Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Young Black Sticks side to play Argentina

Updated at 6:10 am on 19 March 2010

New Zealand Hockey has named a young Black Sticks Women's team to face the world's numnber two side Argentina in a three test series starting in Hamilton on March 31 with the second and third matcheds in Tauranga on April 2-3.

Coach, Mark Hager, says the opportunity to play against such a high calibre team is vital for his side's build up for the World Cup, Champions Trophy and Commonwealth Games.

With more experienced Black Sticks players such as Kayla Sharland, Emily Naylor, Krystal Forgesson and Katie Glynn overeas Hager has picked a young team of 20 players with an average of 23..

The team for the first match is: goalkeepers,Beth Jurgeleit, Sally Rutherford ; defenders, Kate Saunders, Clarissa Eshuis, Lucy Talbot, Laura Douglas, Kate Mahon, Natasha Fitzsimmons. Jasmin McQuinn ; strikers, Piki Hamahona, Sam Harrison, Cathryn Finlayson, striker/midfielder Anita Punt;mid-fielders. Ella Gunson Cathryn Finlayson ,Gemma Flynn Anna Thorpe,Stacey Michelsen.

Goalkeeper Bianca Russell comes in for Sally Rutherford and defender Stacey Branningan for Jasmin McQuinn in Tauranga.

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