New Zealand Vs Argentina three-test women’s hockey series set to start in Whangarei today
New Zealand woman’s hockey team is all set to take on Argentina in the first match of the three-test series at Rosvall ITM Hockey Centre, Whangarei today.
After two successive wins, the Black Sticks will be facing their third test series on their home ground since the past two months.
The host team arrived at the venue for their final training on Friday, and looked to boost up their physical as well as mental stamina to compete against World no.1 Las Leonas.
On the whole, the Black Sticks are quite familiar with playing against the Argentinean squad. Eight new players have been introduced in the New Zelanad squad, who will mark their international debut against Argentina. These players are Jan Burrows, Ella
Gunson, Laura Douglas, Charlotte and Samantha Harrison, Anna Thorpe, Alana Millington and Stacey Michelsen.
Most of these girls belong to Northland’s hockey squad, which the New Zealand’s women hockey team coach Mark Hager believes is a plus-point.
"While they haven't played together a lot in recent years, it is a bit of a bonus with knowing each other so well and what kind of leads they can expect. It is pretty unique to have such a strong representation from one school," said Hager.
The coach says the team will look to pressurise the Argentinian team, who is missing their ace player Luciana Aymar (seven-time title winner of the World’s Player of the Year title).
“It is hard to identify any weaknesses but that doesn't mean we will sit back and defend. We want to pressure them as high up the pitch as we can,” said Hager. He is confident his team will perform well, as they have beaten higher ranked teams in the past
too.
The Black Sticks squad for the series consists of Anna Thorpe, Jan Burrows, Emily Naylor, Kayla Sharland, Stacey Michelsen, Sam Harrison and Laura Douglas as midfielders; Petrea Webster, Cathryn Finlayson, Katie Glynn, and Charlotte Harrison as strikers; Sophie
Devine, Clarissa Eshuis, Ella Gunson, Alana Millington and Amanda Green as defenders whereas Bianca Russell and Sally Rutherford as goalkeepers.
The Argentina’s squad comprises of Rocio Gonzalez Canda, Julia Simonassi, Rosario Luchetti, Maria Laura Aladro, Daniela Lucia Sruoga, Ana Macarena Rodriguez Perez, Sofia Maccari, Rocio Sanchez Moccia,Constanza Aguirre, Victoria Zuloaga, Maria Josefina Sruoga,
Mariela Carla Scarone, Ana Lopez Basavilbaso, Maria Silvina D'Elia, Delfina Merino, Gisella Andrea Kanevsky, Maria Jimena Cedres Lobosco, Florencia Martina Habif, Maria Noel Barrionuevo and Marcela Casale.
After a one-day break, the next two tests will be played at the North Harbour Hockey Centre in Albany, Hamilton on March 28 and March 29 respectively.
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