BLACK STICKS TEAMS MAKE HISTORY
BLACK STICKS TEAMS MAKE HISTORY
February 16, 2020
The Vantage Black Sticks Men have secured their first-ever FIH Hockey Pro League win in regulation time with a determined 3-2 win over Spain yesterday. The final quarter had plenty of fireworks as the Spanish looked to work themselves back into the contest. Leon Hayward was massive for the New Zealand team as he scrambled from side to side in goal with the speed of a gazelle.
Black Sticks Men’s Coach Darren Smith said after the game “Leon was in good form for us today. We were more clinical on both ends of the field, which was a big factor in the turnaround from yesterday.”
The Vantage Black Sticks Men came into their second contest of the weekend hoping to be able to put the demons of the previous match behind them where Spain waltzed away 4-1 winners. Full match report here.
CLINICAL SPAIN SEE OFF NEW ZEALAND CHALLENGE - Saturday
On Saturday the Spanish Men made the most of their goalscoring opportunities and went on to beat the Black Sticks men 4-1. While Spain dominated large portions of the match, the Kiwis had several opportunities to fight their way back into the contest.
World number 8 Spain came up against a new look Vantage Black Sticks men's side at Nga Puna Wai on Saturday. These two sides have notoriously been hard to separate on the score sheet, and the opening quarter set the tone for what would shape up as another tight affair. Saturday's full match report here.
BLACK STICKS WOMEN GO BACK-TO-BACK
Yesterday the Vantage Black Sticks Women worked their way past a determined USA team for a 3-1 victory and back to back wins for the first time in the 2020 FIH Hockey Pro League. New Zealand Captain Stacey Michelsen was instrumental in two of the New Zealand goals and was a constant threat throughout the match.
After a convincing performance in their first match yesterday the Vantage Black Sticks Women were aiming to back that up with another quality performance against the USA. An outright win would move the Kiwis into the top three of the FIH Hockey Pro League. Full match report here.
BLACK STICKS WOMEN PUT A TOUGH WEEK BEHIND THEM WITH A CLINICAL PERFORMANCE ON THE TURF - Saturday
The Vantage Black Sticks Women put a tough week behind them on Saturday with a convicing 3-1 win over the United States Women, Olivia Merry and Olivia Shannon continued their goalscoring form for the New Zealand side as they helped the Kiwis secure their second win of the FIH Hockey Pro League.
The two sides walked out onto the Ngā Puna Wai pitch on a somber note, following the passing of their longtime strength and conditioning coach Brad Conza. Once the match got underway the Kiwis were playing with some great speed as they looked to run the United States off the pitch. Saturday's full match report here.