Ring Pass just misses the feat against HDM: 'There may be tears'

After the horn sounded at the atmospheric Hof van Delft Sportpark on Sunday afternoon, Ring Pass's big league dream shattered. The fatal goal was scored just two minutes before the end. It was not the fault of the effort: the number three of the Promotion Class fought for every meter in the play-outs against HDM (0-1 and 1-1) for two games, but the reward was not forthcoming. “We were so close.”

Around two o'clock, the green mat right next to the clubhouse turned into a battlefield. Ring Pass goalkeeper Robin Stam – who had kept the big league dream alive for a long time with several important saves – burst into tears. A handful of teammates stared into space in the dugout, defeated, while player Magali Roumen sank to her haunches. These were telling images at Ring Pass, which could have tasted the historic promotion, but ultimately left empty-handed. Head coach Eelko van Roon, who is leaving the club, took plenty of time for his players afterwards. One by one he passed them in the circle and fell into their arms. It was his way of thanking his players for how they presented themselves in the play-outs: as a close-knit team that kept rolling up its sleeves until the end. “Girls, we really made HDM sweat,” said assistant coach Jolan Heeren, while his eyes shone with pride. The loss was hard for captain Teuntje Bruijstens (27), who is saying goodbye to Ladies 1 after ten seasons. “But as painful as it was to see so many teammates in tears, it was also a beautiful and intimate moment,” she said. 'It shows how much time and energy everyone has put into this season. How hard we all fought. We are proud of each other. Then there may be those tears too.'

It wouldn't have mattered much or shoot-outs should have made the decision on Sunday. Fighting for a place in the big league, playing the role of underdog, it turned out to suit Ring Pass. The family club from Delft seriously shook the hockey stronghold in The Hague. The attractive complex in Delft exploded in the 47th minute, when Berbel Rozema made it 1-0 from a penalty corner variation. After just over seven quarters, the score was now in balance again: 1-1. Supported by a fanatical home crowd, the belief in a stunt grew by the minute. But that hope disappeared just before time. From a penalty corner, Kaat Walhof tipped in the liberating goal for HDM just two minutes before the final whistle, her second goal of these play-outs. Ring Pass' major league dream shattered. The promotion class did not manage to kill the hockey giant from The Hague.