2001 – 2002

Women’s Hockey

Captain Lise-Anne Dunn

The 2001-02 season saw a continuation of the women’s team’s success in previous years and a second successive cuppers title. More than adequate replacements for some of the mainstays of the 2000-01 side who had left the College were found in the Freshers. These included Annie Bowden, who was awarded a blue, and Miranda Hayward who also represented the University.

The path to cuppers’ victory was not as smooth as expected. In the league stages of the competition, whilst comprehensively beating St. Catherine’s and New College, the team lost to Brasenose. However, this proved to be the necessary spur. Outstanding performances by Hannah Smallbone and Vicky Couper in defence and Thea Houghton in attack helped the team to a 5-1 victory over St. Edmund Hall in the quarter-final, putting Queen’s into a second game against Brasenose in the semi-final. This time the team made no mistake gaining a fine victory over them at Iffley Road. In the final Queen’s met Worcester who were still smarting from their defeat in the previous year’s semi-final. However, this year was not to be a close contest. A goal from Kelly Furber in the first minute set the tone for the match, and superb performances from Furber, who finished with a hat-trick, Julie Batley, Rumina Onac and Laura Hurley ensured that Queen’s gained a comfortable victory by 7-3. The success of the team in recent years has, of course, been helped by the arrival of a series of talented players. However, as important were the team spirit, enthusiasm and the hard work put in by all members of the team. There is little doubt that this will continue next year under the guidance of Annie Bowden.