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University of Massachusets Athletics
Photo by: Gill Doig
Van Tonder to Represent South Africa at Summer Olympics in Tokyo
June 07, 2021 | Field Hockey
Goalkeeper named a traveling reserve for upcoming Games of the XXXII Olympiad
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts goalkeeper Marlise van Tonder has been named a traveling reserve for the South Africa national team at the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Previously scheduled for July and August 2020, the Olympics were postponed to July 23-August 8, 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"To represent your country on the Olympic stage is an incredible honor and we congratulate Marlise on earning this opportunity!" said UMass head coach Barb Weinberg. "In spite of the challenges of the last year, Marlise has worked very hard to reach this point. We are very excited to support her and the entire South Africa squad during the Olympics later this Summer."
Van Tonder, a native of Pretoria, South Africa, represents the 10th time a Minutewoman has made an Olympic roster as a player and is the fourth goalkeeper to do so, following Patty Shea (1988, '96), Hilary Rose (1996, 2000) and Alesha Widdall (2016).
Due to pandemic-related travel restrictions, van Tonder was unable to compete for Massachusetts during the Spring 2021 season. She remained in South Africa during this time, training and actively competing for a spot on the 19-woman squad led by head coach Robin van Ginkel. She remains an active member of the Minutewomen roster entering Fall 2021.
After arriving at UMass prior to the 2019 season, van Tonder appeared in 18 games that year and finished with a 9-8 record in the cage, being named Atlantic 10 All-Conference First Team. She was tied for the league lead with four shutouts in conference play and her goals against average (1.55) was third in the conference.
In Summer 2018, van Tonder was part of the South Africa side that competed in the Vitality Women's Hockey World Cup in London, becoming one of only two active NCAA field hockey players to accomplish that feat. She also represented her home country at the Summer Series in January and February 2020.
Follow UMass field hockey on Twitter (@UMassFH), Facebook and Instagram (@UMassFieldHockey) for continuing coverage and news around the program.
Massachusetts Field Hockey on Olympic Rosters
1980
Judy Strong • United States
1984
Judy Strong • United States
1988
Megan Donnelly • United States
Patty Shea • United States
1996
Hilary Rose • England
Pam Bustin • United States
Patty Shea • United States
Pam Hixon (Coach) • United States
2000
Hilary Rose • England
2016
Alesha Widdall (alternate) • United States
2020
Marlise van Tonder (traveling reserve) • South Africa
"To represent your country on the Olympic stage is an incredible honor and we congratulate Marlise on earning this opportunity!" said UMass head coach Barb Weinberg. "In spite of the challenges of the last year, Marlise has worked very hard to reach this point. We are very excited to support her and the entire South Africa squad during the Olympics later this Summer."
Van Tonder, a native of Pretoria, South Africa, represents the 10th time a Minutewoman has made an Olympic roster as a player and is the fourth goalkeeper to do so, following Patty Shea (1988, '96), Hilary Rose (1996, 2000) and Alesha Widdall (2016).
Due to pandemic-related travel restrictions, van Tonder was unable to compete for Massachusetts during the Spring 2021 season. She remained in South Africa during this time, training and actively competing for a spot on the 19-woman squad led by head coach Robin van Ginkel. She remains an active member of the Minutewomen roster entering Fall 2021.
After arriving at UMass prior to the 2019 season, van Tonder appeared in 18 games that year and finished with a 9-8 record in the cage, being named Atlantic 10 All-Conference First Team. She was tied for the league lead with four shutouts in conference play and her goals against average (1.55) was third in the conference.
In Summer 2018, van Tonder was part of the South Africa side that competed in the Vitality Women's Hockey World Cup in London, becoming one of only two active NCAA field hockey players to accomplish that feat. She also represented her home country at the Summer Series in January and February 2020.
Follow UMass field hockey on Twitter (@UMassFH), Facebook and Instagram (@UMassFieldHockey) for continuing coverage and news around the program.
Massachusetts Field Hockey on Olympic Rosters
1980
Judy Strong • United States
1984
Judy Strong • United States
1988
Megan Donnelly • United States
Patty Shea • United States
1996
Hilary Rose • England
Pam Bustin • United States
Patty Shea • United States
Pam Hixon (Coach) • United States
2000
Hilary Rose • England
2016
Alesha Widdall (alternate) • United States
2020
Marlise van Tonder (traveling reserve) • South Africa
Players Mentioned
GK
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