BUSA FINALS MATCH REPORT:

The Championships began for Loughborough at Abbeydale Sports Centre where the men’s hockey team, secured the University’s first win of the Championships with an emphatic 7-1 thrashing over rivals Bath. Loughborough established a 2-0 lead at the break with Man of the Match Adam Harper (11’) and Lorne Barnard (35’) providing the goals. Some quick fire scores in the second half from Richard ‘Smudge’ Smith (47’ & 48’), James Blackwell (54’) and Dom Scott (55’) put the game out of reach for Bath.

The women’s Championship was a much tighter affair as Loughborough edged out Durham 3-2 with a brace from Leah Wilkinson (9’ & 46’) and a single effort from Player of the Match Vanessa Roberts (24’). Durham were always behind from the first goal and tried in vain to catch Loughborough’s early lead.

In other Hockey finals Loughborough 2s men’s team lost out on a golden goal to Exeter 2’s in the men’s Trophy, with Exeter winning 2-1 and Loughborough 3s women’s team lost 4-3 to Warwick in the Women’s Shield Final.

EURO HOCKEY LEAGUE, ROUND 2 MATCH REPORT:

Loughborough Students narrowly lost out to tournament favourites Uhlenhorster in a thrilling Euro Hockey League quarter final in Spain that took place over the Easter weekend.

One of just three English club sides to make it to the final 16 of the competition the Loughborough Students, who were last week crowned British University Champions, held their nerve to earn their place in the last eight.

After a goalless first half in the opening match of the four-day event, two scores came in quick succession for the students courtesy of super-sub Robert Smith (55, FG) and Great Britain international Jon Bleby (64, PC). All 16 of the squad were involved in the match, including goalkeeper Alistair McGregor who was critical to the Great Britain’s Olympic qualification campaign in Chile earlier this month.

In Loughborough’s second match of the weekend, they narrowly lost out to tournament favourites Uhlenhorster. As one of only two British teams to progress to the quarter-finals, Loughborough put up a strong fight for a place in the final four against an impressive German outfit.

The match ended in dramatic fashion, with Loughborough having two overtime penalty corner chances to take the game into extra-time, but Uhlenhorster survived to reach the semi-finals.

Both teams started the game well, intent on playing attacking hockey in their bid to be in the final four of the competition. Uhlenhorster won the first penalty corner of the game thanks to excellent link-up play between Carlos Nevado and Philip Witte. However, Loughborough goalkeeper Ali McGregor made two excellent blocks to deny the Germans.

Loughborough soon had a penalty corner of their own, after a surging run from Richard Smith was blocked by Uhlenhorster keeper Johannes Blanck, with the ball hitting a foot in the circle. Loughborough did not make the most of the chance, with a mix up at the top of the circle resulting in the opportunity being wasted.

Uhlenhorster controlled the opening part of the second period, and took the lead through the ever reliable Philip Sunkel, who tapped into the goal following a good pass from Benjamin Kopp. Loughborough went immediately on the offensive, but it was Uhlenhorster who were still looking the more dangerous of the two teams.

Loughborough felt aggrieved to be denied a penalty corner early in the third period, but got what they were looking for a few minutes later. However, Blanck made another good save from Smith’s powerful drag flick. A few moments later, Jerome Goudie was subjected to a rough tackle whilst bearing down on goal, resulting in another penalty corner. This time, Smith went for the strike but fired his effort high and wide of the target.

Uhlenhorster were beginning to look dangerous on the break, but Loughborough were defending solidly. Eventually though, Uhlenhorster took advantage, with Philip Witte driving into the circle from the left before expertly smashing his reverse stick shot into the bottom corner.

Moritz Fuerste was beginning to have a big impact on the game, being the central figure in many of the impressive moves that his team were putting together. It was he who won a penalty corner thanks to some with some terrific stick skills. The drag flick from Patrick Breitenstein forced a breath-taking save from McGregor, who dived to his right to push the ball around the post with his stick.

Loughborough continued to believe that they still had a chance in the match, well aware that Uhlenhorster had thrown away a 3-0 lead against Kelburne on Friday. The goal that they were chasing eventually arrived with just under four minutes of the match remaining, when Chris Gregg deflected a Jon Bleby free hit into the net from close range. Incredibly, with just seconds left to play, Loughborough were awarded a penalty corner, giving them the chance to equalise.

The first corner was slapped towards goal by Bleby, but the Uhlenhorster defenders cleared and began celebrating. Their celebrations soon turned to protestations when the umpire awarded another penalty corner instead of signalling the end of the match.

Loughborough had one final chance to stay in the tournament, but Bleby’s drag flick went agonisingly wide of the right post. The Uhlenhorster players charged towards their supporters in celebration, while the Loughborough players collapsed to the floor in disappointment. 

This is a great achievement for the Loughborough team, after successfully working its way through the leagues, the side gained promotion to the England National League Premier Division by winning Division 1 in 1999 / 2000. The team has placed in the top 4 of the league consistently over the last 5 years, finishing in 3rd position in 2006 / 07 to qualify for the inaugural European Hockey League, the club's first foray into outdoor European competition.  To get as far as the quarterfinals has given the players tremendous experience.