Hockey: 'Baby' of Black Sticks juggles hockey and homework

By TERRY MADDAFORD

At 18 years and the baby of the team, Kayla Sharland faces different pressures.

While most the of the Black Sticks squad can fully focus on this weekend's two-test series with Argentina, Sharland has been juggling hockey with homework in preparation for end of year exams at Palmerston North Girls High.

This has been a hectic year for Sharland, who leads the attack for a team hell-bent on securing a place at next year's Athens Olympics.

"That is the big motivation," said Sharland, who was good enough to play touch for the New Zealand Secondary Schools team earlier in the year before her international hockey debut against Canada in front of a Palmerston North home crowd.

Under new coach, Australian Ian Rutledge, Sharland has made changes in her game.

"It has been a huge learning curve. He has worked with me in finding the right position in the circle and having me ready to shoot. I've also become more mobile, often getting back to the defensive half of the field."

Always a striker, Sharland says she never tires of the thrill of scoring.

She has now scored four for the national side, including two against Korea in a test in September.

For the newcomer, her only concern has been a growth spurt in the past year or so which has brought hamstring problems.