Hockey: Black Sticks can rise to challenge

Stacey Michelsen is confident. Photo / Getty Images

Their toughest tests will come next week but women's Black Sticks midfielder Stacey Michelsen is relieved her own personal challenges are out of the way.

In the middle of the team's build-up to the Champions Trophy, which begins on Saturday in the Netherlands, Michelsen has had to complete two exams towards a law and commerce degree from the University of Auckland. It has meant balancing crucial preparation and study with travel, training and games, since the team left New Zealand on June 8 with a programme of seven warm-up matches against Germany, China, the Netherlands and South Korea.

"It has definitely not been ideal," says Michelsen. "But hockey is just one of those sports where you have to manage these things and [coach] Mark Hager is understanding and gives some of us extra time off."

Two team-mates also had exams, which they were allowed to sit in the team's hotel under the supervision of team manager Debbie Balme. However the University of Auckland's policy is slightly stricter, and Michelsen had to travel into a University in the Dutch city of the Hague yesterday to do the three-hour test. At least her academic prowess has taken some of the pressure off - she scored A+ for her internally assessed assignments during the year, and they will count for 50 per cent of her final mark.

"I get mocked a bit by the girls," laughs Michelsen. "They call me a geek - I tend to study more than the others."

With the papers now out of the way, Michelsen can focus on preparation for the Champions Trophy, which features the world's top eight nations. Hager has set the ambitious goal of making the semifinals. It is a tough ask, as they face the Netherlands (world number two), Germany (world number three) and Australia (world number six) in their pool matches.

Michelsen says the drawn series with world champions Argentina earlier this year, plus a 1-0 series win over Germany last week has boosted belief and confidence within the young team.

"In the past we could be vulnerable at times but now we feel much more competitive," says Michelsen. "We go out as if we want to win every game - that is the difference and the goal."

"I think facing the big teams, especially the European nations, is not as scary for them as it used to be," agrees Hager. "After the [2008] Olympics we had a very young team but there is a good core of experience there now."

Since her debut in 2009, the 20-year-old Michelsen has racked up 57 appearances for her country, and is one of eight players in the squad who played their early hockey at Northland's Kamo Intermediate School. She is versatile, having played in defence, midfield and attack at various stages.

"When we first saw her she was pretty raw but her attacking flair stood out," remembers Hager. "She has since moved back but her speed and skill means she can play anywhere."

There is a defensive solidity about this current Black Sticks outfit. Hager says there was a tendency in the past to concede soft goals but the team have put a lot of time into defensive organisation and improving tackling technique. There is also a drive to limit turnovers - internal studies have shown that when they concede more than 70 turnovers in a match the result tends to go the wrong way.

The Black Sticks drew 0-0 with China on Friday, successfully defusing six Chinese penalty corners, and faced the same opponents last night. They will play the Netherlands tomorrow and South Korea on Wednesday.

CHAMPIONS TROPHY

* June 25: NZ vs Germany, midnight (NZT).

* June 26: NZ vs Australia, midnight (NZT).

* June 29: NZ vs Netherlands, 3am (NZT).

* June 30-July 3: Playoffs.