Scotland Women U21 prepare to take on Ulster U23

Scotland U18 girlsScotland’s U21 women’s side is preparing to take on Ulster U23 at the National Hockey Centre in Glasgow this week.

Three games will take place, beginning on Tuesday 28 June; then on Wednesday 29 June; and Thursday 30 June as the 21s continue to build for next year’s under 21 Euros tournament.

The mood in the Scotland camp is positive with a number of young players included in the squad for the first time. Many players have moved up from Scotland’s U18 side and there is a lot of excitement amongst the squad ahead of the games against Ulster.

Ellie Hutchison said: “I’m very much looking forward to this, I haven’t played for my country in about a year now, so I’m very excited now to play one with a new team. Everyone is buzzing.”

Susan Al-Haddad agreed, saying: “I’m really excited for Tuesday because it will be our first game together as a team. After all this training finally we’ll get to play. It’s our first under 21 match for a lot of us.”

The Scots are up against tough opposition and are relishing the opportunity to pit their wits against Ulster U23 on Tuesday. Kerry Anne Hastings said: “I’m really looking forward to this week because it’s such a young team and it’ll be interesting to see if we can step up to the challenge, especially against an under 23 Ulster team. It’ll be nice after training for a couple of weeks now to play against good competition and see if we can step up to the challenge.

“They’re very physical and have good skills. They’re quite a small region and they’ve trained as a young squad for a while, and know each other very well. We don’t know each other quite as well because we have a young team but this is to develop for the under 21s Europeans next year, that’s what we’re preparing for, but I personally know them through English universities. I play against them.”

On the horizon is games against England U21s on July 10th. For this encounter it is likely to be a mixed variety of experience with some of the seniors who can still play U21 joining up with the squad. It’s all part of the building process for next year’s Euros. First up however is Ulster U23 and the Scotland players have issued a rallying call to fans for a strong turnout to get behind the team. Chloe Hardie added: “Being at home it would be really great if we could get a big support to come down and get behind the team. A big crowd always encourages us and lifts us for games even further, and we’ve definitely got home advantage playing on our home pitch. We train here every week and a big crowd would be such a bonus.”

 

The U21s are playing Ulster u23s on Tuesday 28th June and Wednesday 29th June at 7pm, and again on Thursday 30th June at 12 noon. All matches will be played at the National Hockey Centre in Glasgow. Come along and support the girls!

 

The squad for the matches is:

Susan Al Haddad (Match 1 and 2)

Megan Inch

Erin Gilchrist

Alison Eadie

Iona Armour

Lorna Cruickshank

McKenzie Bell

Drew Berry

Emily Cross

Ellie Halliday

Ellie Hutcheson

Tess Hannah

Chloe Hardie

Kerry Anne Hastings

Katie Hibbert

Frances Lonergan

Emma McDairmid

Shona McNab

Makenzie Brown

 

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