Ibrahim's remarkable achievements on the squash court are a testament to his exceptional skill and unwavering commitment to the sport. Hailing from Egypt, Youssef has claimed numerous titles and accolades throughout his career, including the George C. McFarland, Jr. Squash Award, 9 PSA titles, World #11 in April 2022, runner-up at the Windy City Open (a PSA platinum event), and current #31 position in the PSA World Tour Rankings.
These achievements underscore Ibrahim's talent, consistency, and potential for greatness in the world of squash.
"I have watched Youssef play for years and have always been incredibly impressed with his style of play and overall game," said Dave Rosen, VP of Racquet Sports. "To achieve what he did as a college student while playing the PSA tour is special. He's used Harrow for years, so it was a natural fit for us to work with him on a long-term deal to ensure his continued success with our products. The Youssef Ibrahim custom Spark 115 is a special frame designed by the player himself, and we are excited to watch 'The Golden Boy' rise in the ranks and get back to the top of the game. He has worked hard on his recovery from injury, and it's rewarding to see him healthy, fit, and strong."
“I am extremely grateful for this opportunity to play with Harrow and look forward to a long and successful partnership,” said Youssef. “They have always had a strong professional team and I have long admired all that Harrow has done for squash in Egypt and around the world. I have used Harrow racquets for years and they have always been the best fit for my game, so this was an easy decision for me. My new custom Spark 115 is the perfect racquet to get me back to the top after a tough year filled with injuries. I am ready for the new season and confident that with Harrow’s support, I can achieve my goals and reach new heights in my career!”
Harrow Sports looks forward to supporting Youssef Ibrahim in his quest for continued success and excellence in squash. With his outstanding talent and the backing of Harrow Sports, Youssef is poised to make an indelible mark in the coming years.
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See the latest Harrow Sports custom gear coming straight out of our facility in Denver.
]]>Love to see great feedback from the Devereaux community, check out this review from Joe:
Devereaux might be sold out, but you can design your own custom paddles with us. Call (800) 541-2905 to start a custom order or click the link to submit a custom gear inquiry: Get Custom
And shop Devereaux Pickleball gear here: Shop Devereaux
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"Jack is more than a stellar athlete, he's a character-driven and motivated participant in the broader athletic community," said Mark Hayden, Harrow's CEO. "We are excited to see what he can do at a brand defined by over 20 years of character, integrity, and tradition."
"Let's do this," said Knight.
Under Knight's leadership, Harrow seeks to establish a larger footprint in lacrosse, field hockey, pickleball, and custom uniforms by reaching old and new fans of the brand.
]]>Check out some of the great work coming out of the shop:
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See the latest Harrow Sports custom gear coming straight out of our facility in Denver.
]]>A Squash Mystery in Egypt: Is There Something in the Nile? nyti.ms/2N55JnR
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DENVER, CO • August 28, 2019
Harrow Sports is pleased to welcome Julia Feiss and Nicki Wilkinson to take on
the role of Account Supervisor, Women’s Field Sports. In this role they will be
responsible for reigniting the growth of Women’s Lacrosse.
Julia and Nicki have just finished standout careers at the University of Denver,
culminating in a senior campaign where they led the team to the Elite Eight for
the first time in program history. The two leave behind a legacy that sets a new
standard of excellence for the program.
Feiss is excited about the opportunity with Harrow, and said, “I can't wait to
continue my career in lacrosse off the field and help Harrow become a more
significant player in women’s lacrosse.”
Wilkinson is equally excited about joining the Harrow team, and said," Sports have always been a huge part of my life - my greatest memories and best friends
are all from sports. I'm so pumped to be working for such a spectacular company, and doing so alongside one of my best friends and former teammates.”
Harrow Sports Vice President of Sales, Keith Krasney stated, “We couldn't be
more excited about adding Julia and Nicki to our team. Their work ethic and
character on and off the field are a perfect match to our core values and brand
identity.”
ABOUT HARROW SPORTS
Harrow Sports is a global manufacturer of the finest products for Squash, Field
Hockey and Women's Lacrosse. Harrow revolutionized the women's game in
2001 by introducing the Title IX composite shaft. Since then, elite players have
overwhelmingly adopted composite technology. Harrow will continue to innovate
and give elite athletes the equipment they need to excel.
LIMA, PERU - August 6, 2019 - It was the battle of the North American foes as the No. 13 U.S. Women’s National Team met No. 18 Canada to see which team would advance to the gold medal match of the 2019 Pan American Games. The winter weather in Lima, Peru left the air in the Villa Maria del Triunfo complex chilly as the evening match got underway but the teams brought the heat in what would be a closely matched game. After scoring a goal late in the first quarter and adding a second in the third, Canada prevented USA from producing a comeback, like they had managed earlier in the tournament. The score was left at USA 0, Canada 2 following 60 minutes of play.
From the first whistle, USA brought intensity and drove hard into their attacking end. Canada fumbled under the pressure and turned the ball over several times at the beginning of the quarter. As both teams settled into their game plans, Canada saw a few close chances to score. USA goalkeeper Kelsey Bing (Houston, Texas) prevented a goal as she slid out to meet a pass dumped into the circle in danger of being tapped in by Brienne Stairs. With five minutes to go in the quarter, Canada put one away off a penalty corner drag by Karli Johansen to take the lead. Canada used that momentum to continue to test USA but did not score again as the quarter concluded with USA trailing 0-1.
USA was on a mission to score as they entered the second quarter. Earning a penalty corner within the first minute, they came close to finding an equalizer but Canada's defense broke up the play. As the quarter went on, the game turned back-and-forth as both teams broke out toward their respective ends of the field. Canada was awarded their second penalty corner but found no result, allowing USA to counterattack the other way. After a sequence of passing found Erin Matson (Chadds Ford, Pa.) she sent it ahead to Lauren Moyer (York, Pa.) for a shot on goal that went high and wide. USA struggled to connect for the final touch into the goal to tie the match, and the halftime score mirrored that at the end of the first quarter.
Once the halftime break concluded, the teams again took turns on who made the attack. On a cross pass by Kate Wright, Bing stepped for the ball, but Madeline Secco stuck her stick in to get Canada’s second goal. Following USA regrouped and came out with a vengeance as they worked into the circle. Canada packed in the defense who made the stop and clear before USA could convert to cut the deficit. At the 40-minute mark, Canada saw another opportunity that went just wide when a tricky penalty corner play slipped past the left post. With a minute remaining in the quarter, USA earned a penalty corner of their own that was miss trapped. Kathleen Sharkey (Moosic, Pa.) adapted and still got a shot off that was turned away by Canada goalkeeper Kaitlyn Williams. USA looked to make one more attempt at scoring before the time ran out as Linnea Gonzales (Bel Air, Md.) received the ball just outside the circle, but she could not get the shot off. The red, white and blue continued to chase Canada who led by two goals.
USA did not let up and fought harder to find a positive result in the final quarter of the match. They pressed higher and attacked with more aggression to challenge the Canada defense. Elise Wong was issued a 5-minute yellow card late into the frame, but Canada continued to control possession. As frustration set in, Canada used it to their advantage. With each USA developing play, the ball was turned over and sent the other way. The neighbors to the North denied USA from getting on the scoreboard, and the match concluded with the score at USA 0, Canada 2.
The U.S. Women's National Team will take on No. 15 Chile on Friday, August 9 at 4:00 p.m. ET in the Pan American Games bronze medal match. Watch it live on ESPN3.
Team USA is ready in Lima with a gold medal and automatic qualification to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on the line. With that, fans and followers can join the conversation and follow along with additional story lines with the hashtag #AllEyesOnLima on social media and usafieldhockey.com. Check back often for more stories around USMNT and USWNT athletes, umpires, venue, history and more as the Pan American Games get underway.
Don’t miss a moment! For more information, check out the 2019 Pan American Games Event Program by clicking here.
Looking for a way to support the teams in Lima? Click here to make a gift today and leave a comment with your gift to cheer on your favorite athlete on the U.S. Men’s or Women’s National Team. All notes will be sent to the team.
Here is a recap of what has happened so far with the #TeamHarrow sponsored athletes:
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When I was younger, creating my own stick and brand was never even a thought. I feel honored and humbled to be able, but more importantly, to be trusted to be a role model for young girls like I once was. I take that responsibility very seriously, as I know all of us on the national team do. I started playing field hockey in second grade and had dreams of going to the Olympics by fourth grade. Since then, I’ve realized that field hockey is more than us as individuals, or our team’s upcoming events. It is a community that you will be a part of for your whole life. I hope that during my time on the national team, and after, I can be an active member of this community, and connect with people in meaningful ways. Apart of my journey is working with Harrow Sports. With them, I am able to be visible and available for athletes in the U.S. Creating this stick was just another way of sharing a piece of me with the field hockey community that I love. First and foremost, thank you Harrow Sports for giving me this opportunity.
The AH13 stick is extremely special to me, and a lot of thought went into it. I saw this as an opportunity to use my platform to uplift another community that I believe in, the LGBTQ+ community. While people will play with the stick for all kinds of reasons, when I play with my stick it is a statement of support and affirmation for folks that find themselves, in any capacity, outside of the mainstream and culturally accepted identities. I want the rainbow to be a reminder to love, be proud of and care for your authentic self. A self that isn’t fixed, but is growing and evolving. If just one person sees my stick and feels accepted, I will have accomplished what I set out to do. As a field hockey community, I hope that we can together continue to spread awareness, create a safe space, and uplift voices of and for LGBTQ+ athletes.
Ultimately, I know that a stick is a very personal thing. When I was younger, I hand-picked and treasured each new stick I got, and trusted that it wouldn’t fail me when I needed it (even though I controlled it). This stick is by far my favorite. I hand-picked this stick as well, down to the bow, colors and detailing, and am sharing it with you. It is a small piece of me, and I know that you will be able to trust it in the seconds and milli-seconds when you need it most.
June 2008 was the first time I was exposed to field hockey. Up to that point, the only hockey I was exposed to was the more common form of hockey, Ice Hockey. I would often be placed in full goalie equipment and told to stand in the net in our driveway so my older brother could practice his shooting. The road trips traveling to a different rink each weekend would take a lifetime in a child’s mind. And now it was my turn to play!
Standing in small groups based on our grade, I was scared. I was shy. I did not want to be there alone. We were handed an orange stick (which I still have today), shin guards, and a mouth guard that was much too large to fit in our mouths. As the week progressed, I could not coordinate my feet to prevent them from hitting a ball. When the camp concluded, I vowed I would never play field hockey again because I believed I could never get my feet out of the way enough to play.
Fast forward to my seventh-grade year when junior high sports rolled around. I had stopped growing at that point, to a solid five feet of anger. My volleyball dreams were forgotten. Soccer was not an option because I played too aggressively and would check anyone who got close enough to me. Thankfully, I was persuaded to try field hockey again.
This time I knew I was going to use my feet. Not for fouls or tripping opponents but to be the defender of the goal. I was going to be a goalie. All because of my initial introduction to Field Hockey and how I couldn't get my feet out of the way. Years later and I am still happily playing as a goalie.
The camp I participated in 2008 was Big Sister Little Sister, which is a camp that still runs today. This camp has been attended by thousands of young girls eager to learn the sport. It is run through Solanco School District’s Varsity Field Hockey program, and it provides an opportunity for young players to experience their first love of field hockey. Teaching them the fundamentals of the game and laying the foundation for a lasting passion. The camp is run each year for a week in June, and is offered to girls ranging in age from preschool to 8th grade.
Big Sister Little Sister is coached by the varsity players and monitored by the high school coaching staff at Solanco. The camp has been running for over fifteen years. The camp was originated and run by head coach Deb Atkins from 2002-2017. Big Sister Little Sister is now run by the new coaching staff of Whitney Hawkins and Kylee Garman. A large turnout is expected for the 2019 camp.
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Time was clicking down with the score solidly at 3-1 in our favor, we were about to win our first game of the Pro-League and all I felt was relief. Relief that all the hard work we were putting in day in and day out was finally paying off. Relief that we could win a game. Relief that we could make our USA Field Hockey Alums proud. To me it felt like a weight being lifted off my shoulders, and the space the weight had vacated quickly filled with a re-ignited fire to win and compete.
The day was extra special for two reasons, three for me. First, before the game the team was called together to meet our USA Field Hockey Foundation. These are amazing men and women who invest in us and believe in what we are about. It was an honor to finally put a face to the people who give us a voice and advocate for us as athletes. Second, USA team Alumni were invited to gather and be recognized at halftime of the game for the hard work and dedication they have shown to the program. These women have paved the way for us to be able to compete like we do, and it was great to have them in the stands. Lastly, my mom was apart of the group that was recognized. At halftime of the game, I heard her name announced and gave her a quiet woohoo before returning to listen to my coach. Overall, I felt lucky and proud that I could go back out on the field and play for so many amazing people that were watching.
The Pro-League has been a journey with its ups and downs. Thankfully everyone has embraced the challenges with a good attitude and a desire to learn. However, everyone on our team is competitive, and losing takes its toll. Growth, I’ve learned, doesn’t come necessarily when you want it to come, or in the form of wins. With each game, despite the outcome, we have gained vital experience that only games can provide to us. We have pushed ourselves past what we believed capable and still until the game against China, couldn’t piece it all together. I am so proud of my team and coaching staff for the resilience we have shown so far this year. It has taken extremely hard work on both ends, and I think sometimes that gets lost when you don’t see it cumulate in a winning record. To finally come away with a win validated what we are capable of, what we all knew was within us this entire time.
So moving forward, we are going to focus on us. We need to stay true to our DNA as a team. To me that means having a high work rate, utilizing our individual talents and personalities, being in the other teams way all the time and never giving up even (and especially) after you make a mistake. The week leading up to the China game, we came back to what it means to wear “USA” and the values we hold when all else fails. Our team on the pitch verses China was a team that worked together, tried things we worked on at practice, and played to our DNA.
Another piece of the puzzle is our coaching staff. A lot of people, even myself at times, don’t realize the amount of time and energy they put into preparing for each and every game. I am talking HOURS of film scouting and creating SWOT’s (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) and databases of clips. They also create specific drills each week that translate into game situations we might encounter. They keep us healthy, strong, fast, and happy. The amount of respect I have for them is beyond measure, so it was also a relief to win for them.
The energy coming back on Tuesday after the China game has been renewed. There is a buzz to our practices that make me hopeful for the upcoming games. New Zealand is a great team, and poses significant threats; however, the team that has been training this week is a team I believe, without a doubt, can win another game, and another, and another... hopefully all the way to Tokyo.
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School is wrapping up and summer is right around the corner! Kick off the next few months of sunshine with a chance to win the Harrow Sports Summer Giveaway!
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School is wrapping up and summer is right around the corner! Kick off the next few months of sunshine with a chance to win the Harrow Sports Summer Giveaway!
The fall season will be here before you know it, and nothing’s better than returning to the pitch with new gear! Don’t miss out on a chance to win an exclusive free prize package with the Harrow Sports Summer Giveaway! Retailing at more than $550, you could win the newly launched Ashley Hoffman Stick - the AH13, a Knuckle Mitt Left Hand, Air Flex Shin Guards and USA Field Hockey Apparel.
The contest is simple. Enter your name and email address at the link below to be entered into the drawing. Interested fans can enter one (1) time each day until the contest ends on Wednesday, June 5 at 11:59 p.m. ET, with the winner being announced on Thursday, June 6, 2019.
CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE HARROW SPORTS SUMMER GIVEAWAY
Harrow Sports Summer Giveaway:
Details:
Content Courtesy of USA Field Hockey
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – May 8, 2019 – USA Field Hockey is excited to announce the official launch of the USA Field Hockey American Development Model (ADM).
The USA Field Hockey ADM is a guiding framework for players, coaches, umpires, program leaders and fans to get into the sport earlier and stick with it longer. Field hockey is a sport for life and the ADM provides best principles for age and stage appropriate development on how, what and when to teach, train and play to maximize the fun and enjoyment of the sport.
The USA Field Hockey ADM was built in partnership with the United States Olympic Committee. The goal of the ADM is to help athletes in the United States realize their full athletic potential and utilize sport as a path toward an active and healthy lifestyle.
ADM’s utilizes long-term athlete development concepts to promote sustained physical activity, participation in sport, and Olympic and Paralympic success. USA Field Hockey has taken the basic ADM principles and applied them to the sport in the United States to provide a framework for inspiring a lifetime love of the game.
The USA Field Hockey website has been expanded to include an entire ADM section with general information about the ADM and Core Values, Competition Formats for Development and a multitude of resources to help all stakeholders in their field hockey journey.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE USA FIELD HOCKEY ADM WEBSITE
Specifically, USA Field Hockey has introduced GAME ON Field Hockey, a small-sided game structure for youth and beginner players that includes skill development and the introduction of leadership roles. In addition, USA Field Hockey is offering substantial savings on the new GO Ball, an oversized, lightweight ball that is perfect for play on any surface and ideal for youth and physical education classes. The new GO Ball is now available for purchase by clicking here.
USA Field Hockey would like to thank Harrow Sports for supporting GAME ON Field Hockey!
“Those who attended the 2019 USA Field Hockey Summit had a sneak peek at the American Development Model and some of the new resources and equipment and were very excited about it all,” said Sally Goggin, USA Field Hockey’s National Development Director. “The ADM and it’s supporting programs and modified equipment, such as GAME ON and the new GO Ball, are going to be game-changers for our sport, making field hockey more fun and accessible for all ages, and easy to teach and learn, even for those with little to no experience. Our goal is to support all stakeholders in field hockey to fuel grassroots development and growth across the country among boys and girls of all ages.”
“The ADM provides a guiding framework for all those involved or looking to get involved in field hockey,” added Craig Parnham, USA Field Hockey’s Director of Coach Education and Learning. “From the basic concepts of physical literacy for children through to the fun and enjoyment of seniors and masters field hockey, the ADM will support coaches, players, umpires and parents as they engage with our sport at whatever point they are introduced to it.”
Over the next several months, USA Field Hockey will be offering multiple ADM aligned programs and modified equipment to fuel and support growth. Additional information about these programs is available at usafieldhockey.com/ADM. Programs will be launched as soon as the new equipment is available, with a projected time of this summer.
USA Field Hockey would like to thank all members for their continued support of field hockey in the United States. Members are encouraged to share this information with friends and family, adopt the ADM, and to join USA Field Hockey in the mission to Grow the Game, Serve Members and Succeed Internationally.
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Submit a video of yourself and/or others cheering on Team USA for the FIH Pro League matches. Email your video to us, and we will post to our social media sites! We will send you an email confirmation that we received your email and that it has been posted. As soon as it has been posted, share it, and encourage your community to like and share it as well. The contest will be open until March 9th. The video with the most shares and likes by March 9th will win the contest! We will contact you via email if you are the winner, and post the winner to our social media sites by March 12th.
Contest rules:
For any questions regarding the contest please email melanie.brill@nlrp.com
]]>This is a question that the Women’s National Team has been tasked with answering ever since our team retreat in December. The first time we were asked, we came up with answers such as: success, happiness, mastery and excellence. At the time that I was brought onto the team. I also thought, I want success, happiness and mastery. That is what we are all working for isn’t it? To become the best athletes we can and for that to be validated with successes, hopefully on the biggest stages of sport.
These answers I learned were too shallow. I now look at it this way. When I look back at my 2018 Undefeated College Season at the University of North Carolina, I look back fondly at finally receiving the validation and holding that National Championship trophy in the air. However, I get goosebumps when I think about the depths we had to get to on the day to day. The heart that each teammate put into their pre-game speeches, and the challenges solved together in the heat of competition, when it mattered the most. Those are the memories I cherish the most, not the accolades that were born from it.
At the end of the retreat week my interpretation of what we as a team, with the help of our amazing Sports Psychologist Peter Haberl, concluded was that every athlete ultimately wants to control their mind. To a point that our bodies, minds, and souls are fully into a competition that pushes us to our absolute limits.
Peter works with our team on mindfulness. This is a training of our minds to allow us to be fully engaged in the task at hand. You often hear whether you are an athlete or not “control what you can control,” and it is as simple as that. However, that requires as much daily practice as my hit or ball control.
Achieving the first part of what all athletes want, an out of body feeling in competition that lets us just play without thinking, can happen without mindfulness practice, but when you are an elite level athlete, why leave that up to chance? I am very bought in on this arguably new buzz word, but understandably so as I have been warned about the “mental game” of sports for as long as can remember. My mom, a very successful field hockey player, stressed the difference between mentally tough athletes and mentally weak athletes since youth league. I did not realize the true significance of what that meant until we started working with Peter, and learning of mindfulness.
How does this relate to my most recent to our to Chile and Argentina for our first pro-league game? Actually a lot. The first two practices matches versus Chile went smoothly for me. I felt connected to my teammates and I thought I performed my job well. I felt that floating feeling that you only get when you aren’t thinking you’re just playing. The third game however, I just couldn’t reach that feeling. I was in my head. Or as my coach put it when I subbed off the field for the first time, I wasn’t there, and she didn’t mean physically, she meant mentally.
After reflecting with her later she said she knew immediately when she witnessed my center back give me communication and my lack of response like I normally do. The voices inside my head were louder than her in that moment. In mindfulness we are taught to notice our emotions, thoughts, and feelings and then switch back to the present moment. For example, if I am nervous for a game, I can notice that those feelings are present, but also know that they have no control over my actions unless I let them. Our aim after noticing certain feelings is to take what we call “towards moves.” A towards move would be noticing the nerves and then deliberately communicating more, an action. This third game I let everything out of my control, control me, I took “away moves.” At halftime I ended up being disappointed in myself, and instead of finding a solution or asking for help, I stayed wrapped up in the past. So as you would expect the third quarter was worse and after the 4th or 5th unnecessary turnover I was pulled.
This was the last game before the first Pro-League game versus Argentina. I could have put it behind me right away, bargaining with myself saying “everyone has an off day,” but I didn’t. We got back to the hotel and I brought out my notebook and watched the entire game over. I rated the four quarters based on my mental toughness. On a scale of 1-10, the subsequent quarters were ranked a 4,3,2,4. 4 in the first quarter because I was thinking too much about what I thought I had to do, instead of just reading the play but I hadn’t let my emotions get the better of me yet. The 2nd and 3rd were ranked lower because I wasn’t playing well, so I let frustration and embarrassment effect my actions. The forth I rated a four because by that point I had decided to use my anger in “towards moves” and just put the work in physically. After that I wrote down everything I could recall from memory, moments I let myself get annoyed, moments of insecurities, or big times I messed up. Things that were said to me that were helpful and not so helpful and when. This allowed me to come up with alternative actions or positive thoughts I will go to the next time I am in a similar circumstance.
Reflection, for me, is an important part of getting better. Sometimes it’s short, sometimes it takes hours, but always after I close my notebook, I look forwards, never backwards. In hindsight, I am happy that this happened to me at this time. It was a huge learning lesson and I feel confident now that the next time I am in my head, I will be able to recognize the signs better and instead of taking “away moves”, I will take “towards moves”.
Everyone does have good and bad days, but as an athlete we cant afford to leave it up to chance. We want to control the wandering mind, so we can focus all our energy to the task at hand. Thankfully this happened to me during a friendly match, not a FIH Pro-League game, but this lesson was no less vital. My advice to someone if they feel they are ‘not there’ during a game or competition is, first: don’t freak out. That’s the first “away move”. Instead ask yourself, “what can I do to impact this play right now?”, then do it. Focus on actions. For me, communicating to my teammates around me heightens my awareness and makes me feel more connected to the moment. Try that.
My mental toughness, as my mom puts it, is no where near where I want it to be. It’s a daily practice and sometimes a struggle to yield the smallest results, but when it comes to the games that really matter, I want to to be physically and mentally prepared to the best of my ability.
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The draws for the 2018/19 PSA World Championships presented by the Walter Family have been announced today, with some blockbuster fixtures in store at Chicago’s Union Station between February 23 – March 2.
128 of the world’s greatest male and female squash players will descend on Chicago for the most prestigious title in squash as they battle for a record prize purse of $1 million, which is the highest in the sport’s history.
Defending men’s champion and current World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy has been drawn against England’s Joshua Masters in round one and is featured on the same side of the draw as three-time winner Ramy Ashour.
ElShorbagy and Ashour contested both the 2012 and 2014 finals – both of which are regarded as two of the greatest squash matches of all time – and could potentially meet in the semi-finals.
Ashour – who is yet to play this season due to a knee injury – will play Australia’s Ryan Cuskelly in round one. The Egyptian is unseeded for the first time since the 2006 World Championships and will look to replicate his incredible title victory in 2014, where he came back from a six-month spell on the sidelines to lift the iconic trophy.
World No.2 Ali Farag is seeded on the opposite side of the draw as fellow Egyptians ElShorbagy and Ashour and he will take on England’s Daryl Selby in round one. Farag has the likes of Peru’s Diego Elias and New Zealand’s Paul Coll in his path to the final, while he is predicted to play World No.3 Simon Rösner in the semi-finals.
Reigning women’s World Champion Raneem El Welily begins her tournament against South Africa’s Alexandra Fuller as she bids to continue her strong start to the season, which has seen her take two PSA titles so far.
The 30-year-old was thwarted in the final of this tournament in 2014 and 2016, but finally got her hands on the trophy in December 2017 courtesy of a 3-1 victory against two-time winner Nour El Sherbini in Manchester.
12 months later, El Welily ended El Sherbini’s 31-month reign at World No.1 and the Egyptian duo – who contested six PSA finals last season – are seeded to do battle in the title decider once again.
El Welily is predicted to meet World No.3 Nour El Tayeb in the semi-finals, but El Tayeb must come through a difficult draw which contains 2013 World Champion Laura Massaro if she is to play to her seeding.
Meanwhile, El Sherbini begins her tournament against Satomi Watanabe of Japan and is predicted to play United States No.1 Amanda Sobhy in a mouthwatering third round fixture.
Eight-time World Champion Nicol David will be looking to add to her record haul but is seeded to play World No.5 Camille Serme as early as the third round. The Malaysian will need to end a two-match losing streak to the French player if she is to progress into the latter rounds.
New Zealand’s Joelle King will also be one of the frontrunners for the women’s title. The World No.4 claimed her first PSA Platinum title in November’s Hong Kong Open and is seeded to go head-to-head with El Sherbini for a place in the final.
In addition to prize winnings totalling over $72,000, the winner of the World Championships will also qualify for the season-ending PSA World Tour Finals, which pits together the reigning World Champions and all seven PSA World Tour Platinum winners.
The 2018/19 PSA World Championships will take place at Chicago’s Union Station, while matches from rounds one and two will also be held at MetroSquash and the University Club of Chicago.
Matches from Union Station will be shown live on SQUASHTV (rest of world) and Eurosport Player (Europe only), while the semi-finals and finals will also be shown live on mainstream broadcast channels around the world, including BT Sport, Fox Sports Australia and Astro.
Tickets are priced from $30 and are available for purchase on Ticketmaster.
For more information on the 2018/19 PSA World Championships, follow the tournament on Twitter. Facebook. or the event’s website.
2018/19 PSA World Championships presented by the Walter Family – Men’s Draw
[1] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) v Joshua Masters (ENG)
Cesar Salazar (MEX) v Arturo Salazar (MEX)
Campbell Grayson (NZL) v Nathan Lake (ENG)
Leo Au (HKG) v [15] Raphael Kandra (GER)
[16] James Willstrop (ENG) v Ivan Yuen (MAS)
Tayyab Aslam (PAK) v Victor Crouin (FRA)
Alan Clyne (SCO) v Daniel Mekbib (CZE)
[Pre-Qualifier] v [6] Miguel Rodriguez (COL)
[8] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) v Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)
Gregoire Marche (FRA) v Greg Lobban (SCO)
Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) v Nicolas Mueller (SUI)
Ramy Ashour (EGY) v [14] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS)
[9] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) v Declan James (ENG)
Shahjahan Khan (PAK) v Chris Simpson (ENG)
Tom Richards (ENG) v George Parker (ENG)
Todd Harrity (USA) v [4] Tarek Momen (EGY)
[3] Simon Rösner (GER) v Omar Mosaad (EGY)
Vikram Malhotra (IND) v Richie Fallows (ENG)
Borja Golan (ESP) v Rex Hedrick (AUS)
Ben Coleman (ENG) v [12] Max Lee (HKG)
[11] Saurav Ghosal (IND) v Dimitri Steinmann (SUI)
Karim El Hammamy (EGY) v Lucas Serme (FRA)
Joel Makin (WAL) v Tsz Fung Yip (HKG)
Youssef Soliman (EGY) v [5] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
[7] Paul Coll (NZL) v Karim Ali Fathi (EGY)
Christopher Binnie (JAM) v Cameron Pilley (AUS)
Mohamed Reda (EGY) v Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS)
Eain Yow Ng (MAS) v [13] Fares Dessouky (EGY)
[10] Diego Elias (PER) v Adrian Waller (ENG)
Zahed Salem (EGY) v Mazen Hesham (EGY)
Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) v Mostafa Asal (EGY)
Daryl Selby (ENG) v [2] Ali Farag (EGY)
2018/19 PSA World Championships presented by the Walter Family – Women’s Draw
[1] Raneem El Welily (EGY) v Alexandra Fuller (RSA)
Lee Ka Yi (HKG) v [17] Hania El Hammamy (EGY)
[26] Nadine Shahin (EGY) v Low Wee Wern (MAS)
Tinne Gilis (BEL) v [9] Alison Waters (ENG)
[15] Victoria Lust (ENG) v Danielle Letourneau (CAN)
Anna Serme (CZE) v [21] Emily Whitlock (ENG)
[25] Fiona Moverley (ENG) v Lucy Turmel (ENG)
Menna Hamed (EGY) v [8] Nouran Gohar (EGY)
[7] Laura Massaro (ENG) v Amanda Landers-Murphy (NZL)
Coline Aumard (FRA) v [28] Nele Gilis (BEL)
[30] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) v Nicole Bunyan (CAN)
Nikki Todd (CAN) v [12] Annie Au (HKG)
[16] Salma Hany (EGY) v Tsz-Wing Tong (HKG)
Melissa Alves (FRA) v [29] Samantha Cornett (CAN)
[31] Zeina Mickawy (EGY) v Haley Mendez (USA)
Rachel Arnold (MAS) v [3] Nour El Tayeb (EGY)
[4] Joelle King (NZL) v Heba El Torky (EGY)
Ho Tze-Lok (HKG) v [23] Mayar Hany (EGY)
[18] Joey Chan (HKG) v Sarah Cardwell (AUS)
Ineta Mackevica (LAT) v [14] Joshna Chinappa (IND)
[13] Nicol David (MAS) v [Pre-Qualifier]
Olivia Fiechter (USA) v [24] Millie Tomlinson (ENG)
[27] Rachael Grinham (AUS) v Lisa Aitken (SCO)
Jenny Duncalf (ENG) v [5] Camille Serme (FRA)
[6] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) v Vanessa Chu (HKG)
Enora Villard (FRA) v [20] Yathreb Adel (EGY)
[32] Nada Abbas (EGY) v Liu Tsz-Ling (HKG)
Milou van der Heijden (NED) v [10] Tesni Evans (WAL)
[11] Amanda Sobhy (USA) v Julianne Courtice (ENG)
Hollie Naughton (CAN) v [19] Olivia Blatchford Clyne (USA)
[22] Mariam Metwally (EGY) v Christine Nunn (AUS)
Satomi Watanabe (JPN) v [2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY)
Harrow Sports is pleased to announce its newest sponsored athlete, Ashley Hoffman of Mohnton, Pa. The Honda Award Winner in field hockey for the 2018 season, Hoffman recently concluded her career at the University of North Carolina. Capping off her decorated career with an undefeated National Championship as the team’s captain.
Hoffman states, “I’m really excited to be sponsored by Harrow Sports. Friends and family mean the world to me, and this company feels like family.” With her sights set on not only competing at the Olympic Games, but also medaling, Hoffman hopes to continue to reach her potential on Team USA. “Going forward with Team USA I really hope to reach my full potential as an athlete. I feel that my sponsorship with Harrow Sports and the equipment they provide will allow me to continue to excel and grow as an athlete and person.”
“We pride ourselves in making the products the country’s best players want to use to help them excel,” says Alli Van Schaack, Field Hockey Brand Manager of Harrow Sports. “We believe Ashley is the player for Harrow, and that she is going to take us to that next level.”
Hoffman and Team USA now begin their quest to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games. Their first opportunity to qualify is at the Pan American Games held in Lima, Peru. Competition begins July 20 and concludes August 11. The team will have plenty of prep matches for the Pan Am Games during the inaugural FIH Pro League beginning January 19 and ending June 22.
Follow Hoffman and Team USA’s Olympic journey on the Harrow Sports Blog.
Harrow Sports is a leading manufacturer of squash, field hockey, lacrosse, and racquet sports equipment, bags and apparel, as well as indoor court footwear, and custom ice hockey uniforms. Founded in 2000, Harrow revolutionized the racquet industry by offering unprecedented customization. Harrow is rapidly becoming a global specialty sports powerhouse, capitalizing on its #1 market share position in squash and field hockey in North America. www.harrowsports.com
If you would like more information about this topic, please call Melanie at 303-454-5182, or email melanie.brill@nlrp.com.
]]>— Content courtesy of PSA World Tour
Egypt’s former World No.1 Karim Abdel Gawad talks to RJ Mitchell and relives his recent title double glory and how he is aiming to continue his impressive form in 2019.
Karim Abdel Gawad has promised to continue to go on the attack when the PSA World Tour resumes at the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions at New York’s Grand Central Station in January.
The ‘Baby-faced Assassin’ ended 2018 as the form player on the Men’s Tour when he doubled up with back-to-back title triumphs at the Pakistan Open and the CIB Black Ball Open, in his home country of Egypt.
But it was the manner of Gawad’s victory in Cairo that saw the 27-year-old take out World No.1 and reigning World Champion Mohamed ElShorbagy, World No.4 Tarek Momen and World No.2 Ali Farag en route to claiming his first PSA Platinum title since January 2017, which really confirmed he has returned to his best following a difficult 18 months.
Now, in an exclusive interview with PSA World Tour, Gawad revealed he can’t wait for 2019 and has vowed to come out with all guns blazing in New York.
“My game is all about volleying, going short and attacking and I am only able to play that way when my body allows me to,” said the Egyptian.
“It was fantastic to have the physical and mental confidence in Cairo to attack and I hope that with a period of rest, recuperation and further preparation, I will be able to come back in 2019 and produce attacking squash.”
The former World Champion continued: “At the beginning of the season my coach Omar (Abdel Aziz) told me that it would take around four tournaments for me to gain the benefits of a proper summer of training and to start to produce my best form.
“It was frustrating, but steadily the results started to come and I could feel my confidence coming back, feel the sharpness in my movement improving and my ball-striking getting more accurate. When all of that happens and your game starts to come together then your belief also returns.
“The previous season was really tough as I was unable to get in the shape I needed to produce my best squash because the hernia didn’t allow me to train properly. Now the feeling of being back getting to your best is exciting for sure.”
If any proof were needed that Gawad was physically capable of
challenging for the top honours again, then he showed that in Cairo as he powered to success.
The Egyptian ace’s dispatch of World No.1 Elshorbagy in a tight straight sets quarter-final was punctuated with some exquisite shot-making, including a feathered forehand nick from backcourt on game ball to take a two-game lead that had the Cairo crowd in raptures.
Then the former World Champion found himself engaged in a compelling battle against World No.4 Tarek Momen, which lasted almost 90 minutes and concluded with an epic 15-13 win in the fourth game.
The recovery from that match involved Gawad requiring two physio rehab sessions, before eventually getting to sleep at 4am.
But amazingly Gawad was good to go again in the final and got the better of World No.2 Farag, after 62 minutes and four draining games to book his place at the season-ending PSA World Tour Finals and also mark him down as a contender when the PSA World Tour resumes in Grand Central Station on January 16.
“It was really tough to come through in Cairo, but I am a very proud man to have prevailed and done so in front of my home fans.
“To have beaten players of the quality of Mohamed, Tarek and Ali in successive rounds and to have been able to cope with the physical demands that placed on me has been massive for my confidence.
“Now, I’m looking forward to the Tournament of Champions and I know my game is in good order and for that I owe so much to my team of Omar (Abdel Aziz), Mahmoud (Abdel Kader) and Ahmed (Faragallah).
“They stayed with me when I was down and things were tough for me, they continued to believe and now I hope we can all look forward to 2019 with positivity.
“We have two massive tournaments in America with ToC and the PSA World Championships and my target is to be the best I can in both of these and see where that takes me.”
]]>Egypt’s Karim Abdel Gawad is the 2018 CIB Black Ball Squash Open champion after he defeated compatriot and World No.2 Ali Farag in the final at the Black Ball Sporting Club in Cairo, Egypt, earlier today.
The Black Ball Squash Open is the first major tournament to take place in Egypt’s capital since the men’s 2016 PSA World Championships and it was Alexandria-born Gawad who came out on top in a four-game battle with compatriot Farag.
The title is Gawad’s first at a PSA Platinum event since the 2017 Tournament of Champions, as he showed he his back to his best, producing some stunning squash throughout the week to knock out World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy, World No.4 Tarek Momen and then World No.2 Farag to earn the title.
Farag, meanwhile, was competing to not only win the title, but also to become the new World No.1 in January’s World Rankings if he won the tournament. However, the nerves looked to have got the better of the Egyptian at the start of the match, as Gawad opened up a two-game lead.
The start of the third saw Farag come out fighting to take four points without reply to build up a strong lead, with the World No.2 also being able to hold off a late surge from Gawad as Farag took the third to get a foothold back into the match.
However, it wasn’t meant to be for the World No.2 as the wait to climb to the top of the World Rankings continues after Gawad held his nerve to ensure that he claimed his second successive title after winning the Pakistan Open PSA Bronze tournament last week.
“I had so many times where I was down,” said Gawad following his huge win. “All those months, all those days, I pushed and pushed. There were bad times, really bad times, but my team handled those bad moments. It finally paid off this week, and I’m back to my form.
“I wasn’t 100% there physically but thanks to my team, I had a good recovery until 4am this morning and I didn’t feel exhausted today.
“It’s been a very tough tournament, especially for me as I’ve not been playing at this level for so long now and to be back and winning this major tournament means a lot to me.
“I’ve been working so hard to try and get back to my form that I used to play and I’m really happy to be back and end the year with a major tournament.
“Ali is my brother, we’ve grown up together and we’ve played so many times at juniors. He has been handling so much pressure this week and I’ve been there before, so I know how he feels. I had two or three times to become World No.1 and I kept losing every time, so I know how hard it is but sooner or later he will be World No.1 because he’s very consistent.”
Farag added afterwards: “Karim was by far the best player all week. He thoroughly deserved that win. Karim was a World No.1 deservedly and he had a bit of a dip in his form last season because of some injuries but he very much deserves to be where he is today.
“I’m really happy for him and his team.”
World No.9 Gawad takes home over $25,000 in prize money from the PSA Platinum event after he claimed his 20th PSA title.
The next Platinum tournament will be the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions which will be a joint men’s and women’s tournament and takes place in New York from January 16-24, 2019.
Result: Final: CIB Black Ball Squash Open
[7] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt [2] Ali Farag (EGY) 3-1: 11-6, 13-11, 7-11, 11-8 (62m)
written by Chrissy Summers, Founder & Director Beyond Sticks
As the fall season gets farther in the rear view mirror, many athletes gear up for off season play. As coaches, we often encourage players to focus on individual play and return to teams stronger, faster, more skilled and with a higher hockey IQ. But are we forgetting about the importance of building the mental game?
Maybe we don’t know how to build the mental game, or we assume athletes get these skills as a side effect of playing. Like a consistent lifting routine, growth happens much faster when we build it into a repetitive schedule.
But how? I know how HARD it can be to add ONE more thing to practice, especially in the off-season. Club coaches run into even bigger time constraints than high school coaches do. Off season coaches only see your athletes 1-2x a week. But it doesn’t take much-like the dynamic warm up- if coaches ingrain the concept of adding a short mental strength piece into practices athletes then become trained to have their body and MIND ready to grow.
I’ve seen a HUGE difference in just making small tweaks to internal self-talk in response to mistakes, setbacks, and self talk. As we know (sometimes too well) as adults, the thinking inside our head can stop our natural talent and potential from shining through.
Before you start though-winter is a great time to do a baseline assessment your athlete’s mental flexibility-so you know where to start. How well does an athlete reframe a mistake and move on? Focus on the positive? Encourage others? If they’ve never thought about it before, it’s good to start with baby steps.
USA Field Hockey’s partner, the Positive Coaching Alliance has a ton of great resources to adapt to lessons. A great opening mental drill we use is is to have your athletes write down in the first session:
Your athletes can hand in cards at the end of practice. This activity gives you you insight into the group and how but of where they stand on speaking positively about themselves! Some athletes are so focused on what they AREN’T good at they have a hard time saying what they can do well! The following week, you can bring use information generally to discuss a Team Mantra that supports individual and team progress so every session is productive AND fun.
At Beyond Sticks, our off-season goal is to shift the athlete’s mindset OFF traditional goals and turn our athlete’s focus back on improving the process. The paradox in athletics (and life), is when we focus less on the final outcome and more on the actions that lead to those outcomes, the score takes care of itself. Our partner, the Positive coaching Alliance, describes this as the ELM Tree of Mastery.
Finally, offseason a great time to train parents too! As a parent myself, I think how I can change the car ride conversations from the often dead end of “how was it?” to only get back a simple, “good, Mom.” to more substantial conversation. If you have a mental piece-parents can understand this more than hockey(Every parent ever: “Why did they blow that whistle?”!) Ask parents how they can use the mental piece during the week BEYOND field hockey (hence our name, Beyond Sticks-we play beyond the game). An invested parent is a happy parent!
We’ll be posting our weekly tools on our Facebook page and working with our partners at Harrow to help bring our mental tools to you on monthly basis. Please share your mental strength tips on the post so we can all grow together. Happy hockey!
]]>DIVISION II
Arthur J. Rooney Athletic Fields | Pittsburg, Pa.
Thursday, November 29 | Semifinals | 2:00 p.m. ET & 5:00 p.m. ET
Saturday, December 1 | Final | 2:00 p.m. ET
West Chester vs. Shippensburg | 2:00 p.m. ET | NCAA Live
In a rematch of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament Final, West Chester and Shippensburg will meet once again on a bigger stage in the NCAA Division II Semifinals. The Raiders enter Thursday’s match not only with payback on their minds, but also eye a return to the Division II Championship game and a third consecutive national championship. Coming into the tournament, Shippensburg led the country in goals, adding on to their total in a 4-1 victory over Merrimack in the Quarterfinals.
West Chester, the top overall seed, has not played since claiming the PSAC title against Shippensburg on November 18. The Golden Rams are appearing in their sixth tournament and are seeking a third national title. This will also be the third meeting between West Chester and Shippensburg in 2018, with the Golden Rams claiming victory in the previous two.
East Stroudsburg vs. Pace | 5:00 p.m. ET | NCAA Live
The second NCAA Semifinal game of the day will feature a never-before seen meeting between East Stroudsburg and Pace. The Warriors hold the No. 2 seed and are appearing in their second-straight NCAA Semifinals and their sixth tournament appearance in the last decade. East Stroudsburg is coming off a loss in their previous match against Shippensburg in the PSAC Semifinals, falling 0-3. They are 3-1 against Northeast-10 opponents in 2018.
This will be the first-ever meeting between these two teams. In 2015, Pace was in its opening season. That same year, the Warriors claimed the program’s one and only national championship. The Setters are coming off a 6-1 win against Saint Anselm in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. In that match, Pace was outshot 13-9.
Winners of the Semifinals games will advance to the NCAA Division II Finals on Saturday, December 1 being held at Duquesne University’s Arthur J. Rooney Athletic Fields in Pittsburgh, Pa. Tickets for the 2018 NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championship will be available to purchase by clicking here.
written by Haley Buffenbarger, Class of 2019
While some players and their families are hesitant to attend Festival because it is over Thanksgiving, that is the reason I go.
Before Festival, I found myself lumped together with every other family in America. Visiting their grandparent’s house, eating way too much food, regretting how much food I ate, and then driving home. Festival gave me the chance to do something different and also experience Thanksgiving in a new way with my “second family”.
Every team has their own quirks: the “mom” who always has snacks and never says no to sharing, the “uncles” who can joke with anyone and keep any situation light, the “grandma” who is everyone’s cheerleader and will never give up on you, I could go on. Although I am no longer with my team that has accompanied me to so many Festival’s, the countless memories will never be forgotten. That team, like any other, assembles family members that I would never be able to live without. Together we have made memories that will last forever as we move on to college and beyond. Festival gave me the chance to bond with a group of girls that I never would have met, if not for field hockey. I will never forget the countless chicken fights or late night pizza parties, and eating dinner on Thanksgiving Day surrounded by my family.
Festival is the chance every team needs to bond, create chemistry, and have an amazing time. It being over Thanksgiving gives you the chance to be thankful for your team, and thankful I will forever be.
Want to be featured on the Harrow Blog? Contact Melanie.Brill@nlrp.com
]]>DIVISION I
Trager Stadium | Louisville, Ky.
Friday, November 16 | Semifinals | 1:00 p.m. ET & 3:45 p.m. ET
Sunday, November 18 | Final | 1:00 p.m. ET
No. 1 North Carolina vs. Wake Forest | 1:00 p.m. ET | NCAA Live
This match-up is a repeat of this year’s Atlantic Coast Conference Championship game, which North Carolina defeated Wake Forest to win program’s 21st title. These two teams have played twice this season and North Carolina was victorious both meetings.
The No.1 Tar Heels have gone a perfect 21-0 this season and maintained their undefeated record with a pair of wins in the NCAA First and Second Rounds, advancing them to the program’s 23rd NCAA Division I Field Hockey Semifinal. This is also the tenth year in a row that North Carolina has also made it to the NCAA Final Four. The Tar Heels beat William & Mary 4-0 in the First Round and went on to defeat Michigan 5-2 in the Second Round. North Carolina has not won a NCAA National Championship since 2009.
Wake Forest (13-9) had their ups and downs this season but is coming together heading into the Semifinal Round of the NCAA Tournament. The Demon Deacons recorded a pair of dramatic wins against ranked opponents to advance to the Semifinals. They defeated No. 7 Iowa 3-2 in the First Round and went on to upset No. 3 Duke 1-0 in a thrilling double overtime match in the Second Round. Both of these teams are extremely proficient on attacking penalty corners so keep an eye out for drag flicks, deceptive passes and deflections.
No. 2 Maryland vs. No. 3 Princeton | 3:45 p.m. ET | NCAA Live
To advance to the program’s first back-to-back NCAA Semifinal appearance in years, Maryland defeated Albany, 2-1, in the First Round and went on to upend No. 5 Connecticut, 2-1, in an exciting overtime win in the Second Round. The Terrapins took down the defeating National Champions, in a rematch of last year’s final. It took until the 23rd minute before the scoring opened for Connecticut, but two minutes later Maryland tallied one of their own. Three minutes into overtime a diving game-saving defensive save (featured on Monday’s SportsCenters Top-Ten plays) kept Maryland in the game, and three minutes later they sealed the victory.
Princeton topped No. 13 Virginia, 2-1, in the First Round before edging No. 6 Harvard, 2-1, in a comeback win in the Second Round. The Tigers scored twice in the second half, including the game winning goal in the final 4 minutes to advance to the Semifinals. This will also mark back-to-back appearances to the Final Four for Princeton and is their eighth Semifinal appearances overall. In 2015, these two teams met in the Semifinals where Maryland knocked out Princeton 3-1 to advance to the championship game. These two squads previously met in the regular season, where Terrapins defeated the Tigers, 5-4, in double overtime.
DIVISION III
Spooky Nook Sports | Lancaster, Pa.
Saturday, November 17 | Semifinals | 11:00 a.m. ET & 2:00 p.m. ET
Sunday, November 18 | Final | 1:00 p.m. ET
No. 9 Johns Hopkins vs. No. 4 Tufts | 11:00 A.M. ET | NCAA Live
To advance to the program’s first-ever Semifinal appearances in program history, Johns Hopkins recorded a pair of wins in the Second and Third Rounds. The Blue Jays defeated FDU-Florham 4-0 in the Second Round and then went on to stun No. 1 ranked Messiah 3-2 in double overtime in the Third Round. This was Johns Hopkins first-ever win over Messiah in program history as they continue their hunt for their first-ever NCAA title.
Tufts earned wins in the Second and Third round to advance to the program’s fifth Final Four appearance. The Jumbo defeated Smith 3-0 in the Second Round and went on to take down Salisbury 1-0 in the Third Round. Tufts was the NCAA runner up in 2016 but haven’t won the title since 2012. Archives show that these teams have not crossed paths in the last ten years.
No. 2 Middlebury vs. No. 3 Rowan | 2:00 p.m. ET | NCAA Live
No. 2 Middlebury will make their tenth trip to the NCAA Final Four in program history and are the reigning 2017 NCAA Champions, looking to earn back-to-back titles. The Panthers earned a pair of wins in the Second and Third Rounds, by defeating Keene St. 8-0 and TCNJ 5-1, respectively.
Rowan remains undefeated by earning a pair of wins in the Second and Third Rounds to advance to the Semifinals. Rowan defeated Lynchburg 1-0 in the First Round and Rochester N.Y. 4-0 in the Second Round. The last time Rowan made it to the Semifinals was in 2012. Within the last ten years, these two teams have never met.
written by Sarah Considine — senior at Windy City Field Hockey, attending Columbia University in Fall 2019
Festival is a tournament that I look forward to every year. It has allowed me to compete against teams from around the country, not only giving me the opportunity to elevate my game, but also exposing me to different styles of hockey. This high level of competition has been incredibly important to not only my personal growth as a hockey player, but also the growth of our team each year. It is always our final club tournament of the season with that year’s team, and serves as a way for us to show how hard we have worked all year and continue to improve our skills. I have attended the tournament for several years, and the high competition served as an inspiration for me to pursue my dream of playing collegiate hockey. When I was younger, watching the U-19 teams play was one of the coolest things ever. I admired those girls and looked up to them, and they served as one of the earliest catalysts for my desire to pursue hockey at the collegiate level. The nature and size of Festival made this dream a reality, as its great size draws a wide variety of college coaches. This gave me the opportunity to showcase my play in front of many coaches throughout the course of the tournament. Festival played an integral role in my college process, as it gave coaches time to see me play in games over the course of several days– an opportunity unique to Festival. Outside of the multitude of opportunities that Festival has given me, it has always been a tournament I have greatly enjoyed. It’s something that I always look forward to as it combines all of my favorite things- great hockey, time with teammates, and a holiday with friends and family. On this annual trip, I have not only made a lot of new friends, but also continued to strengthen my friendships with my teammates who I will be friends with forever. Festival is a very special tournament, and I am looking forward to another great event this coming November!
Want to be featured on Harrow Sports Blog? Email Melanie.Brill@nlrp.com
]]>Featured Image courtesy of NCAA Field Hockey.
College field hockey has now entered NCAA tournament play.
Photo courtesy of Tufts Athletics
DIVISION I: FIRST & SECOND ROUNDS
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2018
SCHEDULE & PREVIEW
Karen Shelton Stadium, Chapel Hill, N.C.
No. 1 North Carolina vs. William & Mary | 12:00 p.m. ET | GoHeels TV
North Carolina secured the top seed and the right to host the First and Second Round games of the NCAA Tournament after winning the program’s 21st Atlantic Coast Conference title. North Carolina scored seven goals in the championship match to move their record to 19-0. They also finished first in goals in scoring margin and first in goals against, allowing less than one goal per game. The Tar Heels are making their 16th NCAA appearance in a row, the 35th in program history. North Carolina has made more NCAA appearances than any other school and the team seeks their seventh NCAA Division I National Title. William & Mary (12-7) defeated Monmouth 3-2 in overtime on Wednesday to advance to the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. This was the Tribes’ first NCAA win out of three previous attempts, as well as the NCAA-best and program-record setting sixth-overtime win this year. William & Mary has set other records this season winning the program’s first ever Colonial Athletic Association Championship.
No. 7 Michigan vs. No. 10 Saint Joseph’s | 2:30 p.m. ET | GoHeels TV
Michigan is making their 15th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Last year, the Wolverines made it all the way to the semifinals before getting knocked out by Maryland. Michigan has advanced to the semifinals in four of their 14 appearances, and have played in the national title game twice. Michigan is 13-6 overall and finished 7-1 in conference play. They captured a share of the Big Ten regular-season title, the programs second in as many years. The Wolverines received an at-large berth to the tournament after winning 14 of their last 17 games including six against nationally ranked opponents. Saint Joseph’s enters the tournament with a 14-game winning streak and are making their second NCAA Tournament appearance in program history after claiming their second consecutive Atlantic 10 Championship. This gave the Hawks an automatic bid into the tournament, where they sit with a record of 18-2 overall. Saint Joseph’s and Michigan have never played against each other.
Jack Katz Stadium, Durham, N.C.
No. 4 Duke vs. No. 24 Miami (OH) | 12:00 p.m. ET | Duke Facebook Live
No. 2 Duke (16-3) earned the No. 4 seed and will host the First and Second Round games of the NCAA Tournament this weekend. The Blue Devils captured the program’s sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and 17th appearance overall. Duke has made it to the semifinals have also made four trips to the title match. The last time the Blue Devils made it to the NCAA Championship round was in 2013. Miami of Ohio (16-6) shutout Boston University 2-0 on Wednesday to advance to the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. This was Miami’s 11th shutout of the season, which leads Division I programs in the country. The Red Hawks earned their place in the tournament after this win and also by capturing the MAC Tournament Championship. This is their fourth tournament appearance in program history.
No. 7 Iowa vs. No. 12 Wake Forest | 2:30 p.m. ET | Duke Facebook Live
Both Iowa and Wake Forest received an at-large selection into the 2018 NCAA Tournament and will face off in the First Round this Friday. Iowa is 14-6 overall they enter the school’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2012. The Hawkeyes proved themselves after a series of upsets to get them into the Big Ten title match and are among the top five teams in the country for goals against. Wake Forest is making their 17th overall trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Demon Deacons earned their spot after defeating higher-ranked Louisville and Duke to make a run at the ACC Championship. Wake Forest (11-9) opened the 2018 season against Iowa in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, where the Hawkeyes earned a 2-1 victory. Both of these teams are coming off a runner-up finished in their respective conference tournaments.
Bedford Field, Princeton, N.J.
No. 3 Princeton vs. No. 13 Virginia | 12:00 p.m. ET | ESPN3
No. 3 Princeton earned the right to host the First and Second Round games after an impressive season including wins over higher ranked Connecticut and Duke. The Tigers (13-4) are making their 24th NCAA Tournament appearance in their second ever at-large bid. Princeton has played in 16 NCAA quarterfinals, seven semifinals and three championship games. They won their first NCAA title in 2012. Virginia (9-9) earned one of eight at-large bids into the 2018 tournament in their 23rd trip. They secured their spot in the tournament by winning their last three regular season games against Wake Forest, Maryland and William & Mary. Last year, Virginia and Princeton met in the First Round with the Tigers defeating the Cavaliers 3-2 in double overtime.
No. 6 Harvard vs. No. 9 Penn State | 2:30 p.m. ET | ESPN3
Harvard (16-1) won an at-large bid with a record setting season winning the regular season Ivy League title with an undefeated 7-0 record. Harvard defeated site host No. 3 Princeton earlier this season and are making their sixth trip to the NCAA Tournament. Harvard has previously made appearances in 1991, 2000, 2004 and 2016. Penn State (12-5) also earned an at-large bid into the tournament, marking the 12th time in the last 14 seasons that they have earned a spot, including the third straight year. The Nittany Lions will make their 33rd tournament appearance which is the second most out of any program in the country. This will be the first-ever meeting in field hockey between Harvard and Penn State, and both sides will be looking to win their first ever NCAA title in program history.
Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex, College Park, Md.
No. 2 Maryland vs. No. 17 Albany | 12:00 p.m. ET | Live Stats
Maryland (19-2) won the Big Ten Championship, earning them the No. 2 seed and right to host the first and Second Round games of the NCAA Tournament. This is Maryland’s 24th straight appearance, which is the longest active streak in the country, dating back to 1995. The Terrapins also have the highest NCAA winning percentage of any team at 73.2 percent. Albany (16-4) earned their sixth tournament bid in program history. The Great Danes are the only team from the America East conference to make the NCAA Tournament. The last time these two teams met was in 2015 when Albany upset then top-ranked Maryland 2-1.
No. 5 Connecticut vs. No. 11 Rutgers | 2:30 p.m. ET | Live Stats
Big East Conference champion Connecticut (18-3) earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, giving the Huskies their 16th straight tournament appearance and 22nd overall. UConn has won five NCAA Championships, with three of those titles happenings in the last five years. Rutgers (13-5) earned one of eight at-large bids into the tournament in their first appearance since 1986. Rutgers secured their spot by defeating five ranked opponents earlier this season. Connecticut and Rutgers haven’t played each other since 2013.
Winners of the First Round games will advance to the Second Round on Sunday, November 11 at 1 p.m. ET. Winners of the Second Round matches will advance to the NCAA Division I semifinals being held at the University of Louisville at Trager Field in Louisville, Ky. on Friday, November 16. Tickets for the 2018 NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship will be available to purchase by clicking here.
DIVISION III: SECOND & THIRD ROUNDS
NCAA Division III First Round games took place on Wednesday, November 7 narrowing the playing field to 16 teams. The Second Round will kick off on Saturday, November 10 with multi-conference champions fighting for a chance to advance in the NCAA Tournament.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2018
SCHEDULE & PREVIEW
Anderson Turf Field, Mechanicsburg, Pa.
No. 1 Messiah vs. Endicott | 11:00 a.m. ET
Messiah was awarded a bye through the First Round before hosting the Second and Third Round games on Saturday, November 10. Messiah (19-0) earned the right to host after going undefeated and winning their 12th-straight Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth Championship. The Falcons are riding an impressive 19-game winning streak this season and are looking to capture their second Division III National Championship. Endicott (18-4) received an automatic bid into the First Round after winning the Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship. In the first round, the Gulls defeated Saint Joseph’s (Maine) 3-1 this past Wednesday to advance to the Second Round. The win was the first NCAA Tournament win for Endicott in program history.
No. 9 Johns Hopkins vs. FDU-Florham | 2:00 p.m. ET
The other Second Round game will be a match-up will be between Johns Hopksins and FDU-Florham. Johns Hopkins (17-2) also earned a First Round bye and punched their ticket to the Second Round after claiming the Centennial Conference Championship. This will be Johns Hopkins’ first NCAA appearance in over a decade but their ninth overall trip to the tournament. FDU-Florham (18-4) received an automatic bid into the First Round after winning the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom Championship. In the First Round, they defeated Susquehanna 1-0 to advance to the Second Round this Saturday. The win was the third NCAA Tournament victory in program history.
Sea Gull Stadium, Salisbury, Md.
No. 6 Salisbury vs. Washington & Jefferson | 11:00 a.m. ET | Live Stats
Salisbury (16-2) earned a First Round bye and the right to host the regional rounds of the 2018 NCAA Tournament after winning its 21st Capital Athletic Conference Championship. Salisbury are 5-time NCAA Division III Champions with their last title being in 2009. The Sea Gulls will be making their 34th NCAA Tournament appearance. Washington & Jefferson (18-1) received an automatic bid into the first round after capturing the Empire 8 title for the second year in a row. In the First Round, Washington & Jefferson defeated Rhodes 3-0 to advance to the Second Round. The win was the first NCAA postseason win for the program.
No. 4 Tufts vs. Smith | 2:00 p.m. ET |
Tufts (16-2) earned their 10th at-large berth and First Round bye in the NCAA Tournament after finishing as the New England Small College Athletic Conference runner-up this fall. Tufts are returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016 when they lost a heartbreaker in the national championship game. The Jumbos won the 2012 national title and have a 15-8 overall mark in the NCAA Tournament. Smith (15-7) received earned a spot in the First Round games after winning the programs first-ever New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference title. In the First Round, Smith defeated Montclair State 1-0 to advance to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. Smith has now won its last six games and this will be their second appearance in the Second Round in program history.
Kohn Field, Middlebury, Vt.
No. 2 Middlebury vs. Keene State | 11:00 a.m. ET | Northeast Sports Network
The reigning National Champions, Middlebury (17-1) will make its 16th-consecutive and 19th overall appearance in the NCAA Tournament when it hosts the Second Round of play starting this Saturday, November 10. Middlebury earned the right to host and a bye in the First Round after claiming the New England Small College Athletic Conference title for the sixth time in program history. Keene State (18-6) earned a bid into the NCAA First Round after capturing their sixth consecutive Little East Tournament title and will be their 11th NCAA Tournament appearance. In the First Round, the Owls defeated SUNY New Paltz 4-3 to advance. Keene State has reached the Second Round previously in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016.
No. 5 Vassar vs. No. 7 TCNJ | 2:00 p.m. ET | Northeast Sports Network
Vassar (18-1) punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament after capturing the program’s first ever Liberty League title. The win earned Vassar an automatic bid and a bye in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. Vassar has an impressive 16-game winning streak with only one loss this season. TCNJ (15-4) earned an at-large bid into the First Round of the NCAA Tournament in their 35th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. In the First Round, the Lions defeated Keystone 3-0 to advance to the Second Round. The last time TCNJ won a NCAA Title was in 1981.
Wackar Stadium, Glassboro, N.J.
No. 3 Rowan vs. Lynchburg | 11:00 a.m. ET | YouTube Live
The Rowan (20-0) University field hockey team will host the Second and Third Rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Rowan earned an automatic bid and a bye in the First Round after claiming the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Title. The victory was their seventh NJAC championship and first since 2009. The Profs will be making their first NCAA appearance since 2012 and 18th overall appearance. Lynchburg (16-5) earned an automatic bid into the First Round of the NCAA Tournament after winning the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Title. In the First Round, the Hornets defeated Denison 3-1 to advance to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. Lynchburg will be making their 17th NCAA Tournament appearance
No. 8 Rochester vs. No. 11 Franklin & Marshall | 2:00 p.m. ET | YouTube Live
The other Second Round game will be a match-up between Rochester and Franklin & Marshall. Rochester (17-3) earned an at-large berth and a bye in the First-Round of the NCAA Tournament after the most successful season in school history. They had a school record 14-game winning streak to start the season and only lost twice this year. The berth into the Tournament was the Yellow Jacket’s fourth-straight and fifth overall in program history.Franklin & Marshall (17-3) received an at-large berth into the First Round of the NCAA Tournament where they defeated Gwynedd Mercy 2-0 to advance to the Second Round. The berth marked the 12th overall and fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance for Franklin & Marshall. The Diplomats have now reached the NCAA Tournament seven out of the last eight seasons. Franklin & Marshall made it to the Final Four last season before falling to eventually national champions, Middlebury.
Winners of the Second Round games will advance to the Third Round games on Sunday, November 11. Winners of those matches will move on to the NCAA Division III Semifinals, which will be held at Spooky Nook Sports in Lancaster, Pa. on Saturday, November 17, 2018
Stop by our tent at USA Field Hockey’s National Hockey Festival presented by Cranbarry to try your hand at our Obstacle Course! This year we have partnered with CSign Sports USA to provide a fantastic prize to one lucky winner with the fastest time. They will take home a new top of the line Harrow Sports Field Hockey Stick, AND a CSign Personal Skilltrainer Turf. A prize valued at over $600!
This contest is open to Festival participants with a wristband only.
Contest questions? Email Melanie.Brill@nlrp.com
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written by Nicole Buckley — senior at Carolina All Stars Field Hockey, attending Liberty University in Fall 2019
My name is Nicole Buckley, and I play for the U19 Carolina All Stars Field Hockey club and am a Liberty University recruit. I am a senior this year, and have attended Festival with the All Stars every year since 7th grade. Festival has always been my favorite tournament, because I get the opportunity to play with my team in a beautiful location, compete against other great teams from all over the country, and celebrate Thanksgiving with my family and teammates. It’s also exciting to see coaches from many different colleges walking around and watching games – it’s a great opportunity to showcase your skills. One year was especially amazing as I got to meet and hit around with Jamie Dwyer, one of the best players ever. You never know who you may run into! This year will be my last Festival, and although I am returning from a school service project trip on the other side of the country the day before, I will make it to Festival to experience it one last time.
Want to be featured on the Harrow Blog? Email Melanie.Brill@nlrp.com
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