Fred McMane
Senior Editor

*The Netherlands seeks sweep of field hockey competition*
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The Netherlands is famous for its tulips and windmills ... and perhaps
very soon for its field hockey teams, too.

When it comes to field hockey, just call them the Dutch masters.  The
Netherlands could be a double-winner in the Olympic field hockey
competition at the Sydney Games.

The Dutch men's team will be defending the Olympic gold medal it won at
Atlanta in 1996 while the women will be trying to bring home the gold
for the first time since 1984.  The Dutch women won the bronze medal at
Atlanta.

While the Dutch take steps to prepare for Sydney, the U.S. Field Hockey
Association must sit down and hatch out a better plan for the future.  
Neither the men's or women's team will be playing in the Olympics this
year.

The U.S. men's team was out of contention months ago, but the women thought
they had a good chance to quality for the Olympics.  Their hopes were dashed
by China, 2-0, in an Olympic qualifier at Milton Keynes, England, in April.

"We need time to regroup," said Howard Thomas, a U.S. Field Hockey Associa-
tion spokesman.  "It's hard right now, but we'll go on.  The men will attempt
to qualify for the 2002 World Cup as will the women."

The Netherlands' main competition for the gold medal in the men's event
will come from Germany, Australia and India.  The Dutchmen have fielded
the best team in the sport for several years and feature an all-out
attack that puts tremendous pressure on opposing defenses.  While
a team like Germany still relies on penalty corners for its scoring, the 
Netherlands is always in an attacking mode. Still, the Germans are the best
defensive team in the world.

Australia will be eager to win a gold medal before its home fans, and the
Aussies will field a formidable team.  Australia is so loaded
with talent that striker Matthew Smith, despite being voted
Australia's best player in 2000, was left off the team.  Smith is one of the 
fastest players in the game, but coach Terry Walsh felt his speed would
be nullified in tight games when the defenses tighten up and opted
instead for better defenders.

One of Australia's best defenders, Michael York, suffered a severely sprained
ankle in the national team's final last official outing before the Olympics.
If he is not in top shape for the Games, it will make Australia's quest for
the gold medal musch more difficult.

There was a time when India dominated men's field hockey.  India has won the
Olympic gold medal eight times but none since 1980.  However, India beat 
powerful Germany earlier this year in a four-nations tournament.  "Our
Olympic campaign is now right on track," said Indian coach V. Baskaram.

Australia has been the dominant team in women's field hockey for the last
four years, winning the 1996 Olympics plus the 1998 World Cup.  However,
the Aussies were beaten by the Netherlands, 2-1, in the Champions Trophy 
in June and subsequently finished third.  The loss came as a blow to 
Australian fans.

"When we got home all we heard from people was, 'Oh, my god, what happened?'"
said Australia's Alison Peek.  "We have come out of that a bit tougher
because we know the team that can beat us."

Australia had entered the Champions Trophy unbeaten in major competition
since 1993.

Ten members of the Australian gold-medal winning team in Atlanta will be
returning to play in the Sydney Games.

(EOB)

st 08-13-00 23:08 et