Campoy on mark as Complu earn draw
Maria Pilar Campoy struck twice to earn Sanse Complutense a second successive 2-2 draw as they look to find form in the Spanish women’s Iberdrola league ahead of their EHL debut.
She netted in the second and 60th minutes against RS Tenis to hand the Madrid side a 1-0 and 2-1 lead but a later goal from Ana Bousquet Alvarez meant it was honours even.
It means the reigning Spanish champions stay in eighth place in the table following a big overhaul in their line-up since picking up the title and qualifying for the ABN AMRO EHL FINAL8.
Key corner threat Lola Riera is now with HGC in the Netherlands, Lucia Jimenez is in Germany while fellow Spanish international Patricia Alvarez is now with Real Club de Polo.
Argentina international Campoy is a key figure, top-scoring in the league with six goals, while Maria Emilia Garcia Munitis and Lucia Caruso are new arrivals who have linked up with the Italian national team before. Linda Cobano is another fresh face who has chipped with five goals.
Agustina Fiorelli, Marianna Alvarez, Victoria Madariaga and Antonia Rebecca Landgrebe add to the list of newcomers. The side has three captains – Fiorelli, Cristina Condes and Josefina Mondo.
They also had a change of coach over the summer with Ignacio Rodrigo Estevez taking over from Victor Sojo. It is a panel with a strong Argentinean connection – 14 players from the wider panel and the coach hail from the South American country.
Those changes mean it is a big challenge in what will be their fourth season in women’s European competition having contested the EuroHockey Club Trophy in 2014 (fourth place) and 2021 (runners-up) while the played in the top tier Cup in 2017 where they finished in fifth place.
This season, they will open their EHL FINAL8 campaign against Irish side Pembroke.
Their city rivals Club de Campo also drew 2-2 on Sunday as they came back from 2-0 down against Junior FC thanks to Begoña Garcia and Carmen Cano.
The result allowed Club Egara jump ahead of them into second while UD Taburiente remain in front after a 2-1 away win over Real Sociedad.