Scotland Women squad announced for Champions Challenge tournament in Glasgow

 

With the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games less than 100 days away, Scotland Senior Women face a crucial test of their ambitions when they compete as the host nation in the FIH Champions Challenge at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre from 27 April-4 May.
Scotland Senior Women Head Coach Gordon Shepherd has selected a squad of eighteen players for the tournament. The Scots are drawn in Pool A against Belgium, India and Korea, while Pool B features Ireland, South Africa, Spain and USA.
The FIH Champions Challenge features teams ranked 8-16 in the FIH World Rankings and the winner of the tournament will be promoted to the FIH Champions Trophy .
Discussing his selection of the squad, Shepherd said, “We have a good blend of youth and experience in the squad. It was very difficult to pick the team for Champions Challenge as all the players have been extremely competitive during the early stages of full-time training. I’m happy with the strength of the squad.
“It’s going to be a tough tournament as a lot of the competing teams are using it to prepare for the forthcoming World Cup in the Netherlands. However, we have had excellent preparation going into the tournament and are capable of a strong performance.
“We know that every team is ranked higher than us but we have always performed well in the Champions Challenge over the years, coming third and fourth recently. We always set out to compete against the higher ranked nations and we are aiming for a top four finish.”
The Scots will go into the tournament on the back of three warm-up matches against Wales at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre this weekend.
“Wales will be a fair test in the warm up matches”, said Shepherd. “They are constantly improving and will be competing at Glasgow 2014. Certainly difficult set of matches but I am looking for the team to gel and for solid performances”.
Scotland Senior Women: Nicola Cochrane (Edinburgh University), Vikki Bunce (Dundee Wanderers), Morag McLellan (Clydesdale Western), Alison Bell (Grove Menzieshill), Rebecca Ward (Dundee Wanderers), Catriona Ralph (Clydesdale Western), Sarah Robertson (Edinburgh University), Linda Clement (Captain, Grove Menzieshill), Ailsa Wyllie (Grove Menzieshill), Leigh Fawcett (Grove Menzieshill), Rebecca Merchant (Edinburgh University), Nikki Kidd (Canterbury), Susan McGilveray (Clydesdale Western), Nicola Lloyd (Canterbury), Nicola Skrastin (Clydesdale Western), Emily Maguire (Reading), Aileen Davis (Clifton), Amy Gibson (Old Loughtonians).

With the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games less than 100 days away, Scotland Senior Women face a crucial test of their ambitions when they compete as the host nation in the FIH Champions Challenge at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre from 27 April-4 May.

Scotland Senior Women Head Coach Gordon Shepherd has selected a squad of eighteen players for the tournament. The Scots are drawn in Pool A against Belgium, India and Korea, while Pool B features Ireland, South Africa, Spain and USA.

Scotland Senior Women

The FIH Champions Challenge features teams ranked 8-16 in the FIH World Rankings and the winner of the tournament will be promoted to the FIH Champions Trophy .

Discussing his selection of the squad, Shepherd said, “We have a good blend of youth and experience in the squad. It was very difficult to pick the team for Champions Challenge as all the players have been extremely competitive during the early stages of full-time training. I’m happy with the strength of the squad.

“It’s going to be a tough tournament as a lot of the competing teams are using it to prepare for the forthcoming World Cup in the Netherlands. However, we have had excellent preparation going into the tournament and are capable of a strong performance.

“We know that every team is ranked higher than us but we have always performed well in the Champions Challenge over the years, coming third and fourth recently. We always set out to compete against the higher ranked nations and we are aiming for a top four finish.”

The Scots will go into the tournament on the back of three warm-up matches against Wales at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre this weekend.

“Wales will be a fair test in the warm up matches”, said Shepherd. “They are constantly improving and will be competing at Glasgow 2014. Certainly difficult set of matches but I am looking for the team to gel and for solid performances”.

Scotland Senior Women: Nicola Cochrane (Edinburgh University), Vikki Bunce (Dundee Wanderers), Morag McLellan (Clydesdale Western), Alison Bell (Grove Menzieshill), Rebecca Ward (Dundee Wanderers), Catriona Ralph (Clydesdale Western), Sarah Robertson (Edinburgh University), Linda Clement (Captain, Grove Menzieshill), Ailsa Wyllie (Grove Menzieshill), Leigh Fawcett (Grove Menzieshill), Rebecca Merchant (Edinburgh University), Nikki Kidd (Canterbury), Susan McGilveray (Clydesdale Western), Nicola Lloyd (Canterbury), Nicola Skrastin (Clydesdale Western), Emily Maguire (Reading), Aileen Davis (Clifton), Amy Gibson (Old Loughtonians).

Officials: Sarah Wilson (umpire) Barbara Morgan, Anne Wotherspoon (technical officials)

Tickets are still on sale for the FIH Champions Challenge. Guarantee your seat today.
Full competition schedule, team information and stats can be viewed on the FIH Champions Challenge I website

Scotland v Wales, Glasgow National Hockey Centre:
19 April, 2pm
20 April, 2pm
21 April, 12pm

Officials: Maggie Conacher, Alex Walker (umpires) Barbara Morgan, Anne Wotherspoon (technical officials) Aileen Ross (umpire coach)


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