U18 girls draw with Sevenoaks and lose on penalties

After a lengthy and fairly tricky decision making process that changed outcome several times over the course of Saturday evening and first thing Sunday morning, Oxford Hawks U18 Girls finally set off to Sevenoaks on Sunday to play their last sixteen fixture in Tier 2 of EH Cup. With a number of players missing due to half term, six U16s joined the U18s to travel to Kent.

After an initial spell of pressure from the home team, Hawks settled into the game and began to look threatening. The team won several penalty corners but these were well defended by Sevenoaks. A five minute spell before the break saw Sevenoaks convert their own well executed penalty corner routine quickly followed by an open play goal and take a 2-0 lead into half time.

Hawks dominated the second half and Lexi Newall pulled back a goal finishing a worked penalty corner routine of their own and it was only a matter of time before the girls deservedly levelled the scores with a repeat goal from Newall. Hawks threw everything forward looking for the winner but despite several attacks on the Sevenoaks goal, they were kept out. So to penalties and a bit more standing in rain just in case everyone wasn't wet enough. After the first set of five the scores were level at 3-3 and it was only after a further five nail-biting penalties that Sevenoaks finally edged it.

It was a great game and a credit to both sides. Storm Dennis did not dampen the Hawks girls' spirit and the players could not have given more to the game whether on the pitch or supporting and encouraging from the bench and the Club are hugely proud of all of them. Team: Millie Lane, Emily Cavender, Jessica Madden Waite, Connie Potts, Annabel Page, Eveena Shah, Susie Brooke, Harriet Hargreaves, Priya Ahluwalia, Gemma Taylor, Gemma Croker, Lexi Newall, Mimi Rumsby, Holly Senior, Lily Hargreaves, Alice Potter

Massive thank you to the parents and supporters who braved the frankly horrible conditions.

Congratulations to Sevenoaks and good luck in the later rounds of the competition.

Finally, a very special mention to Jessica Madden-Waite, Holly Senior, Lexi Newall and Emily Cavender for whom this was their final junior game for Oxford Hawks. It has been a privilege to watch you develop into the players you have become in both the junior and adult teams and a huge thank you for your commitment to out Club over that period of time. For those of you moving away next season, please stay in touch and we look forward to seeing you back at Hawks at some point in the future. To those of you not moving away yet - see you at training!