Netherlands:

The Orange girls grabbed the European title on Saturday night. But that was not the only prize in the Dutch camp. Sixteen-year-old Lotte Ruts was voted best player of the tournament. Logical anyway. She really deserves that one hundred percent.’

These are the words of teammate Olivia Huisman, who provided the third goal in the final. ‘Do you know that girl is only just sixteen? She advanced to us early. That never actually happens,” Huisman continued. Lotte Ruts stands next to her and listens to the striker’s words. ‘Get a grip,’ she smiles modestly. ‘No. Because you send everyone into the woods. You make goals and actions. Sincerely. You’re so good.

The kind words are rewarded with an intense hug between the two. They are beaming with pride with their gold medal around their necks. With a smile from ear to ear, as the two are overjoyed. ‘When we made it 3-0, I felt we had it in the bag,’ analyzes Huisman. Belgium came close with two goals in five minutes, but no closer than that. ‘They had momentum for a moment. That’s how you say it then. But that’s what it was,’ says Ruts. ‘That only lasted a few moments,’ grins Huisman. ‘Our defense just stood like a house. Everyone played really horribly.’

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Ollie and her way of cheering

Captain Isabel Boere made two, but Olivia Huisman provided the winning goal afterwards. In her own way, as she has done more than once this tournament. Pulling the ball from close range and then pushing it under the goalie. And she celebrates in the same way every time. As if she had just become world champion. The pair laugh. ‘That’s how Ollie is, that’s her personality. She gives so much energy,’ Ruts says.

‘I just live with a lot of emotion. I don’t care who scores either you know. I always jump a hole in the air,’ says the creator of the third goal. ‘I just cheer really hard. I always end up in some kind of adrenaline rush or something. I also really think you should always celebrate everything. Not just on the field hockey field.’ She gets to show that passion in a few weeks at Kampong, where she is the only youth player to make the switch to the Tulip big league. ‘The goalie is no obstacle for me,’ she laughs. ‘That’s really your way of scoring. Not normal. That’s how you always do it,’ Ruts tells her striker.

Showing off the medialle at Kampong and SCHC

Ruts and Huisman will meet again in a few weeks, but in their clubs’ uniforms. The striker in the blue of Kampong and Ruts in that of Stichtsche. ‘I am super looking forward to it. I am very grateful that they offered me a spot. I actually can’t wait,’ says Huisman. The midfielder shares that feeling. And then she picks up her medal. I’m really going to show it off later. Showing off a little, that’s allowed, right?’

But first the gold shows off around the pair’s necks for now. After which the medal is stored in a safe place. I’m not taking it off for a long time,” Huisman assured.

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And will Ruts also flaunt that other prize? That of best player of the tournament? She has to laugh. ‘No way. I really didn’t expect it either. I was shocked,” she says. ‘I really thought huh? What is he shouting? I heard number 17. But I think it’s great fun.

The titles are properly celebrated in Lille. Part of the group returned to the Netherlands by bus and another part joined the parents on their way to their vacation address. Just like Ruts and Huisman. ‘We’re still going to celebrate a bit, though,’ says the younger of the two. ‘The group going back by bus will do a little bit better,’ Huisman grins. ‘I’m really not taking my medal off anymore,’ she adds. ‘In September we agreed with the whole group. You don’t become European champion just like that. Very few can say that. So then we will celebrate together one more time,’ Ruts concludes.

Photo: WorldSportPics