The South African Women’s Indoor Hockey team managed to bag their first victory against Switzerland in their third game of the six-match series in Basel on Friday, 2 February, 2024.
The first two matches saw the hosts secure back-to-back victories, but Friday proved to be a fruitful day for the visitors, who won the fourth Test 3-1 after clinching a pivotal draw in yesterday’s early fixture 3-3.
It was quite the day for newbie Tatum Kroutz, who found her form in the goal-scoring department after making her national team debut in the first encounter between the two teams, earlier this week.
Sophie Stomps picked up where the Swiss left off and scored within the opening minutes of the game, but Kroutz equalised for her team a minute later. The ever-reliable Tegan Fourie then doubled South Africa’s lead in the 17th minute.
AJ Spieringshoek’s team finally got a victory in this series thanks to a late goal from Fourie who netted the winner in the 40th minute.
Switzerland now hold a 2-1 lead in the series with two games to go and given how Friday’s matches went, South Africa will be confident they can come back in the series that is taking place from 30 January – 3 February, 2024.
Earlier on Friday, the two teams play to a 3-3 draw in the first game of the day. Kroutz scored first for the visitors before Stomps got her side on level terms in the 29th minute, but Tegan Fourie got South Africa back into the lead.
Switzerland’s Raffaela Triebold’s field goal saw the game levelled again, but the hosts’ relief was short-lived, as Kroutz added a second goal to her tally. But the win was not meant to be for the South Africans, as Triebold’s 40th-minute goal was enough to secure a draw for Switzerland.
On Saturday, the penultimate match between the two teams starts at 13:00, and should South Africa prevail in the early fixture, the series decider will be played at 19:00 (times are CAT).
Fixtures and Results for the SA Indoor Hockey Women vs Switzerland Away Test Series
Tue 30 Jan (20:30): Switzerland 3-1 South Africa
Wed 31 Jan (21:00): Switzerland 3-1 South Africa
Fri 2 Feb (13:15): Third Test
Fri 2 Feb (17:30): Fourth Test
Sat 3 Feb (13:00): Fifth Test
Sat 3 Feb (19:00): Sixth Test
South Africa Indoor Hockey Women’s team for Switzerland Test Series:
Bonolo Moabi
Cerian Fourie
Cherry Grevenstein
Daniella de Oliveira
Elizabeth Porter
Jamie Southgate
Jessica Lardant
Laiken Brisset
Malikah Hamza
Sara Paget
Tatum Kroutz
Tegan Fourie
Manager: Robyn Morgan
Coach: AJ Spieringshoek’s
Switzerland Team:
Dorine von Overbeck
Sofie Stomps
Stephanie Weber
Sae Fontana
Sarah Zepf
Tamara Trösch
Nele Pöhler
Carina Zimmermann
Paulina Appel
Elena Trösch
Raffaela Triebold
Ursina Fazis
Manager: Constance van Asselt
Coach: Mathias Schaeben
Linda Haussener
Physiotherapist: Fien Koelmans
Main Photo caption: A stunning turn-around in the South African Women’s Indoor Hockey team’s form on Friday puts the visitors in sight of an upset series win, should they prevail in the tour’s final two fixtures on Saturday, 3 February, 2024. All Photos: (c) Karen Fourie
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