Of all of the gamers on the sphere Saturday throughout SCHC-Den Bosch (1-1), Jip Dicke had the widest smile. The 22-year-old SCHC striker – felled by a hamstring damage in April – has been working her butt off for the previous seven weeks to be slot in time for the nationwide title closing. And though a purpose was not forthcoming, she was one of many standouts on the Bilthoven aspect. ‘I’ll rating that purpose on Thursday.’
Jip Dicke was near crowning her comeback Saturday afternoon with the profitable purpose. 4 minutes earlier than time – at a 1-1 rating – SCHC pressed for one more assault. Xan de Waard discovered Famke Richardson on the proper aspect, who rammed the ball laborious into the circle. Out of nowhere, Dicke popped up, escaping from the again of her opponent Pien Sanders.
She immediately took the bouncing ball on her stick and left goalkeeper Josine Koning defenseless. Nevertheless, the ball splattered on the crossbar, to the dismay of the 1,100 spectators on Kees Boekelaan.
Jip Dicke balks after her ball hit the cross within the closing levels. Photograph: Willem Vernes
‘Taking the ball within the circle was not an possibility,’ Dicke recollects the second. ‘You don’t get time and area for that towards Den Bosch. It needed to occur suddenly. Too dangerous the publish and crossbar obtained in the best way. However sure … it’s a must to peak on the proper second huh. So I save that purpose for the return on Thursday. Then it’s actually wanted.
Race towards the clock
Dicke tells it with a broad grin. Her efficiency within the first closing marked the top of a interval of uncertainty. When she injured her proper hamstring at coaching in April, she initially thought her season was over. However the ache subsided sooner than anticipated – and slowly hope grew.
‘The primary day after it occurred I simply cried,’ Dicke says. ‘However when the ache disappeared fairly shortly and my hamstring recovered remarkably easily, I may jog once more after only a week and a half. Every time I may run farther and tougher. My physique may deal with it and was sturdy sufficient for it. Then I set myself the purpose of creating the playoffs. I’m grateful to the staff and employees for giving me the possibility to come back again as nicely, regardless of my lack of race rhythm.
Jip Dicke in a troublesome duel with Den Bosch defender Sanne Koolen. Photograph: Willem Vernes
That Dicke was instantly included once more within the choice for the duels with Den Bosch says loads about her standing. Final summer time she came visiting from HDM and proved to be an on the spot hit. Till her damage, she was the participant with essentially the most subject objectives within the league (eleven) and scored a complete of fifteen instances, equaling her private file from final season.
No quarrel with the ball
Saturday towards SCHC, she instantly added new vitality to SCHC’s attacking recreation and, like purpose scorer Maud van den Heuvel, frequently popped up dangerously in entrance of Josine Koning’s purpose. Midway by way of the second quarter she got here very near scoring the opening purpose with a tip-in on a De Waard cross, however her effort flew simply previous the publish.
Dicke, laughing: “I truly anticipated to have extra hassle with the ball, however immediately it went fairly nicely. I’ve clearly been working loads the previous few weeks. Gilles [van Hesteren, coach] gave me the tip to play with a ball day by day at dwelling: in the lounge, on the balcony, simply to maintain feeling with the ball. I did that. Wherever I went, I at all times had a ball and stick in my automotive.’
The reduction at Maud van den Heuvel (left) and Yibbi Jansen after the 1-1 draw towards Den Bosch. Photograph: Willem Vernes
After halftime SCHC went behind on a purpose by Pien Sanders, however inside a minute Maud van den Heuvel levelled the rating with a rebound from a penalty nook. What adopted was an explosion of pleasure amongst all gamers – proof of the shut bond throughout the staff.
That 0-1 fell a bit out of the blue, I assumed. However luckily we equalized shortly. In any other case you spend the entire second half chasing that equalizer, and that simply makes enjoying subject hockey much less gratifying. And naturally the emotion was nice. We’re an in depth staff and we hype one another up. We’ve been pushing one another nicely for some time.’
Voicing ambitions
Coach Gilles van Hesteren has already said a number of instances in latest weeks that the title battle may be very a lot alive throughout the choice. The coach spoke confidently about his staff’s title possibilities and is satisfied that SCHC can add its first nationwide title to the checklist subsequent Thursday round 2:15 pm.
Jip Dicke catches his breath after an SCHC assault towards Den Bosch. Photograph: Willem Vernes
Dicke: ‘I can agree with what Gilles stated. From the primary second he was our coach, he has been saying this. Profitable the title may be very a lot on our minds. After all we inform one another that that’s our purpose. We need to exude winner’s mentality and that features talking out. The remainder of the Netherlands could know what our ambitions are.’
After Saturday’s 1-1 draw, the return recreation at Oosterplas awaits subsequent Thursday. A match that would actually nonetheless go both method. ‘Nothing has been performed but. We had been good on Saturday, Den Bosch was additionally good. A 1-1 is a high-quality outcome to enter the deciding match. I feel will probably be an actual preventing pot. I’m wanting ahead to it.’