Recent News 
Loughborough Students to Return to the Indoor Prem
Loughborough entered the second week of indoor competition in second place behind St. Albans but missing England International Richard Smith and outdoor coach David Ralph. They were replaced by Jerome Goudie and Owain Dolan-Gray and joined by Fred Whitfield to provide goalkeeping cover.
In their first match Loughborough faced a skilful Barford Tigers team who had been involved in several close matches the previous weekend. Loughborough however, came out strongly with goals from Goudie and Ward giving them an early lead. As Barford began to gain longer spells of possession the teams exchanged goals going into half-time with Loughborough 4-2 up. The students came out in the second half looking to start strongly and not suffer from a lack of concentration like they had over the previous weekend and Sam Ward ensured that would not be the case with an early goal giving his team a 3 goal cushion. Loughborough continued to play well and controlled the game finishing as 9-2 winners, Ward claiming four and Griffiths two.
In their second game Loughborough faced bottom of the table Stourport and put in another disciplined and energetic performance to overwhelm their struggling opponents. Loughborough took a 6-2 lead in at half-time and put the result beyond doubt in the second half coming away with a second 9-2 victory for the day. Ward and Griffiths both completed hat-tricks with Weir and Condon also converting chances.
As St. Albans surprisingly only gained one point on Saturday, Loughborough finished the day on top of the table with a game versus second placed St. Albans first up on Sunday.
In spite of the fact that St. Albans beat Brooklands earlier in the day, Loughborough entered the game knowing a win would crown them Champions and secure promotion back to the Premier League. As was now custom, Loughborough started the game with a high tempo and took the game to St. Albans. This quickly paid dividends as goals from Griffiths and Ward put them 2-0 up inside 3 minutes. St. Albans got a goal back after 8 minutes but Loughborough regained control scoring further goals to lead 4-2 at half-time. In the second half Loughborough maintained long periods of possession while continuing to make and convert chances, frequent goals at one point putting them 8-2 ahead. A late push from St. Albans produced 2 goals but was not enough to stop the Students who won 8-4 and with it the Division 1 Indoor title. Griffiths and Ward again completed hat-tricks with Torry and Condon also scoring.
In their final game of the competition, Loughborough drew 4-4 with Brooklands MU in a dead rubber match. Loughborough's goals were scored by Ward, Griffiths and Condon.
Loughborough Students topped the table on 20 points from 8 games and will be joined in the Premier Division next year by Doncaster who finished second on 17 points.Scholes, Thierry and ..... Ralph
Loughborough Students made an ideal start to their Maxifuel Super Sixes Division 1 campaign with two emphatic wins on the opening days play. In their first game against newly promoted Hampstead and Westminster, the Students ran out 9-2 winners, having led 4-0 at half-time. Richard Smith, Sam Ward and Chris Griffiths each scored two goals for Loughborough. Although conceding two second half goals the Students maintained control throughout the game that looked to settle any remaining nerves they may have had.
In their second game the Students produced another inspired performance to overwhelm a young Havant team 13-2. Early goals from Henry Weir and Sam Ward put Loughborough in control early with further goals giving them a 7-0 half-time lead. As in their first game, a drop in concentration saw Loughborough concede two goals the start of the second half. However, this proved only to be a momentary lapse as they regained control to add a further six goals to their tally, Sam Ward finishing the game with 4 goals. The two results gave Loughborough maximum points from the first day's play and left them at the top of the table.
Loughborough began their second day with a victory against a Bournville team that had also begun the weekend with two victories. Early goals from Chris Griffiths and Sam Ward put Loughborough in a strong position and was the foundation for a 3-0 half time lead. Bournville came out stronger in the second half and scored a couple of quick goals to bring them within touching distance of Loughborough. However, the Students reorganised and further goals from Ward, Condon, Torry and Smith saw them run out 8-4 winners.
Looking to finish the weekend with maximum points, Loughborough Students ran into a well organised and determined Doncaster team in a fiercely contested game that finished 6-6. As was becoming custom Loughborough scored early through Sam Ward and David Condon. However they couldn't preserve that lead and found themselves behind for the first time in the weekend at one point by two goals as Doncaster broke effectively. Loughborough faced this adversity head-on showing a strong fighting spirit to battle away and erase the deficit with goals from Richard Smith and David Ralph.
Loughborough Students finish the weekend with 10 points leaving them 2nd in the table. Next weekend they face Barford Tigers, Stourport, St. Albans and Brooklands as they look to gain promotion back to the Premier League.
Written by Dr Michael Lloyd
Loughborough Students vs East Grinstead
Despite leading twice, Loughborough Students lost out in a fiercely contested game with East Grinstead on Sunday.
The first chances of the game fell to Loughborough with a series of penalty corners mid way through the first half but they were unable to seriously test Richard Potton in the home goal. East Grinstead were looking dangerous on the break but it was Loughborough's Sam Ward who scored the opening goal, a crisp shot off the right side board, giving the visitors a half time lead.
Jerome Goudie "I thought we created a number of good chances against a side missing a lot of players but who were still dangerous on the break. If we can improve our set piece plays, we can been more of a threat in games."
The result sees Loughborough earn seven points out of nine from their three game home stand and sets them up nicely for their final game before Christmas away to East Grinstead on Sunday.
Both teams controlled the game for periods of the second half but ultimately it was East Grinstead's penalty corners that won them the game. Their first, on 40 minutes, brought the game level but an unchallenged reverse stick shot from Chris Griffiths a minute later restored Loughborough's lead. However Rick Gay scored two more drag flicks after 50 and 69 minutes to secure the points. The result was harsh on the Students who, by all accounts, deserved a point at the very least.
David Condon "I think our first half performance was great and coming out on the losing side was pretty gutting with the effort levels the boys put in."
Loughborough's outdoor season continues in February 2012.
Loughborough Students vs Bowdon HC
Two early goals from Sam Ward led Loughborough Students to an impressive 4-2 victory over Bowdon on Sunday.
Coming into the game in good form, Loughborough's confident passing play produced multiple early chances and the sharp Ward put two opportunities past the Bowdon keeper to put the Students two up within 10 minutes. Loughborough continued to play well as a shocked Bowdon struggled to maintain possession. However, as half time approached Bowdon won a short corner that Simon Egerton converted. The Bowdon comeback was to be shortlived though as a fine Loughborough passing move was finished with an accurate reverse stick shot and goal from Stuart Loughrey to restore the Students two goal advantage just before half time. Bowdon came out the stronger in the second half, controlling possession but unable to convert pressure to goals. This proved costly as more good passing from the Students saw David Condon score their fourth and all but secure the points for the home side. Bowdon added a second at the final whistle, a second for Egerton from a short corner.
Sam Ward
"I thought we played some magnificent hockey. We made alot of chances which is always good. You can never complain about scoring two goals"
Chris Griffiths
"We allowed Bowdon to play too many balls through the middle of the park which hurt us but with good, and sometimes scrappy, defending we limited their chances. We attacked really well and moved the ball effectively inside the final quarter of the park"
Richard Smith
"Some clinical finishing put us ahead early on and then hard work to limit their chances saw us control the game and get a big win for the Mighty!"
Loughborough Students vs Reading HC
Goals from Henry Weir for Loughborugh Students and GB International Nick Catlin for Reading cancelled each other out as both teams took a point from a well fought match at Loughborough University.
An even game saw both teams playing well but making limited opportunities in open play. Reading's main threat came from a number of penalty corners but a combination of fine saves from Ali MacGregor and mis-traps prevented the visitors from getting on the scoresheet. Loughborough meanwhile won a penalty stroke as a short corner rebound was stopped on the line by the body of a Reading player. GB goalkeeper Nick Brothers, however, dove confidently to his right saving Andy Bull's attempt to keep the game deadlocked. Nonetheless on the stroke of half time, Loughborough pressed forward and the ball fell to Henry Weir at the back post who finished high into the net to give the Students a half-time lead.
The game continued in a similar thread in the second half with the best chances coming from a number of penalty corners. It was no surprise however, that Reading's equalising goal came from the stick of the creative Nick Catlin who was also involved in the build up. Although both teams pushed for a winner, the game finished in a fair draw.
Loughborough's England U-21 Defender Richie Dawson-Smith said;
"Sunday's game was always going to be a test for us, as it always is against Reading, being a team who always compete at the top of the league. The first half was a even battle with both teams having chances, most notably for us being a penalty flick which unfortunately was saved by Reading/GB keeper Nick Brothers. Only a few minutes from the end of the first half we broke the deadlock to put them on top going into the half time break.
The second half was a tough test for us, we were put under a lot of pressure from the Reading team, but we still created some chances ourselves. Alistair McGregor in goal for us had another great game and pulled off some fantastic saves to keep us in the match. Reading equalised part way through the second half, and it was a nervous finish to the game, as we held on to get a good 1-1 draw. This was good to see as earlier in the season, games like that we would have faltered in the second half and lost by a big margin."
Loughborough Students finish their three game home stand and play their last home game of the year next Sunday November 27th against Bowdon, 2pm start.