Pien Dicke Added to Netherlands Olympic Hockey Roster
PARIS – Former Virginia field hockey player Pien Dicke has been added to the active roster for the Netherlands Olympic field hockey team, head coach Paul van Ass announced Thursday (Aug. 8).
Dicke has been a reserve on the team and was moved to the active roster for Friday’s gold medal match against China after Joosje Burg suffered a broken nose in the semifinal victory against Argentina.
“This is, of course, a huge disappointment for Joosje and all of us,” van Ass said. “We do not want to take the risk that her nose will get hit or start bleeding again during the match tomorrow. Medically speaking, she could play, but we also want to protect Joosje. We have to perform at our best tomorrow and do not take any risks in an Olympic final. That is why I have made the difficult decision in the interest of the entire team that Joosje will not be there tomorrow and will be replaced by Pien Dicke.”
Dicke has been present as a reserve since the start of the Games, along with goalkeeper Josine Koning and defender Rosa Fernig. They have been training with the team but staying near the Olympic Village rather than in the Village with the active players.
Dicke has 46 international caps with the Dutch national team, scoring 20 goals. The striker was part of both the 2021 and 2023 gold-medal European Championship teams and saw action in three FIH Pro League Championship campaigns.
Dicke was the 2017 ACC Freshman of the Year and a First-Team All-American in her lone season with the Cavaliers before returning to the Netherlands to begin competing for her national teams.
Dicke and the Netherlands will take on China on Friday, August 9 at 2 p.m. ET in the gold medal match. The team finished at the top of Pool A with a 5-0 record, going on to defeat Great Britain 3-1 in the quarterfinals and Argentina 3-0 in the semifinals. The Netherlands defeated China 3-0 during pool play.
Dicke will be the first medalist in program history. She is the third Olympian in program history, joining Michelle Vittese (Team USA, London 2012 and Rio 2016) and Paige Selenski (Team USA London 2012).
The match will stream live on Peacock.