Vantage Black Sticks Announce Teams for Game 1 vs Netherlands

Vantage Black Sticks Announce Teams for Game 1 vs Netherlands

Free to use images which is going to be updated throughout the FIH Pro League
https://www.dropbox.com/…/k09fzy…/AABFJnwOM1FvMvGfwli7RjUUa…
Please note that the following people are going to be available at the following times for Media Interviews. Please contact Jo Perry – 021 382 306 to organise an interview. 
Lulu Tuilotolava, Kelsey Smith, Nick Ross and Blair Tarrant will be available for interviews Wednesday evening at 7-8pm.
Darren Smith (3:30pm-5) and Sean Dancer will be availble for interviews on Thursday. 
For any media enquiries from the 1st February including game day please contact matthew.williams@hockeynz.co.nz or 022 063 5705.
Media Release Begins 
Game 2 vs Belgium Team Naming and Preview 
Vantage Black Sticks Men’s Coach Darren Smith has rewarded his side for a fantastic effort in their previous match against the Netherlands as he has made only one change to the side that competed in the opening match. Dominic Dixon come into the side for George Muir, the Black Sticks will be looking for Dom to create space up front and put the Belgium defence under considerable pressure.
The Vantage Blacks Men came storming back into the match in the second quarter of Sundays match against the Netherlands tying the match at 3-3 after falling behind 3-0. Unfortunately, a defensive lapse in the 3rd quarter cost them a chance at the upset. The Men will regroup and then be looking for more consistency on both ends of the field if they are going to challenge the World Champions.
Midfielder Nick Ross is lining up for his 100th match. In the opening match Nick showed some outstanding determination and was a constant threat on both ends of the field. 
The Belgium Men have already played 2 matches in the FIH Pro League where they were shocked in their opening match by Spain where they lost in a penalty shootout. They however bounced back for a big win last weekend against the men from Argentina and look to be back to their formidable best. 
The Belgium side which is led by Kiwi Shane McLeod who has taken this Belgium team to incredible heights over the past 3 years that has seen them rise to number one in the world, win the World Cup as well as collecting the Silver Medal at the Olympic Games. The challenge ahead of the Vantage Black Sticks Men is going to be immense. These two sides met last year in the 4 Nations in New Zealand where the Black Sticks won one of the games and lost one, so this team knows what it takes to beat the Belgium Men. 
Watch out for Arthur Van Doren, on his day which is looking to be every game recently he is the most feared defender in international hockey. He creates so much of the Belgium attack through his long probing runs as well as his incredible long passing where he will often find a player on the other side of the field and give them a great go forward ball putting pressure on the opposition. 
Vantage Black Sticks Men vs Belgium Men. Friday 1stFebruary at 7:10pm. Coverage is on TVNZ 2 
Vantage Black Sticks Men’s Side to take on Belgium
Name Position Caps
George Enerson Goalkeeper 44
Dom Dixon Goalkeeper 2
Shea McAleese Defender 278
Dane Lett Defender 43
Blair Tarrant Defender 194
Harry Miskimmin Midfielder 51
Kane Russell Defender 134
Arun Panchia Defender 261
Nic Woods Midfielder 98
Nick Ross Midfielder 99
Aidan Sarikaya Midfielder 28
Marcus Child Midfielder 142
Mac Wilcox Midfielder/Striker 20
Hugo Inglis Striker 217
Dominic Newman Striker 47
Jared Panchia Striker 106
Stephen Jenness Striker 223
Dylan Thomas Striker 8

Vantage Black Sticks Women’s Coach Sean Dancer has made only one change to the side that took on the Netherlands in the opening match of the FIH Pro League. This is an experienced side that showed some great resolve on both ends of the turf in the 1-0 loss to the Netherlands. 
Lulu Tuilotolava comes back into the side for Shiloh Gloyn. Lulu was a member of the 2018 World Cup team and she will bring some great speed to a strike line which put the Netherlands side under a lot of pressure in the opening game. 
Sean Dancer commented “Belgium are a growing team and we need to again bring all our intensity and effort to the game. We can’t afford to be casual with any of our preparation, and I am expecting the group to be extremely focused on gaining a successful result for Friday’s game”
The last time that these two sides met was at the 2018 Hockey World Cup where the Vantage Black Sticks came away from the match victorious 4-2 with Olivia Merry bagging a brace of goals. The Vantage Black Sticks will be looking for that same production from Merry as well as the other strikers as they look to put the improving Belgium Women on the back foot from the start of the game. 
The Belgium Women are no slouches having risen to 13th in the world but are a team that has shown great improvement much like their male counterparts and are looking poised to make a leap into the top echelon of women’s hockey teams. Look out for vastly experienced striker Jill Boon who has been one of the central players in the Belgium Women’s improvements over the past few seasons. Jill has played 118 times for Belgium and has so far amassed 28 goals and will be looking to improve on that total against the 6th ranked Black Sticks. 
Vantage Black Sticks Women vs Netherlands Women. Friday 1st February at 5:10pm. Coverage is on TVNZ 2 
Vantage Black Sticks Women’s Side to take on Belgium
Name Position Caps
Sally Rutherford Goalkeeper 171
Grace O’Hanlon Goalkeeper 39
Sam Charlton Defender 227
Tarryn Davey Defender 38
Frances Davies Defender 54
Louisa Tuilotolava Midfielder 12
Ella Gunson Defender 197
Megan Hull Defender 5
Tessa Jopp Midfielder 18
Rose Keddell Defender 184
Olivia Merry Striker 206
Stacey Michelsen Defender 262
Brooke Neal Defender 155
Kirsten Pearce Striker 104
Olivia Shannon Striker 1
Kelsey Smith Striker 87
Liz Thompson Defender 174
Amy Robinson Striker 57

Release Ends

What is the FIH Pro League?
The FIH Pro League – Presented by Sentinel Homes will see home and away games between the world’s top 9 Men’s and Women’s hockey nations played between January and June, starting in 2019, culminating in a winner takes all Grand Final. More details athttp://blacksticks.co.nz/2019FIHProLeague