ET. Queens recently bested Frostburg 4-0 as four different players scored on Tuesday, giving them their eighth win of the season and boosting their overall record. Just before that game, they met No. 3 Millersville and lost 5-0. Limestone also has eight wins, but lost earlier this week to Newberry 2-1 in overtime. Gwendolyn Lewis found the equalizer for Limestone in the third period to send the match into overtime, but Newberry came out on top. Limestone won the match-up against Queens in 2018, dominating the game with a 6-1 result. However, earlier this season Queens stole the win back from Limestone in a 5-4 game. The win could go to either team as they meet on Friday.

DIII: Ferrum at Bridgewater | 6:00 p.m. ET

Ferrum will travel to Bridgewater on Friday at 6:00 p.m. ET. Ferrum just lost to Virginia Wesleyan on Friday, but goalkeeper Mia Holmes recorded 13 saves for her team to keep the scoring at a minimum. Holmes has accumulated 106 saves this season, making her the backbone of the team in many of the games. Bridgewater’s record currently boasts one more win than Ferrum as they most recently played Roanoke where the game went to two extra periods. Karinne Moyer and Kelsey Hicks combined for two goals in that contest, but neither could find the net in overtime. With similar records held by both teams, it is a toss up as to who will win and will come down to who has more grit to secure the victory.

DIII: St. John Fisher at Sage | 7:00 p.m. ET

Sage will host Empire 8 Conference rival St. John Fisher at 7:00 p.m. ET on Friday. St. John Fisher has done well so far this season with nine wins against strong teams including conference opponents. Their last win was over Brockport on Wednesday in a 5-0 match as Meagan McDonald tallied two goals in the contest. Sage's most recent game was against Bryn Athyn who they beat by five goals. Charity Rushinski added two for the Gators while goalkeeper Abigail Greier also contributed to the win with six saves and earned conference honors of Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Week. Last year’s contest between the two teams resulted in a 9-0 win for St. John Fisher, but Sage has improved since their first season and will look to make a statement in the conference.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19

DI: Colgate at Bucknell | 12:00 p.m. ET

Two Patriot League contenders, Colgate and Bucknell, will look to find a positive result on Saturday at they meet at 12:00 p.m. ET in Lewisburg, Pa. Bucknell has won outright in the last few contests between the two teams and they will expect nothing different this year. Bucknell’s Allie Christopher was awarded Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week for her three goals against Lehigh. She will present a challenge for Colgate’s defense who has a few strengths on their side of the pitch. Freshman Emily Kness is currently second in the nation with seven defensive saves for Colgate, so Christopher will have to work the ball around the goalkeeper as well as Kness before notching more goals on Saturday. It is possible as seen in Colgate’s most recent game against Boston University where they turned away 15 shots, but some still snuck past the goal line. Will Kness and the rest of Colgate’s defense be able to prevent the Bison from taking the win?



DI: No. 14 Harvard at Cornell | 12:00 p.m. ET

Ivy League action will continue as No. 14 Harvard travels to meet Cornell on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. ET in Ithaca, N.Y. Cornell’s Maddie Henry earned Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week after turning away 21 shots this past weekend. Last year saw Harvard dominate Cornell 8-0, and this has been the case in the past three matches between the two teams. With this in mind, Cornell just defeated Bucknell in a close game last week and has secured other important wins this season. Kirsten Pienaar tallied the lone goal for the Bears off a penalty stroke in the first period as the team held onto the lead for the rest of the match. Harvard most recently beat UMass-Lowell 4-0 as Rachel Greenwood notched two goals, one in each half of the game. Harvard is undefeated in conference play, but Cornell will look to change that on Saturday.

DII: No. 10 Mansfield at No. 2 East Stroudsburg | 12:00 p.m. ET

Two top-10 teams will meet as No. 10 Mansfield journeys to No. 2 East Stroudsburg on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. ET. Mansfield managed to make their way into the top-10 this week after adding two wins to their record, while East Stroudsburg took over the No. 2 spot after No. 3 Millersville dropped a place in the rankings. The teams are also both part of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), giving this contest more weight. When they met earlier this season, East Stroudsburg put two goals away that went unanswered by Mansfield to take the win. East Stroudsburg is coming off five PSAC wins in a row and they will expect to continue that streak on Saturday. Mansfield is on a streak of their own with their last two games resulting in wins over PSAC opponents. Will Mansfield be able to hold on to their spot in the top-10 and defeat the No. 2 team? 

DII: No. 9 Southern New Hampshire at New Haven | 1:00 p.m. ET

No. 9 Southern New Hampshire will take on New Haven on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. ET. Southern New Hampshire is 10-3 overall, with their last four games being added to the win column. Hélène Servais put three goals away for her team as they played Molloy and Laura van der Doorn added another two. Last year, Southern New Hampshire blanked New Haven 6-0 at the end of the regular season. Since then, New Haven has accumulated five wins, with their last game requiring two overtime periods with Saint Michael’s. Julia Battino got the game-winner on a penalty stroke in the second over time period for the Chargers to take the win. New Haven will have home field advantage, which they should plan to use in order to topple Southern New Hampshire.
 


DIII: Widener at No. 13 Messiah | 1:00 p.m. ET

No. 13 Messiah will host Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Commonwealth rival Widener on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. ET in Grantham, Pa. Both teams have done well in conference play and the Pride were undefeated both in the MAC Commonwealth and overall until they met Lebanon Valley last week, losing 1-0 in a hard-fought game. Messiah remains undefeated in the conference, looking to secure their place in the standings to win their 13th-straight championship. The Falcons are coming off a win over conference rival Stevenson, winning 3-0 but going scoreless in the second half. Widener just defeated Gwynedd Mercy last week by a single tally as Margaret Howe-Consiglio tipped the ball past the goalkeeper. In last year’s contest, it was Messiah who took the 4-1 victory. Two of the goal scorers, Taylor Wiederrecht and Jennie Young, return with the intention of adding more to their season totals.

DIII: No. 18 Babson at Smith | 12:00 p.m. ET

No. 18 Babson will meet Smith on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. ET in Northampton, Mass. in a New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) match-up. Babson swept conference honors this week as Tori Roche earned NEWMAC Offensive and Cassidy Riley earned Defensive Athlete of the Week for the Beavers. Both players contributed to three wins for Babson last week. Smith has come close in their last three games, but each one has ended in a 3-2 loss for the Pioneers, while two of those games went to overtime. Babson, on the other hand, is on a six-game winning streak with their last victory coming against Wesleyan who they defeated 1-0. Isabella Boonstra notched the only goal of that game in the third period even with 25 shots by the Beavers. They will look to continue the winning streak this weekend.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20

DI: No. 6 Iowa at No. 5 Louisville | 12:00 p.m. ET

No. 5 Louisville will host No. 6 Iowa on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. ET. With one more win and one less loss on their record, Louisville looks like the favorite for this game. The last time the teams met was in 2016 when the current seniors were freshmen. Louisville just beat Stanford 3-0 as three different Cardinals contributed to the total scoring. Senior goalkeeper Hollyn Barr will look to add another shutout to her season and keep her goal against average at its current 0.86. Iowa beat Penn State by the same goal margin last week with four different Hawkeyes tallying goals as well. This match-up may tilt the rankings one way or another, so it will be a good game to tune into.

DI: No. 17 Liberty at No. 1 North Carolina | 1:00 p.m. ET

Two southern powerhouses will meet as No. 17 Liberty takes on top-ranked and undefeated North Carolina at 1:00 p.m. ET on Sunday in Chapel Hill, N.C. North Carolina’s Erin Matson secured another honor as the Atlantic Coast Conference Offensive Player of the Week for her performance against No. 15 Syracuse and No. 22 Albany. However, in last year’s contest between the Tar Heels and Flames, Matson did not find the back of the goal in the 7-1 win but did assist on one of the goals. With Matson on a roll of scoring in almost every game, Liberty will need to focus on keeping her touches to a minimum. Daniella Rhodes leads the scoring for Liberty with nine goals and seven assists, so she will be one to watch by North Carolina’s defense. Liberty will need to rise to the occasion to upset North Carolina and give them their first loss in 2019.



DII: Coker at Converse | 1:00 p.m. ET

Coker will play Converse at 1:00 p.m. ET on Sunday in a Conference Carolinas contest. Coker comes off a win over Mount Olive where they dominated all four quarters, resulting in a 7-1 win, with Alyssa Baronella and Amelia Gajewski scoring two goals each. Converse has experienced trials this season, with their only win coming against Mount Olive two weeks ago. They most recently fell to Lindenwood 3-1 as they actually scored first but could not come up with goals to answer the three that were scored against later in the game. Both teams will look for a win to improve in conference standings as they meet on Sunday.

DII: Lindenwood at Bellarmine | 1:00 p.m. ET

Bellarmine has an action-packed weekend ahead as they will also host Lindenwood on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET. Lindenwood recently beat Converse in a 3-1 win with Bridget Hoogendijk scoring two of the goals for her team. Bellarmine lost their previous game to No. 4 Saint Anselm who prevented the Knights from scoring on their few shot attempts. The Knights had two goalkeepers take part in the loss, with Breanna McWhorter making a difference in the final quarter by ending any more scoring threats. As this is the first meeting between the two teams this season, it could go in favor of either team depending on who brings their best to the pitch.

DIII: No. 9 Vassar at Rochester | 12:00 p.m. ET

No. 9 Vassar will travel to Rochester, N.Y. to take on the hometown team, Rochester, on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. ET. Previously ranked Rochester has continued to receive votes this week but fell just short of the top-20, while Vassar dropped a few ranks from the No. 5 spot. Vassar was upset by Ithaca this past weekend as the Bombers won 3-0. Christopher Newport then added Vassar’s second loss on Monday in a tight 3-2 game. Rochester overpowered Wells 13-0 on Tuesday to make up for their loss to Skidmore last weekend. Looking at last year, Vassar took the win 3-2 when Rochester tried to comeback from a two-goal deficit, but Vassar scored just in time to prevent an extra period of play. Both teams have what it takes to win, but it will come down to who can pull out a strong performance on Sunday.



DIII: St. Lawrence at Ithaca | 1:00 p.m. ET

St. Lawrence will take on Ithaca at 1:00 p.m. ET in Ithaca, N.Y. Receiving votes following their toppling of Vassar, other teams have eyes on Ithaca this week to see if they can continue to perform well. The Bombers blanked Vassar 3-0 with goals from three different players. Goalkeeper Savanna Lanker saved seven balls from Vassar who outshot and out-cornered the Bombers. St. Lawrence just took William Smith to overtime this past Saturday but came up short in the extra period after battling in regulation. Mckenzie Haberl had both goals for the Saints. St. Lawrence has yet to tally a win in Liberty League play and hope to catch Ithaca off guard on Sunday.

USFHA media release

Maryland field hockey is still looking to shore up defense despite three straight shutouts

David Suggs


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

After Maryland field hockey conceded a late goal to then-No. 5 Northwestern on Oct. 3, coach Missy Meharg pulled her team aside and urged them to keep fighting — particularly on the defensive end.

The Terps’ backline was stout up until the goal, conceding only one shot in the first 57 minutes of the game. And despite the Wildcats’ equalizer, Meharg praised the team for its dominance.

“[I told them] you’ve played well enough, you’ve earned the right to win this game,” Meharg said with a chuckle. “It’s a matter of details and figuring out matchups.”

So, Maryland did just that, limiting Northwestern to zero shots on goal in the overtime periods en route to a 2-1 double-overtime victory. And ever since Kirsten Mansfield’s rebounded effort found the back of Noelle Frost’s cage, the Terps’ defense has been unblemished, recording clean sheets in each of its past three games.

With Maryland set to face off against No. 9 Michigan and its high-powered attack, the Terps are looking to build on the defensive stability they’ve shown in their last three games — even if there’s still room for improvement in that area.

“They know what they’re good at and they continue to work on those things even though they are good at them,” forward Lizzy Dessoye said. “Their communication and work ethic is really helping us win these games and have these shutouts.”

The Terps rank among the top five teams in the country in goals conceded, owing much of their success to Frost’s impressive form. The redshirt senior has stepped in following Sarah Holliday’s departure, earning Division I Defensive Player of the Week honors on two occasions this season.

Meanwhile, the backline has stood its ground as well, limiting the quality of opposition’s chances in recent weeks. The Terps have held opponents to five shots on goal or fewer in three of their last four games. Meharg’s squad credits its defensive renaissance to its composed mentality.

“They are under unbelievable pressure and they’re able to just think about the simple thing and do the simple pass,” forward Mayv Clune said. “I think they just have a great mental attitude toward everything — they know what they have to do and they do their job.”

Despite their impressive defensive record — conceding only 11 goals in 14 games — the Terps are hoping to improve as they race toward postseason play. Maryland has struggled with restlessness in the defensive third of the pitch at times, with defenders so focused on snuffing out wayward passes and ambitious dribble attempts that it pushes them out of position.

But Meharg is pushing the team to work on tightening its defensive shape, especially with a matchup against yet another Big Ten power looming.

“We have so much fun work to do,” Meharg said. “If you can’t intercept, then be patient — be under the play. That’s another piece we can get better at.”

Given the Wolverines’ firepower, it seems Friday will serve as the perfect test of strength to see how much the Terps have to improve upon to prepare for postseason play, especially in the defensive third.

“We’re a good team, we’re not a great team,” Meharg said. “If you’re not great yet, you want to be great in November, and that’s our goal.”

The Diamondback

Intertwined on the pitch and off it, Maryland field hockey expresses itself with braids

David Suggs


Midfielder Taylor Mason, sporting a braid weaved by fellow midfielder Kyler Greenwalt, dribbles in Maryland field hockey’s 3-0 win over No. 6 Iowa on Oct. 11, 2019. (Julia Nikhinson/The Diamondback)

Prior to most Maryland field hockey games, midfielder Taylor Mason will place herself in front of a mirror and carefully lace her fingers through her hair before braiding it into a single plait.

It’s a bit of a superstition for Mason, one that has remained consistent throughout the season. So, hours before the No. 2 Terps were set to take on then-No. 6 Iowa on Oct. 11, it seemed likely that Mason would twist her own hair and keep the tradition going.

Instead, she positioned herself in front of midfielder Kyler Greenwalt, who subsequently wound the sophomore’s golden mane into a single-braided coiffure.

And a few hours later, Mason was on the scoresheet, pushing Maryland to a convincing 3-0 victory.

While it wasn’t Mason’s braid that enabled her to score or secure a victory for the Terps, Maryland’s unique hairstyles have helped the players express themselves — something especially important during the dog days of the season.

“It’s really fun to do as a team,” Mason said. “Like [athletic director] Damon Evans says, ‘Look good, play good.’”

Similar to sports such as basketball, football and soccer, field hockey players use fashion to express themselves — but instead of altering their footwear or accessories to do so, they use intricate hairstyles. Coach Missy Meharg’s squad prides itself on its ability to display creativity through its intertwined locks.

“People have their different styles that they put in before the games to make them feel the same for every game and [get] pumped up because it’s game day,” defender Emily Thomas said.

And unlike other team traditions such as the “U-Shell,” — in which the players line up in a semicircle during the national anthem and swing their arms rhythmically — this custom is completely rooted in the players, with Meharg having little involvement in the hair-braiding process.

“I love the freedom,” Meharg said, “They can do whatever they want. Half the time, I don’t get what they’re laughing at.”

Whether it’s through braids, scrunchies or hairbands, it’s clear that the Terps’ commitment to hair plays a role in allowing them to convey their identities away from the field hockey pitch.

Take midfielder Brooke DeBerdine, who often sports a meticulously prepared braid she forms into a bun. The complex hairdo is a hit among teammates — many of whom believe it perfectly represents her feisty style of play.

“Her bun is always really fancy,” Mason said. “It makes her look kind of sassy, which is really funny.”

And it’s this creativity that has sparked the progression of Maryland’s team chemistry, as players often spend a portion of their pregame session weaving their fellow teammates’ hair into interesting new designs.

“Certain people have other people braid their hair,” Thomas said. “Noelle [Frost] always gets her hair braided by Kyler before the game.”

When discussing the Terps’ success this season, most of the attention centers on its prolific attack or its defense, which has looked impenetrable at times this season.

But when digging deeper, it’s clear that much of the team’s chemistry — which has allowed Maryland to create partnerships that have proved effective in both the midfield and the attack — comes from its desire to perfect its hairstyles.

And with her goal against the Hawkeyes, Mason perfectly illustrated the importance of this quirky, yet effective ritual.

“The only day I didn’t do [my hair] myself was against Iowa,” Mason said. “I’m thinking that might be good since that’s when I scored. Kyler did my hair then, so we might be investing in that later on.”

The Diamondback