Latest news with #HeatherMcEwan
Edinburgh Reporter
4 days ago
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Late McEwan strike ends Irish challenge
Heather McEwan poked the ball home from close range as Scotland bounced back from an earlier setback to secure a 3-2 victory over Ireland, ranked two places above them in the world, in the EuroHockey Championships in Germany. The South African-born forward, who plays her hockey in Belgium, reacted quickly when a shot from the top of the circle from Ellie Mackenzie (Surbiton) crashed off the left-hand post and hit the back of Elizabeth Murphy, the Irish goalkeeper. The ball spun across the goal and McEwan was there to make sure and send the Scottish fans in the stands wild. The victory was no more than Scotland, ranked No 15 in the world, Ireland are No 13, deserved. They pressed from the start and sustained that despite the searing heat in Munchengladbach. Ireland have dominated the Tartan Hearts in recent internationals, but Eve Pearson (Bowdon), Scotland's woman of the match, felt the narrow victory was deserved and she added: 'We have proved we can compete with teams above us in the world.' Earlier, the teams were deadlocked at the half-time break, but Roisin Upton slotted following a penalty stroke award after 35 minutes. Coach Chris Duncan's side did not let their heads drop, and they continued to drive forward looking to level. A penalty stroke was awarded for a heavy challenge in the circle with 11 minutes remaining. Dundee-born Olympian Charlotte Watson (Beeston) cooly slotted into the bottom left hand corner and Scotland were on a charge. Ireland, however, broke and Kathryn Mullan was left unmarked on the right side of the circle. She lashed the ball into the net despite Scotland goalkeeper, Jessica Buchanan (Wimbledon), trying to deflect it with her right boot. Back came Scotland, and a minute later they forced a penalty corner, their seventh in the match. Ireland did not register one. Edinburgh-raised Amy Costello (Surbiton), a Paris Olympian, slotted with a deft flick which deceived the Irish goalkeeper to level and Scotland powered forward. Mackenzie's brave run down the centre and then her shot which came off the goalkeeper's left hand post set up the chance and McEwan gratefully accepted after 54 minutes. Scotland then manged the game out for six tense minutes for a historic win and they move off the bottom of Pool B with their first victory of the star-studded tournament. ON TARGET: Heather McEwan, Scotland's late goal heroine in Germany. Picture courtesy of Scottish Hockey Like this: Like Related
Scotsman
5 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
McEwan keeps Tartan Hearts in the hunt
Scotland levelled four minutes from time to stay in the race for a semi-final slot in the EuroHockey Championships in Germany. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Heather McEwan slotted to earn Scotland women a draw with top-ten ranked Spain in the EuroHockey Championships, Pool B. McEwan, who plays in Belgium, bravely found the net after a driving run down the left and into the circle from Surbiton player Ellie Mackenzie who sent a perfectly weighted ball in the direction of the South African-born forward to level at 1-1. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Spain, who went ahead in the first quarter, piled on the pressure, but the failed to find a way through the resolute and well-drilled Scots defence in which goalkeeper, Jess Buchanan, had another outstanding game. Heather McEwan The Wimbledon star was a major player in the 3-0 opening day defeat by England, and the Great Britain squad member, who was a travelling reserve for the Paris Olympics, could again be an ace card as Scotland square-up to Belgium on Wednesday in Monchengladbach. Chris Duncan, the side's head coach, said the squad showed great character and grit to respond positively after the England defeat and he was particularly pleased with their determination to fight back after losing an early goal to the highly-ranked Spanish combine. Everybody, he said, played their part and athletes stepped-up, particularly in the dying minutes of the final quarter when Edinburgh-raised, Great Britain defender, Amy Costello, was on a yellow card. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Katie Birch (Wimbledon) and club-mate Buchanan were among the players who kept their cool alongside Dundee-born Charlotte Watson, a Paris Olympian, and, despite the intense pressure, but this, stressed the coach, was a team effort and he added: 'We are still in this tournament, fighting for a semi-final place.' Duncan's side, may have slipped to No 16 in the world rankings, but they are competing at a high level and took the game to the Spanish side, ranked No 7 in the world, one place ahead of England, in the opening quarter. He added: 'They should be proud of their performance against Spain, and against England. I feel we have played well in both games and the England result did not reflect the performance. We created chances (against England) and they cleared one off the goal line. We made two errors which were punished. 'However, we showed great character and grit to come back against Spain and we played some good hockey defensively and with the ball. We got the job done.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scotland pressed early in the game, Jen Eadie (Clydesdale Western) coming close with a driving run and shot. Ruth Blaikie (The University of Edinburgh) then tried to feed Fiona Burnet in the circle, but the Watsonians player was inches from connecting with the pass. Spain struck against the run of play, their captain, Lucia Jiminez beating 23-year-old Buchanan to break the deadlock after 12 minutes. Scotland did not buckle and Mackenzie and Costello, her Surbiton club-mate, were pivotal in keeping the scoreline the same despite pressure from the opposition along with goalkeeper Buchanan. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Tartan Hearts were in the contest and they pressed hard in search of a breakthrough. It arrived four minutes from the final whistle when Mackenzie kept her cool to find Durban-born McEwan (Royal Victory, Belgium), who qualifies because of her Oban-raised father. She made no mistake, deflecting the ball home. Now come Belgium, ranked in the world's top three, in their final Pool B game on Wednesday (BST 11.15am) before the cross-over ties which determine the final placings.
Edinburgh Reporter
7 days ago
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
McEwan strikes as Scots battle back to draw with Spain
Heather McEwan struck in the dying minutes to earn Scotland women a draw with top-ten ranked Spain in the EuroHockey Championships, Pool B, in Germany. McEwan (pictured), who plays in Belgium, bravely found the net after a driving run down the left and into the circle from Surbiton player Ellie Mackenzie who sent a perfectly weighted ball in the direction of the South African-born forward to level at 1-1. Spain, who went ahead in the first quarter, piled on the pressure, but the failed to find a way through the resolute and well-drilled Scots defence in which goalkeeper, Jess Buchanan, had another outstanding game. The Wimbledon star was a major player in the 3-0 opening day defeat by England, and the Great Britain squad member, who was a travelling reserve for the Paris Olympics, could again be an ace card as Scotland square-up to Belgium on Wednesday in Monchengladbach. Chris Duncan, the side's head coach, said the squad showed great character and grit to respond positively after the England defeat and he was particularly pleased with their determination to fight back after losing an early goal to the highly-ranked Spanish combine. Everybody, he said, played their part and athletes stepped-up, particularly in the dying minutes of the final quarter when Edinburgh-raised, Great Britain defender, Amy Costello, was on a yellow card. Katie Birch (Wimbledon) and club-mate Buchanan were among the players who kept their cool alongside Dundee-born Charlotte Watson, a Paris Olympian, and, despite the intense pressure, but this, stressed the coach, was a team effort and he added: 'We are still in this tournament, fighting for a semi-final place.' Duncan's side, may have slipped to No 16 in the world rankings, but they are competing at a high level and took the game to the Spanish side, ranked No 7 in the world, one place ahead of England, in the opening quarter. He added: 'They should be proud of their performance against Spain, and against England. I feel we have played well in both games and the England result did not reflect the performance. We created chances (against England) and they cleared one off the goal line. We made two errors which were punished. 'However, we showed great character and grit to come back against Spain and we played some good hockey defensively and with the ball. We got the job done.' Scotland pressed early in the game, Jen Eadie (Clydesdale Western) coming close with a driving run and shot. Ruth Blaikie (The University of Edinburgh) then tried to feed Fiona Burnet in the circle, but the Watsonians player was inches from connecting with the pass. Spain struck against the run of play, their captain, Lucia Jiminez beating 23-year-old Buchanan to break the deadlock after 12 minutes. Scotland did not buckle and Mackenzie and Costello, her Surbiton club-mate, were pivotal in keeping the scoreline the same despite pressure from the opposition along with goalkeeper Buchanan. The Tartan Hearts were in the contest and they pressed hard in search of a breakthrough. It arrived four minutes from the final whistle when Mackenzie kept her cool to find Durban-born McEwan (Royal Victory, Belgium), who qualifies because of her Oban-raised father. She made no mistake, deflecting the ball home. Now come Belgium, ranked in the world's top three, in their final Pool B game on Wednesday (BST 11.15am) before the cross-over ties which determine the final placings. Like this: Like Related
