Kilgraston pupil represents Scotland in hockey
Kilgraston’s Head Girl 2022 - 2023, and hockey captain, Lexie, has been selected to play for Scotland in the Aspiring U18 Girls squad in the EuroHockey Championships to take place in Krefeld, Germany 6-17th July 2023.
Lexie said: “I am so pleased to have been selected to represent Scotland in the Aspiring U18s Girls EuroHockey Championships this July taking place in Germany where we will play some of the top teams in Europe. I would like to thank Mr David Stott, my Kilgraston Hockey Academy coach for all of his time, encouragement and dedication during our hockey academy sessions. I have really enjoyed being Captain this year and would like to thank the team for all of their efforts on and off the pitch. I would like to wish the new team all the very best of luck for the next upcoming hockey season.”
Lexie was one of the Kilgraston XI team which won the Scottish Hockey Challenge plate and has represented Scotland on a number of occasions with over 20 caps to her name already.
Kilgraston’s Hockey Academy offers sportswomen the opportunity to grow and learn from the best. It is led by Mr David Stott, a former GB coach, and PE teacher, Mrs Emma Fraser.
Kilgraston Hockey Challenge Plate Winners 2023
Kilgraston Hockey Challenge Plate Winners 2023, and read Lower Sixth’s Martha’s match report:
Last Friday (17th March), the Senior Girls Hockey team left Kilgraston at 7:30 in the morning to drive to Peffermill in Edinburgh to play the Scottish Challenge Plate Final against Galashiels Academy. Excitement and nerves built as we edged ever closer to the 10am push back.
We were welcomed and given our changing room where we had our team talk from Miss Patton and Mr Stott before the final motivational comments were passed to amongst each other (not forgetting last minute hair prep)!
The whole team emerged into the Edinburgh sunshine for a nervy warm up on the pitch listening to the build up from the man in the tartan suit on the microphone! About 15 minutes from pushback two Kilgraston mini buses arrived filled with supporters from school. They came laden with posters and were prepared to be in full voice for an hour.
Along with school friends we would like to thank parents and grandparents for coming along too. It was also lovely to see Mrs Davie, Mrs Ferry, Mrs McCormick and Mrs Cran in the stands too.
The whole team lined up and we were each introduced one by one before walking out and going into our final huddle.
“Kilgraston… Cor Unum… OI OI OI!”
The team set up and the whistle blew and we were off! We did not wait long to score. The ball was played down the right to Martha who was in the circle who pushed it into the goal with a final reassuring tap in from Fern. The second goal came from Christabelle Pratt after just seven minutes. Galashiels have played the whole time this season without a goalkeeper and we used this to our advantage. However, despite having a 2-0 lead, Gala regained some control and were soon rewarded with a goal.
Just before half time, the Kilgraston girls got a penalty corner which was hit to our Captain, Lexie MacMillan, who passed it to Martha who pushed it past a number of defenders to find the back of the goal. We still weren’t done, 30 seconds before half time, Martha scored again, hitting the ball from the top of the circle making it 4-1 to Kilgraston going into the second half.
In the second half of the game, Fern got a diagonal pass down the right from Lexie which she dribbled into the circle under pressure from two defenders and fired it into the bottom left of the goal. Due to some violent play from Gala, they were given a green card and forced to sit out for two minutes which was soon followed by another card for Gala which resulted in us being rewarded with a penalty flick. Lexie took the flick and shot a composed ball into the left hand side of the goal to make the final score 6-1.
Despite not playing with a goalkeeper, Galashiels pushed us all very hard and made some dangerous attacking play which was very well defended and cleared by our players at the back. In the build up to the final we have been working hard on our attacking play practicing the forward leads and getting outcomes in the circle and it was great to see our work in action!
It was a brilliant way to end our journey within the Scottish Cup and we are all incredibly proud to bring back the Challenge Plate for Kilgraston!
Thanks also to those who watched the game on Watch.Hockey which is still available to watch back if anyone would like to watch here.
Unfortunately it was one of the last games for some of our U6 players including captain, Lexie Maxmillan, vice captain, Christabelle Pratt and Jeanie Stirling but it was a great way to end their school hockey career and we all wish them the very best for after school.
By Martha (L6)
Watch the Scottish Hockey post match interview below with captain, Lexie, and Martha
Scottish Hockey - Lexie plays for Scotland Emerging Squad
Kilgraston has strong heritage of pupils playing for Scottish Hockey squads and recently Upper Sixth’s Lexie has been selected to play for the Scotland Emerging squad in the 8-Nations event in Spain.
The team, who have been playing in 35 degree heat, have had mixed results including losses against Belgium, England, Germany and Ireland but celebrated a win against Austria in a nail-biting penalty shoot-out.
The tournament has seen Lexie and the Emerging squad playing against some of the top teams in Europe in very difficult conditions with players working really hard and giving it their all.
Kilgraston Hockey XI team wins
Kilgraston Hockey XI is celebrating two momentous trophy wins in two days. In a nail-biting final on Friday, the team scooped the Scottish Hockey Aspire Girls Cup winning 3-2 on penalties against Selkirk High.
Huge crowds came to the Senior Schools’ Cup final at Peffermill and at half-time the score-line remained at 0-0 despite the best efforts of both sides with Selkirk and then Kilgraston being denied a goal by the superb skills of the goalkeepers.
Into the second half and Selkirk took the lead however, Kilgraston were quick to response with Upper Fifth’s Flora equalising. Kilgraston were spurred on but were denied a goal but some great goalkeeping and a near post save.
With no more goals, the game went to running penalties. In a tense shoot-out, Kilgraston took the lead, with Selkirk equalising. Selkirk were then denied a point after Kilgraston scored a second penalty, then both sides scored giving Kilgraston a 3-2 lead. Both goalkeepers saved their last two penalties, giving Kilgraston a 3-2 victory to claim the trophy in style. What an outstanding achievement for the team.
After a heroes’ welcome back to school and barely time to pause for breath, the team were back out on Saturday for the Kilgraston Senior School Hockey Invitational.
Playing schools including St George’s, Strathallan and Robert Gordon’s College, Kilgraston won or drew all their initial matches and conceded no goals. The team then took on High School of Dundee in a make-or-break final which Kilgraston won 1- 0 to be crowned the tournament winners and add another trophy to their collection in just 24 hours.
Hockey XI captain and the team’s goalkeeper, Upper Sixth’s Tallie, part of the Scottish Hockey Brave Aspiring development squad, said: “The team has worked so incredibly hard this season but winning the Aspire Girls’ Cup and then the Kilgraston Senior School Hockey Invitational makes all the early morning training, sessions in the rain and dark nights worthwhile. “When it came down to penalties at the Scottish Hockey Aspire Cup, we had to stay strong and focused. It was not just physically exhausting but mentally exhausting too. But when I saved the penalty we couldn’t believe it.”
Vice-captain Upper Sixth’s Poppy, who plays Forward, added: “Winning the Kilgraston Scottish Schools Invitational was amazing and we knew we had to beat High School of Dundee in our last match to win. But we all believed in ourselves and our team; we knew we could do it and our coaches, Mr Stott and Miss Patton have been so committed to us and trained us so hard we are really grateful to them both.”
Photographs: David McCarthy