Winning ways for Aberdeen University’s student hockey squad
The University of Aberdeen’s male student hockey team has competed in a premier indoor hockey tournament for students in Scotland.
The prize on offer for the six competing teams (Napier, Heriot-Watt, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, and Aberdeen) was the chance to act as Scotland’s representatives at the British Universities competition in Kidderminster at the end of January 2002.
Captain Alan Clark said that winning the trophy had been a terrific achievement for Aberdeen University and will hopefully not be the end of their success this season.
He said: “We were drawn in Pool B of the competition along with Heriot-Watt and Glasgow University and were successful in defeating Heriot-Watt 2-1 in a tense opening game. We followed that up with a battling 3-3 draw with Glasgow, where two late goals in the last two minutes managed to clinch a dramatic draw for the Aberdeen students.
With our undefeated record in tact we moved into the semi-final against Napier University, which was undoubtedly the game of the tournament. With the scores tied at 3-3 after normal time the game moved into a five minute golden goal period, where the first team to score would go through to the final to face Stirling.
“Chances were missed by both sides and with no further additions to the scoresheet the game went to penalties. We held our nerve the better and progressed to the final which we won comfortably 3-0 to be crowned Scottish Universities Indoor Champions.”
Special mention must go to David Sweetman for scoring a hat-trick in the final, and also to goalkeeper David Snell and defender Kevin Miller who were both unlucky not to be named as player of the tournament.
President Dave Ryan, said: “Winning the Scottish Universities indoor title has been the crowning glory in a remarkable year for Aberdeen University Men’s Hockey Club.
“The first XI are sitting top of National Division 3, the highest placing the club has had in its 98-year history. They were pipped by just one point for the Scottish Universities outdoor title by Edinburgh University. Nevertheless, they have qualified for the British Universities Cup, which will be held early in the new year.
“The second XI also finished as runners-up to Edinburgh in their bid to become Scottish Champions, again the margin was just one point. Off the field, the three week New Zealand Tour last June proved to be a remarkable success. The hard work that went into organising the trip was well and truly repaid by the warm welcome and hospitality we received from the New Zealanders.
“The Indoor Squad is now looking forward to the British universities indoor tournament in Loughborough at the end of January where they will compete against the best university teams in Britain. The squad is anchored on the experience of two Scotland under 21 players, Andrew Mowat and Doug Anderson. David Snell has been outstanding in goal, while the hard work ethic and endless enthusiasm of captain Alan Clark has galvanised the squad into a winning team."
The indoor hockey squad in full was:
Alan Clark (captain), Douglas Anderson, Andrew Mowat, Kevin Miller, David Snell, David Sweetman, Keith Smith, Stuart McArtney, Neil Allan, and Trevor Watt.
Alan Clark added: “We are all now looking forward to participating as one of the six top universities in Britain at the indoor championship at Loughborough. We will hopefully add some further silverware from that tournament.”
For further information contact: Angela Begg, Media Relations, on: (01224) 272960.
Issued by Public Relations Office, External Relations, University of Aberdeen, King's College, Aberdeen. Tel: (01224) 272014 Fax: (01224) 272086.
University Press Office on telephone +44 (0)1224-272960 or email a.begg@abdn.ac.uk.