Manawatu teenager Emily Naylor is the surprise selection in the New Zealand women's hockey team named today to contest next month's Olympic qualifying tournament in Auckland.
Naylor, 18, showed outstanding form at the national squad's camp in Christchurch in the past fortnight.
She was invited to attend the camp for development purposes but so impressed national coach Ian Rutledge that she was the only newcomer named in the squad of 18 for the tournament.
"Emily came in with only a slight chance of making the team, but in the end she was one of the first players picked," Rutledge said.
"She is extremely talented. Emily is technically proficient, has a good training attitude and has performed well under pressure."
Rutledge watched Naylor play for the New Zealand under-18 team against Australia last year, but wanted to see more of her.
"She played the series with a broken hand, which told us something about her character, but didn't mean we saw her best hockey."
Naylor has been named in the half line. She can play either on the left or right, is also a competent inside forward and can even play as a strike forward.
"I was going to study fulltime at Massey University this year, but that has all changed now. It is very exciting," Naylor said.
Three players who were recalled to the squad last year have retained their positions in the tournament team.
They are North Harbour midfielder Leisen Jobe, Auckland striker Lisa Walton and Canterbury midfielder Rachel Robertson.
The side includes only four players from the team who finished sixth at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. They are Wellington's Caryn Paewai and Suzie Pearce, Helen Clarke, of Auckland, and Diana Weavers, of Canterbury.
New Zealand won the last Olympic qualifying tournament in Milton Keynes in England four years ago.
Rutledge said he was very pleased with the strength of his team and the development made during the first two weeks of the Christchurch camp.
"The team has come on leaps and bounds. The players are looking very sharp."
The Black Sticks will play four practice games against Japan during their final week of the five-week camp which ends on February 28.
The games will be played in Christchurch on February 23, 24, 26 and 27.
New Zealand's opening match at the qualifying tournament is against Great Britain on March 19.
New Zealand: Helen Clarke, Meredith Orr, Karen Syddall, Lisa Walton (Auckland), Stacey Carr, Rachel Robertson, Diana Weavers (Canterbury), Tara Drysdale, Emily Naylor, Kayla Sharland, Rachel Sutherland (Manawatu), Lizzy Igasan, Leisen Jobe, Jaimee Provan (North Harbour), Beth Jurgeleit, Caryn Paewai, Suzie Pearce (captain), Niniwa Roberts-Lang (Wellington).
- NZPA
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
Latest from Sport
The unexpected golf mecca that is Tasmania
Home to four of the top-ranked golf courses in the world.