No one within HC Zwolle knows exactly, but according to coach Joe Kodde it has been ‘years’ since the Under-16 Girls reached the National Championships. He did pull off the trick with his team. “I think we’ve made some kind of history.”
The hockey players from Zwolle were very happy last Saturday on the Hurley field, against which they drew 1-1. It was enough for a place at the National Championships and that fact was celebrated as a championship. When the final whistle has sounded, the players fall into each other’s arms. Some cry with joy, others stare in disbelief: is this real? And yes, it was real.
When the realization has sunk in, they sing, jump and uncork the (non-alcoholic) champagne. Don’t blame them. Not the usual giants, but – in their own words – a relatively small club will be in the play-offs from Saturday. In the quarter-finals, Zwolle will play against SCHC, which lost twice in the group stage (0-2 and 5-1).
No one in Zwolle knows exactly when this class last competed at the National Championships, says coach Kodde. ‘It certainly hasn’t happened in the last five years. We have achieved something special. I think we’ve made some kind of history.’
Photo: Thijme Huurman
Through the eye of the needle
In the capital of Overijssel they did not quite expect that their Under-16 Girls would reach the National Championships. The team crawled through the eye of the needle and reached the national competition as one of the best numbers three. And the National Championship came next as a superlative.
“In the preliminary round, I was told an hour after the last match that we had qualified, but we did not dare to cheer yet because we did not know the rules exactly,” says Kodde. ‘We only celebrated it when it was on your site. The fact that we reached National level was already fantastic.’
Maud Francken scored Zwolle’s only goal when she visited Hurley with her striking penalty. Had that ball not gone in, the Amsterdam team would have been in the knockouts on Saturday. “I had to breathe faster, even during the match,” says the 15-year-old attacker about taking that all-decisive penalty shot.
She has nerves of steel. “I usually always push it to the left, but now I first pretended that the ball was going to the right and then I pushed it into the intersection,” she says. ‘Yes, he was pretty into it. I think this is the most important penalty I have ever scored.’ And while not Francken, but Ellemieke Visser is the main specialist from the spot at Zwolle. ‘Actually, Ellemeike always takes them. But she gave me the ball because she thought she wasn’t doing very well in the game.’
Coach Kodde: ‘I think it’s great that she dares to admit that and asks Maud for help, who then stands up at such a moment. Fantastic!’
Photo: Thijme Huurman
‘If they score again, your season is over’
The loot has not yet been won after that 1-0, everyone at Zwolle feels that. If the equalizer is scored in the final phase, the pressure and therefore also the tension increases. ‘We knew a draw was enough. If they scored again, our season would have been over. Fortunately, we made it,” Francken says with relief.
That made the barbecue during the team closing a little more enjoyable. Moreover, the season will last at least a week longer. And Zwolle already knows what it takes to get to the last four. ‘We reached the semi-finals at the National Championships in the hall. Maybe we can surprise again.’
Photo: Thijme Huurman
by Hockey.nl
