Hockey: Black Sticks revitalised for Oceania Cup defence

National women's hockey coach Mark Hager has pumped new blood into the Black Sticks, picking five juniors to help defend the Oceania Cup.

The winners of the competition, to be held in Invercargill from August 25-29, will qualify automatically for next year's World Cup in Argentina.

The other teams competing are Australia and Samoa.

Juniors Katie Glynn, Ella Gunson and Lucy Talbot from Auckland, Gemma Flynn from Midlands and Stacey Michelsen from North Harbour got the nod from Hager after performing well during the recent home series against Argentina and China.

Hager has included a core of experienced players including goalkeeper Beth Jurgeleit, defenders Emily Naylor, Kate Saunders and Kate Mahon, midfielders Kayla Sharland and Stacey Carr and strikers Krystal Forgesson and Charlotte Harrison.

Hager believes his attack compares well with the best teams in the world.

However, there was work to do on the defence which conceded 23 goals in five matches during recent test series against India, China and Argentina.

Putting the record into perspective however, Argentina, who beat the Black Sticks 3-0, went on to win the Champions Trophy in Australia last week.

"We definitely need to tighten our defence or Australia will hurt us," said Hager.

* New Zealand women's team for the Oceania Cup:

Kayla Sharland, Emily Naylor, Krystal Forgesson, Kate Saunders, Katie Glynn, Stacey Carr, Ella Gunson, Beth Jurgeleit, Clarissa Eshuis, Lucy Talbot, Stacey Brannigan, Gemma Flynn, Anna Thorpe, Kate Mahon, Charlotte Harrison, Bianca Russell, Stacey Michelsen, Anita Punt.

- NZPA