News for 14 July 2012
Saturday, 14 July 2012 10:56 | 
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All the news for Saturday 14 July 2012
Black Sticks Men lose first clash with the Netherlands
The Black Sticks Men have lost to the Netherlands 3-0 in an Olympic warm-up match in Utrecht, Holland last night.
The battle between the third-ranked Netherlands and the seventh-ranked Kiwis was a very even affair until the last 15 minutes when the home side knocked in two late goals.
Black Sticks coach Shane McLeod said despite the score line he was encouraged by what he saw in the match.
“We’re in the same pool in London so it was very much about finding out a few things about the Dutch and exploring some tactical options. We were very competitive today and you only need to look at the penalty corner count (4-3 in New Zealand’s favour) to see that.”
The Netherlands opened the scoring in the fifth minute from a penalty corner goal, which just seconds before had been a corner at the other end.
Unsuccessful Kiwi corners in the 20th and 22nd minutes meant the home side took a 1-0 lead into the break.
The Dutch extended the lead in the 21st minute of the second half, and then with five minutes to go they knocked in their third while two Black Sticks players were sinbinned.
The Black Sticks face the Netherlands in the second match of the series on 15 July.
Hawke’s Bay is the Principal Partner of the Black Sticks Men and Women.
RESULT
Netherlands 3 New Zealand 0. HT:1-0.
Hockey New Zealand Media release
Black Sticks men shut-out by the Netherlands
The men's Black Sticks lost 3-0 to the Netherlands in an Olympic warm-up match in Holland last night.
The battle between the third-ranked Netherlands and the seventh-ranked Kiwis was a very even affair until the last 15 minutes when the home side knocked in two late goals.
Black Sticks coach Shane McLeod said despite the score line he was encouraged by what he saw in the match.
"We're in the same pool in London so it was very much about finding out a few things about the Dutch and exploring some tactical options. We were very competitive today and you only need to look at the penalty corner count (4-3 in New Zealand's favour) to see that."
The Netherlands opened the scoring in the fifth minute from a penalty corner goal, which just seconds before had been a corner at the other end.
Unsuccessful Kiwi corners in the 20th and 22nd minutes meant the home side took a 1-0 lead into the break.
The Dutch extended the lead in the 21st minute of the second half, and then with five minutes to go they knocked in their third while two Black Sticks players were sinbinned.
The Black Sticks face the Netherlands in the second match of the series on July 15.
Stuff
Marsha wants more from SA against Kiwis and Belgians this weekend
JONATHAN COOK in Bremen
The preparation is going well and South Africa are gaining a lot from it, was the summation of captain Marsha Marescia before training Friday afternoon at the idyllic Club zur Vahr, venue for the Four Nations in Bremen, Germany and the place where the girls in green and gold will meet an on-song New Zealand at 4 pm Saturday.
“Leading into the Olympic Games we are learning a lot about our team and the opposition, and while the scores have not been good on tour it’s good to go through it now rather than later and a lot of positives have come out,” said the two-time World All Stars midfielder who has been capped a record 291 times for her country. “But we’ve got to make sure we put the team learnings into action,” said the Johannesburger who has skippered the team well into the hundreds of matches since taking over the reins from previous record holder Lindsey Wright (nee Carlisle) in the mid-2000s.
“There is frustration when we watch the videos and see how easy it is to fix mistakes we are making so once we correct them by London we can expect to see a better team in terms of collective performance.”
SA lost 5-1 to world number three Germany in Thursday night’s Test match and Friday has been about intensive team meetings, a two-hour afternoon practice session and then more meetings later.
World number six New Zealand outplayed world 16 Belgium in the first half hour late Thursday afternoon with stunning, high-tempo hockey but got scrappy and their opponents came back well but were let down by technical errors when it mattered. Nevertheless, New Zealand’s 4-2 win set them up and after SA they tackle Germany in the Four Nations’ final game at 2.30 pm Sunday.
“New Zealand are extremely physical, play a fast game and have key players in midfield,” said the iconic Marescia. “We expect a tough game and want to be really competitive [Saturday] and then again against Belgium [at 12 noon Sunday].”
The captain said double Olympian Jen Wilson is the only player who has had an injury concern but her quad strain is expected to be healed sufficiently to ensure match time over the weekend. “Jen has managed the injury well,” said Marescia of the forward who was joint leading goalscorer with Holland’s Mijntje Donners at Athens 2004.
“We have been conceding way too many goals on tour, so we know the other teams are better right now but if we start play together as a group we can defend our goal and make more of our attacking opportunities,” Marescia added.
SA had more penalty corners than Germany and just about the same number of chances from open play but the difference was the space the host nation were able to create in the strike zone, which gave their forwards time to tee up the ball.
This has been the case in just about all of the SA games on tour and losing scorelines of 5-0 and 5-0 against world number one and defending Olympic champs Holland in Arnhem, 6-0 and 3-2 down against world four and Champions Trophy silver medallists Great Britain at Bisham Abbey outside London, and now the 5-1 by Germany, have most definitely not been true reflections of the game but are indicative of the devil in the detail the South Africans simply have to sort out before Argentina in 16 days’ time.
The good thing is Germany and New Zealand are in Pool B at London 2012. Better the devil you know.
SA Hockey Association media release
India and Spain await GB men
Harry Martin and Iain Mackay with India's Manpreet Singh at the Olympic Test Event
Having been suited and booted for the 2012 Gala Dinner on Thursday evening, the GB men changed back into their more familiar sports kit as they flew out to Spain this afternoon.
This weekend, they will be competing in a pre-Olympic warm-up event in Santander - their last competitive action before they move into the Olympic village on the 22nd July.
GB face India on Saturday night (16:30 BST) before an encounter against Spain on Monday evening (18:00 BST). Spain are GB’s final pool match at the Olympics, so both sides will be looking to gain any pre-Games psychological advantage.
The final match of the warm-up event between Spain and India is to be played on Wednesday.
Great Britain Hockey media release
Team Lists for all 24 Olympic Squads Announced
384 Hockey players confirmed for London 2012 Games
The field in London awaits the 384 hockey athletes
With two weeks to go until the London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, all 24 teams have officially handed in their final team lists. The 384 athletes (and 48 reserves) and can now focus on their last-minute preparations for London.
Germany is the defending Olympic Champion on the men's side, while the Dutch women will look to defend their 2008 Olympic gold medal. The Germans are currently second in the FIH Men's World Ranking, behind top-ranked Australia. The Netherlands holds the top spot in the FIH Women's World Ranking, barely edging #2 Argentina.
Teams may still replace a player on the posted lists up until the managers’ pre-competition briefing meeting with the Technical Delegates on Saturday 28 July, the eve of the hockey tournament. However, any player that is called into action late would have to have been already named on the Team Long List, which was submitted to LOCOG months ago. Rarely are players ever changed at this late stage, and the most likely reason would be due to a last-minute injury.
The lists for all of the men’s teams can be found here
The lists for all of the women’s teams can be found here
FIH site
Form book favours Australia
-Photo by AFP
NEW DELHI: Having scooped up every major title worth possessing in the last couple of years, the Australian men’s hockey team may well be kicking themselves if they return from the London Olympics with anything less than the gold.
The reigning World Cup, Champions Trophy, Commonwealth Games and Oceania Cup champions have had a sensational run in the last two years and are the overwhelming favourites in London.
The bronze they returned with from Beijing four years ago still rankles the Kookaburras who, led by five-time World Player of the Year Jamie Dwyer, seem to have left no stones unturned this time around.
Even if that means forcing a change in the original schedule to have one of their early matches pushed back to a more convenient time.
Head coach Ric Charlesworth is wary of the new blue-and-pink turf at London’s Riverbank Arena which he found bouncy and slippery but that should not be much of a worry for the world number one team.
Australia have picked 10 Olympic debutants in the squad and the abundant talent meant it was not easy selecting the best 16.
“It is our job to make judgements about balance and covering every base but in the end there are players that are unlucky,” Charlesworth said.
“This has been a long process over 12 months and many factors were considered.”
In contrast, defending champions Germany retained 10 players from 2008, including the Zeller brothers – Christopher and Philipp – and the Wess brothers – Benjamin and Timo.
Spain, whom Germany beat to win gold in Beijing, also retained as many players from their silver medal winning squad, including captain Santi Freixa, but there is less optimism around the team since they came last in a recent four-nations tournament in Dusseldorf.
Also in medal contention will be Netherlands, who have dropped stalwarts Taeke Taekema and Jeroen Hertzberger but retained veteran midfielder Teun de Nooijer, who was part of both the 1996 and 2000 champions team.
However, Netherlands’ best chance of winning a hockey gold lies with the women team led by the redoubtable Maartje Paumen.
Their biggest obstacle would be current World Champions and Champions Trophy holders Argentina, led by veteran Luciana Aymar, while the German eves will also be in medal contention to atone for their lack of success since finishing fourth in Beijing.
Dawn
Balbir (Sr.) — a class act
LEGENDS The centre-forward is rated next best to Dhyan Chand
S. Thyagarajan
Balbir Singh (Sr.). File Photo The Hindu
If Dhyan Chand is identified as the genius of Indian hockey in the pre-war era, not many will hesitate to agree that such a description fits to a nicety to Balbir Singh (Sr.) in the post-independent phase.
As the centre forward in three successive gold medal-winning Olympic Games (1948, 52, 56), Balbir, born on October 10, 1924, is rated as the next best to the wizard, the inimitable Dhyan Chand. Balbir Singh takes the credit for carving a vibrant Punjabi ethos to hockey. His career is replete with achievements at every step.
As a student of DS School in Moga (Jalandhar District), Khalsa College, in the inter-university and the series of National championships, Balbir Singh’s skills flowed in abundance. His adeptness once inside the circle, accuracy in finish and the power behind the whiplash drives gave goal-keepers anxious moments.
The Olympics baptism for Balbir came in 1948 in London. Although not the first choice, he demonstrated the class, netting eight of the 13 goals India scored. He played only in two matches.
From then on, his ascendency found no stopping through two more Olympiads, in 1952 at Helsinki — he scored nine of the 13 goals — and in 1956 at Melbourne, where he was the captain.
In the eight matches played at the three Olympic Games, he has netted 22 goals.
Balbir holds the unique honour of being the flag-bearer to the Indian contingent in two successive Olympics in 1952 and 1956.
He also led the Indian team in the inaugural hockey competition of the Asian Games in Tokyo where India gained only the silver surrendering the gold to Pakistan. After active playing days in the late fifties, Balbir Singh has served the game in various ways — as coach, manager, selector and administrator. He was manager when India won the World Cup for the first time and the only time so far in Kuala Lumpur in 1975.
The most depressing moment of his life came when the Indian team he managed lost the gold medal match to Pakistan in the 1982 Asian Games in Delhi.
As the Chief of the Directorate of Sports in Punjab, he was the author of many welfare schemes for sportsmen in general and hockey internationals from Punjab in particular.
Balbir was honoured with Padma Shri in 1957. His autobiography, My Hockey Days, throws light on the many facets of the life and times of this remarkable Olympian.
The Hindu
This is India's fittest hockey team: Khandker
New Delhi: Tushar Khandker is a key component of India's potent strike force to regain Olympic glory in London, and while he oils his stick with the team in Europe, India's opponents need to be wary of this nifty forward weaving his way into the striking circle from the left.
With 219 international caps, Khandker's experience will be crucial to the team's success in London. That, in fact, also gives the star left-out an added responsibility to guide the youngsters in the team. And despite participating in his first Olympic Games, the Jhansi lad is ready to unleash himself on his opponents.
Sharing his thoughts with IBNLive.com from Spain - where the team is playing a few friendly internationals - Khandker throws light on how the team is shaping up two weeks away from its big date.
You are going to be part of your first Olympic Games. In fact, only Sandeep and Ignace have played Olympics before in the current group. Does that make you nervous?
I am not feeling any kind of pressure that I am going to play first time in the Olympics. I know we have got only two players who have played Olympics before, but in our team there are a lot of senior players who have played a lot of international hockey. So for this reason there is no pressure on any player.
The team reached Europe pretty early and will be in London well in advance for the Games. How's the team shaping up with that advantage?
It's good for us that we are here almost for a month before the Olympics. It's helping us in getting used to of this weather and atmosphere, because London [weather] will be almost the same. These matches [in France and Spain] will help us in London because we are playing against top teams in the world.
Shivender, Sunil and you are the best striking combination for India. Do you agree with that?
Yes it's true, but there are other players also, those who are playing well and helping the team, players like Danish [Mujtaba], [Gurwinder Singh] Chandi, [SK] Uthappa and Dharamvir [Singh].
There are quite a few youngsters in the team. Who do you think could turn out to be the new rising Indian star at the Olympics?
There are a few players, like Birendra Lakra, Danish and Manpreet [Singh], I feel.
You all appear pretty fit on the field. Is this group the fittest you have ever been part of? What's the reason behind this supreme fitness?
Yes this is true. I think this is the fittest group. And credit goes to [physical trainer] David John.
Coach Michael Nobbs must be giving you motivational talks for the Olympics. What does he tell you guys?
Before every practice session he talks about the Olympics because it's such a big event and it has got a very different feeling. We have got the chance to prove ourselves and to India what Indian hockey can do.
Finally Tushar, where do you see yourself at the end of the Olympics - on the podium or in the top six? What's the general mood in the team about that?
The mood is good. Every one is motivated and pretty excited to perform well in the Olympics, and if we will play like this, the way we have performed in the last few months, definitely we will get something. I don't know what but we will.
IBNLive
Hockey standbys to stay at Olympic Village
BANGALORE: The Indian team will have 18 hockey players at the Olympic Village after all. In a move to keep the flock together, Hockey India has successfully appealed to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to ensure that the two standbys stayed with the 16-member team at the Village.
The sports ministry, which is in the process of clearing the names for the London Games, is now faced with an expenditure of 800 pounds each for the two players -- Sarvanjit Singh and Kothajit Singh. "The money will take care of their food at the Village. Originally, these boys were to have stayed in a London hotel but with access to training facilities along with the 16-member team," a senior sports ministry official told TOI.
The Times of India
Hockey club churning out stars
By Julian Lee
When a hockey club set in a South Auckland suburb produces four Olympians in one campaign you can't help but wonder what goes on behind its gates.
Southern Districts Hockey Club in Papatoetoe is the home of five Black Sticks: Dean Couzins, Simon Child, sisters Samantha Harrison and Charlotte Harrison, all of whom are in the Olympic squads heading for London, and Marcus Child.
Couzins captains the men's national team, which is the most experienced hockey squad New Zealand has ever fielded.
Couzins himself has almost 300 caps under his belt, while Simon Child and Charlotte Harrison head towards 200.
Rick Child, chairman of Southern Districts club, which is celebrating its 85th jubilee this year, says there are several key ingredients to the club's secret formula for producing star players.
One of these is a special high-performance development plan which has taken decades to evolve.
"Sometimes you don't see the results for years, but some boys coming through now will probably make their mark in years to come," he said.
The crux of the plan is focusing on the basics of hockey training, mixing up the players and running hockey tournaments at local schools.
"I'm a firm believer in the idea that if you teach them the basics properly, and as long as they have some athletic ability, they will go a long way.
"In our lower grade teams we have a really good mix of younger and older players - the older ones act like mentors.
"We also work quite closely with Counties-Manukau Sport and with primary schools in Papatoetoe and Otara."
He says the club's success has come with its own hurdles, which members are now working to overcome.
"Hockey doesn't have a huge support base, unlike rugby, which a lot of the parents have played.
"It is also challenging to get coaches and managers - it's nice to grow the game but it can also be a struggle."
Overall he said club members were very pleased with their success this year and not just with the Olympics - the men's and women's teams won premier titles.
The New Zealand Herald
FT primed for sixth title
COACH Ahmad Bakri Marfi has warned rivals to expect a lean and mean Federal Territories in the semi-finals of the Malaysia Games hockey competition today.
Ahmad Bakri said a tough competition schedule for FT in the group stages had made his side mentally and physically stronger. The team won five of their matches, drawing only once, to top group A.
"We were quite unlucky to have been given a very tight schedule early in the tournament," said Ahmad Bakri, whose side are gunning for their fifth straight title.
"We had to play four matches in four days and the games were all played in the scorching heat at 4pm.
"It was tough for us but we have no complaints. It has just made us stronger and we have got better with each game and are performing well now."
Ahmad Bakri, whose charges thrashed Kelantan 8-1 in their final group game on Thursday, will meet Group B runners-up Johor in the semi-final today. The match will be a replay of the 2006 and 2008 finals.
In spite of his team's impeccable form so far, Ahmad Bakri said there was no room for complacency and they would treat the match with great caution.
"For me personally, every team in the semi-finals have a shot at the title. All have played five or six matches and have had a good chance to work out the kinks in their game.
"We will not in any way be overconfident as we have great respect for Johor and will approach this match as we have done our past matches and give it a 100 per cent."
The other semi-final, also played today, will see Group B winners Penang face Group A runners-up Terengganu.
Today -- Semi-finals: FT v Johor, Penang v Terengganu (7.30pm, Wisma Belia Pitch 1 & 2)
New Straits Times
Johor’s hockey girls overcome food poisoning setback to reach the final
HOW things can change in a week.
Johor had 12 players down with food poisoning just two days before the Sukma women’s hockey competition began on July 8.
Two players – Nur Zaimah Mohd Nasir and Nordalila Ramlee – were hospitalised for a few days.
And when they were outplayed 4-0 by Malacca in their opening Group A match, Johor skipper Izzah Syafiqah Mohd Yunus thought they had blown their hopes of defending the gold medal.
But Johor have overcome the odds and will take on Terengganu today for a place in the final.
The other semi-final pits Selangor against the Federal Territories.
“I missed the first match against Malacca as I was still in Bangkok playing for the national team in the Asia Cup. I played my first match in Sukma against Selangor and we drew 1-1,” said the 20-year-old Izzah.
“My team-mates looked pale and weak ... I thought we won’t make it to the semi-finals after collecting just one point from two matches. But I have to give credit to my team-mates for showing commitment and determination to win our next three matches to qualify for the last four.”
Johor edged Perak 1-0 and outplayed Penang and Sarawak with identical scores of 4-0 to emerge as runners-up to Selangor in Group A.
Johor had defeated Pahang 4-2 in a shootout after both teams were tied at 0-0 in regulation time in the final in Malacca two years ago.
Izzah, who is featuring in her third Sukma, is confident that her team-mates can rise to the occasion again when they take on Terengganu.
“We have learned a bitter lesson here and are now very careful of what we eat. We only have one mission here and that is to retain the title,” said Izzah.
Men’s defending champions FT, powered by seven players from the victorious Junior Asia Cup team in Malacca in May, will start out as favourites against Johor in the semi-finals.
The other men’s semi-final sees Penang facing an uphill task against Terengganu, whose national forward Faizal Saari has scored 14 goals in six matches.
The Star of Malaysia
Ready, steady, Go for International U18 Hockey Fest in Cape Town
By Jonathan Cook
The 2012 Under-18 Cape Town International Schools/Clubs Hockey Festival kicks off on Tuesday, July 17 with the grand opening ceremony at 4 pm at Hartleyvale Hockey Stadium and continues until Finals Day on Sunday, July 22.
The festival is now in its ninth year and there are 32 schools and youth club teams entered, among whom are the New South Wales Bushrangers Under-18 boys’ and girls’ teams, comprising players from Sydney and surrounding areas.
This is their fifth visit to Cape Town and they always provide strong opposition, not surprising considering that Australia’s Kookaburras men’s national team are the number one side in the world and hot favourites to win the London 2012 Olympic Games, which starts at the end of the month.
The United Kingdom is represented by two schools - Kingston Grammar School (boys) and Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Wakefield (boys).
St John’s College (boys) and Chisipite School (girls) are the teams from Zimbabwe,
A host of Western Cape schools; Wynberg Boys’ High, Rondebosch, Paul Roos Gim, Stellenberg, DF Malan, Hugenote, Parel Vallei, Pinelands, Edgemead, Paarl Boys’ High, Rhenish Girls’ High, Somerset College, Reddam House and Bloemhof will be joined by visiting schools Pretoria Girls’ High, Outeniqua High and York High.
All matches will be played on top-rated Astro pitches at Hartleyvale Hockey Stadium, the University of Cape Town, Wynberg Boys’ High, Bergvliet High and DF Malan High
The Pool matches for the 16 teams are from 9am to 7pm on Wednesday, July 18; Thursday, July 19 and Friday, July 20, with finals day on Sunday, July 22. The Friday is a rest day.
It all points to some wonderful youth hockey for the people of Cape town to enjoy.
POOLS
Boys
Group A: NSW Bushrangers (Aus), Outeniqua, Parel Vallei, Bergvliet HS.
Group B: Rondebosch, Kingston Grammar (Eng), Paarl Gim, Edgemead.
Group C: Wynberg, Queen Elizabeth Grammar (Eng), Paarl, Pinelands.
Group D: Paul Roos, St John’s College (Zim), Hugenote, DF Malan.
Girls
Group A: NSW Bushrangers (Aus), Paarl Gim, Rhenish, Bergvliet.
Group B: Chisipite School (Zim), Stellenberg, Somerset College, Edgemead.
Group C: Reddam House, Outeniqua, Bloemhof, Pinelands.
Group D: Pretoria Girls’ High, DF Malan, Parel Vallei, York High.
Article submitted by the author
HI announces list of 32 junior players for monthly stipend
NEW DELHI: Hockey India has named 32 junior men hockey players to be given a monthly stipend of Rs 10,000 each. This will come as a big support for the talented players to purchase their equipment and help reduce the financial burden on their families.
Hockey India will make quarterly payments from the quarter of July-September 2012. Besides, best quality goalkeeping kits to the three goalkeepers shortlisted.
Out of 32 junior men players selected for monthly stipend by Hockey India, 13 were members of the Indian team that won bronze medal in the 7th Junior Men's Asia Cup recently concluded at Malacca, Malaysia from 3-13 May 2012.
Hockey India has already announced the list of 32 Junior Women players who will also get this monthly stipend.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Keshav Dutt, Sushant Tirkey, Naveen Kumar
Defenders: Chandan Singh, Gaganpreet Singh, Sukhmanjit Singh, Hans Raj, Gagandeep Singh, Amit Rohidas, Sampath Kumar Maylaram
Midfielders: Jatinder Singh, Manish Bishnoi, Jarmanpreet Singh, Baljit Singh, Surender Kumar, Harjit Singh, Rockey Lohchab, Suresh Toppo
Forwards: Naveen Antil, Talwinder Singh, Tarandeep Singh, Amon Mirash Tirkey, Parvinder Singh, Vinit Kamble, Vikas Choudhary, Stanli Minz, Anup Valmiki, PL Thimmanna, Sukhdev Singh, Mandeep Singh, Malak Singh, Satbir Singh.
The Times of India
Men’s Jr. National Coach Mathias Ahrens scouts Ontario athletes
Ontario National U16 ID Camp
Young field hockey athletes from across Ontario descended on Ottawa earlier this week to participate in an under 16 national identification camp. The camp was facilitated by the Men’s Junior National Team Head Coach, Mathias Ahrens. He was in town to identify young men that could potentially compete for Team Canada in the future.
“It was very good to see so many young, up and coming players,” says Mathias. “Ontario has many committed and talented players. There are already some athletes that definitely have potential to take the step up to the national level.”
The Men’s Junior National Team intends to scout athletes from across Canada to build an under 17 squad in the near future. Prior to his trip to Ontario, Ahrens held a similar camp in British Columbia. He has plans to visit regions from coast to coast in the coming months. Longer-term, the national program will continue developing a strong connection with provincial programs by making bi-annual visits to every region in Canada.
The Head Coach is now back in Vancouver, preparing the Men’s Junior U21 National Team for their upcoming 3 Nations Tournament. Chile, Canada and the USA will compete in a series of nine matches from July 15th – July 23rd at Eric Hamber Field in Vancouver, BC. Visit www.fieldhockey.ca/3NATIONS for details.
Field Hockey Canada media release
Four local field hockey players heading to AAU Junior Olympmic Games in Houston
By BRITTANY GRUGAN
Jane Donio Enscoe made an impact as a freshman field hockey player at Hammonton High School last fall.
She scored nine goals and helped the Blue Devils to a South Jersey Group III playoff berth. If her summer is any indication, she'll have an even bigger affect this year.
Donio Enscoe, a rising sophomore, is one of four local field hockey players who were selected to compete in the AAU Junior Olympics Games to be held Aug. 1-4 in Houston. Also selected were Ocean City sophomore Lauren McNally and sisters Kasey and Madison Morano, who attend Eastern but live in Hammonton.
"It's the top athletes in the country for my age group," Donio Enscoe, 15, said Tuesday. "It's such an honor. It'll be a really great opportunity for me to go further in the field hockey community."
All four girls play for the Spirit of USA club team, one of the nation's best field hockey programs. They were selected based on their performances at the USA Field Hockey Futures tournament last month in Virginia Beach, Va.
McNally, who lives in Marmora, simply hopes to follow in the footsteps of the many talented players who preceded her at Ocean City. That list includes big sister Danielle, the 2009 Press Female Athlete of the Fall, who now plays for Indiana University.
Ocean City is perennially one of the Cape-Atlantic League's top teams. The Red Raiders have won the South Jersey Group III title 10 times in the last 15 years.
"It is a great honor to get to play with all of the best players in the country," McNally, 15, said. "There have been a lot of really good players from Ocean City to make it to this level, and I'm happy to be one of them."
Also selected for the Junior Olympics were the Moran sisters, who live in Hammonton but attend Eastern because it is in the state's Choice Schools program.
It's been a field hockey summer for the Morano sisters. In addition to earning spots in the AAU Junior Olympic Games, they returned this week from a trip to the University of Massachusetts for Junior National Camp, which serves as a selection camp for the U.S. Junior National Squad.
Selections for each age group, which feature the top 30 players in the nation, will be made Monday. Rebecca Holden, a Lower Cape May graduate, went to the camp as well to try out for the U-19 squad.
"It's a big achievement making (Junior National Camp)," said Madison, 14, an incoming freshman at Eastern. "It was tough, but it was a lot of fun and a nice learning experience."
Whether the Morgans make the Junior National Squad or not, they look forward to the AAU event in Houston.
Kasey, 16, will be a junior at Eastern. The Vikings' field hockey team is a perennial state power that has won 13 straight state Group IV titles. It's difficult to stand out in a program as dominant as Eastern's. The U.S. Junior Olympics offer her a chance to show off her skills.
"Getting to (Junior National Camp) was great, but the (AAU) Junior Olympics is the next step," Kasey said. "It's good to have for colleges and coaches to see."
McNally, Donio Escoe and the Morano sisters will travel to Houston at the end of the month for the prestigious tournament.
"This is the highest ranking tournament I've ever been selected to," Donio Escoe said.
The AAU Junior Olympic Games undoubtedly will give each girl valuable experience. They'll find out just how valuable when the high school field hockey season starts in September.
Press of Atlantic City