Hockey: fighting performances win hearts

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

The team with no nickname have won the hearts of the nation - going where no New Zealand women's hockey side have gone before in an Olympics.

They are easily the most experienced hockey team this country has seen, with six players winning more than 100 caps for New Zealand and seven survivors from the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

On Sunday they begin the next phase of their Olympic dream, the six-team semifinals, where the top two sides will be found for the gold medal playoff.

New Zealand will play the top three sides from the opposite pool, including world and Olympic champions Australia, during the next five days. Their ideal is to emulate the incredible feat of the 1976 New Zealand men's team who won gold from Australia in Montreal.

The 16 players going for gold are:

Forwards


Kylie Foy: The gritty left winger was named captain for these Games, but she is not always in the starting line-up. Foy, an Auckland solicitor, went to the 1992 Olympics, but in 1998 she took a break and missed the Commonwealth Games, where New Zealand won bronze. She had to fight her way back into the side, but now has more than 110 caps. Her brother, Mark, played soccer for the All Whites.

Moira Senior: At 24, she is one of the youngest players in the side, but already a double international with 90 hockey tests behind her. Senior is an explosive wing, who is a brilliant substitution player. After recovering from a calf strain, she made the starting line-up on the left wing in the last test against South Africa. A physical education student in Palmerston North, Senior played softball for New Zealand when she was only 18.

Suzie Pearce: A Northlander, now studying physical education in Wellington, Pearce is one of the standout players so far. She has worked tirelessly as an inside forward, setting up a number of the Kiwi goals, and pushes out for New Zealand's penalty corners. Another 100-plus cap player, Pearce is a cousin of cricket's Crowe brothers.

Kate Trolove: Since she's been in Sydney, the woman nicknamed "Trolley" has become the most capped player in New Zealand hockey history, with 160 tests played over 12 years. The 33-year-old, a former New Zealand captain, is the regular centre forward. The product manager for Canterbury clothing wears the same lucky headband in every match.

Anna Lawrence: The Kiwis' deadly corner striker is among the leading scorers at the Olympics.
The powerful right inner, a marketing executive for an insurance company, almost ended her career with a serious knee injury 10 years ago. She recovered in time to go to the Barcelona Olympics, and was then groomed to be the national captain. She spent five years in the leader's role before coach Jan Borren decided to take the extra responsibility off her for these Games.

Michelle Turner: One of the less experienced players in the side, the Christchurch events manager made her debut for New Zealand at last year's Champions Trophy tournament in Australia. Turner is a hard-working inside forward who comes off the bench for Pearce or Lawrence.

Mandy Smith: The pin-up girl of world hockey also happens to be one of the best strikers in the international game. Smith was New Zealand's youngest player at the 1992 Olympics, but has now played 135 tests. She bounced back from surgery on her spine five years ago, and has scored two goals at this tournament. Smith's partner is former All Black Marc Ellis. She is brand manager for television production company Left Field.

Midfield


Skippy McGregor: McGregor, a primary school teacher in Palmerston North, has a strong hit and is an effective tackler. She has been a regular in the side since 1996 and could yet play her 100th test at these Olympics. She was Skippy Hamahona. Her two younger sisters have also played for New Zealand age-group hockey teams.

Tina Bell-Kake: Once chosen in the world's top 11 players, Bell-Kake first played for New Zealand 14 years ago, and has been to three World Cups. Bell-Kake, who grew up in Hawkes Bay, came out of retirement to make this Olympic side, after the disappointment of New Zealand's 1992 Olympic performance. She is still one of the most talented players in the side - with her deft touches and incredible stick work - and controls the game from centre half. The Rangitoto College teacher has two children, Chelsea and Mark jun, and is married to former New Zealand men's player Mark Kake.

Diana Weavers: The tallest of the New Zealand hockey stars, Weavers has so far been a substitute player for Bell-Kake at centre half. She is a lab technician, originally from Christchurch, who has been playing her representative hockey for Wellington and has been in and out of the New Zealand side in the past five years. She counted heads at the Museum of New Zealand while the team lived and trained in Wellington for two months.

Caryn Paewai: The feisty right half made her debut for New Zealand last year, but is now a regular in the test starting line-up. Originally from the Hawkes Bay, 25-year-old Paewai now lives in Wellington, where she is a health and fitness consultant. She has 39 internationals to her name.

Defenders


Rachel Petrie: The Christchurch policewoman has just reached a half-century of tests for New Zealand, but these Olympics are likely to be her swansong. Petrie retired from representative hockey this year, after 99 games for Canterbury. She played an outstanding defensive game against China during pool play, keeping the dominant Chinese scoreless in a crucial match. Most of her long hits have pin-point accuracy, setting up a string of New Zealand attacks.

Sandy Bennett: The most consistent defender in the New Zealand side at these Olympics. Bennett is an Auckland-based accountant who grew up in Dargaville. She has played more than a ton of games at fullback for the Kiwis. Her partner, Craig Glendinning, plays rugby for Manu Samoa.

Jenny Duck: The Christchurch draughtswoman had to pass a fitness test to get to Sydney. Although she has 98 caps for New Zealand, Duck is no longer a consistent starter in the side, losing some of her edge after back surgery earlier this year. Duck played her first test in 1991, but missed selection for the Barcelona Olympics the following year.

Goalkeepers

Helen Clarke: The goalie with the famous name has been the star of the New Zealand team in Sydney.
Her heroics in the opening test - saving a German penalty stroke - made her a household name along with her political rival. Aucklander Clarke went to the 1992 Olympics as the reserve goalie, but has come a long way since.If you cannot recognise her behind the astronaut suit, she's the one in the black helmet.

Anne-Marie Irving: The youngest member of the team at 23, Irving is the goalie with the silver helmet.
Irving, a law student at Canterbury University, first played for New Zealand a year ago. She made her Olympic debut halfway through the second spell of the dramatic match against the Netherlands. Her dream is to one day manage the New Zealand team.