The successful Black Sticks Women's side that won the Oceania Cup last weekend has been retained to contest the BDO Champions Challenge in October. Promising young school girl striker Sam Harrison, (18), has also been added to the squad to allow Coach Mark Hager to continue her development at international level.
Sam, the younger sister of Charlotte Harrison, debuted for the Black Sticks against
The extended squad of 19 will head to the Champions Challenge on October 1 with the goal of finishing in the top four of the eight-team tournament.
The tournament will be played in
The winner of the tournament gains entry to the next Samsung Champions Trophy contested by the top six teams in the world.
Black Sticks Coach Mark Hager sees the tournament as good opportunity to continue growing the confidence of his still relatively inexperienced squad.
ÔÇ£We have a lot of work to do to compete with the top six teams in the world but we are heading in the right direction,ÔÇØ he says.
The side showed growing maturity and grit to come back from a two goal deficit against fourth ranked
Wellington-based keeper Beth Jurgeleit was outstanding during the final. Australia were awarded 11 penalty corners in normal time and four in extra time, and only converted one.
Three of the teams,
The team will play three build-up matches against
Before that the squad will be involved in playing for their regional National Hockey League teams. The NHL starts next weekend with the first round being played in Whangarei, Palmerston North,
Team
Source: Hockey New
