Hockey: Winning start for Northland

Carli Michelsen controls the ball for Northland during their 2-1 win over North Harbour in Whangarei on Saturday. Michelsen scored one of her side's two goals. Photo / Tania Newman

New coach on a high after double victory by women

Back-to-back wins have given the Northland women's hockey team a dream start to their National Hockey League campaign, much to the delight of their coach.

Northland kicked off their weekend with a 2-1 win over North Harbour in Whangarei before travelling to Auckland and upsetting them 3-1.

New coach Angeline Waetford was still pinching herself after Sunday's win over Auckland, saying she was amazed.

"It's a perfect start to the league. I'm sort of going around and saying 'um, yeah, that did happen'," she laughed.

"It's very pleasing, I won't mind waking up for work tomorrow. I would have been pretty upset if we hadn't won against Harbour [but against Auckland] I would have been happy to have just taken a point off them."

For Waetford what has helped transform the team, which finished seventh last year, is the inclusion of current and former Black Sticks players.

"They're pretty much a self-coaching team, they keep communicating what they need to do better out there, it's very fun to work with.

"Having players the calibre of Stacey [Michelsen], Ella [Gunson], Jasmin McQuinn, and Laura Douglas coming in makes a big difference.

"Having Stacey in the team helps too, it's obvious because of her skills and pace, but, it's what she brings off the field and in team talks. She's just so motivating, helpful, and smart about the games - she's so helpful with the girls in terms of getting that culture and teaching these girls the next step up in hockey."

In Saturday's game against North Harbour, which was played in heavy rain, an early goal to Douglas put Northland in front before Harbour equalized in the second quarter.

However, Northland were straight on the attack after the break, with Carli Michelsen putting away an opportunity straight away.

While the win was pleasing, conditions meant the ball was hardly travelling when it was struck with full force - something Waetford believed played in Harbour's favour.

"I kind of think had it been dry I felt we might have run away with that game," she said of Saturday's game, in which Northland spent most of their time parked in Harbour's half. "We've got a lot pace in our team so the weather did slow us up - it was a relief to get that win though."

In terms of Sunday's game against Auckland, Waetford said goalie Nicky Howes saved everything they wanted to put at her and absorbed plenty of pressure in the first quarter as Auckland enjoyed several attacking moments.

The Auckland team includes players such as Northlanders Charlotte Harrison, Sam Harrison, and Jan Rowsell, along with national squad members Krystal Forgesson, Julia King, Danielle Jones, and Liz Thompson.

Results

Northland 2 (Laura Douglas, Carli Michelsen) North Harbour 1.

Northland 3 (Stacey Michelsen 2, Esther Hotham) Auckland 1.