Goal keeper Roseanne Thomas (in yellow) celebrates with the rest of the Welsh national hockey team winning the 2013 EuroHockey Championships III in Athens, Greece, in July 2013. Photo courtesy of Hockey Wales.

International hockey goal keeper and Sussex graduate Roseanne Thomas conceded just one goal as Wales won the 2013 EuroHockey III Championships in Athens, Greece last week. 

Wales never looked back after storming to a 10-0 victory against hosts Greece in their first match last Sunday (21 July), winning all four of their remaining games to top the group and qualify for the EuroHockey Championships II in 2015. 

Runners-up Czech Republic were the only team to breach gold-medallist Roseanne’s goal as Wales beat them 2-1. 

The start of the tournament came just over a week after Roseanne graduated from the University of Sussex with a degree in Biomedical Sciences. 

Roseanne has represented the Welsh hockey team at various levels since the age of 13 and captained Sussex’s women’s hockey team this year. 

She said: "I have had a busy few months and I am very proud and excited to be capped again. 

“I have to thank the University of Sussex and Students’ Union sports departments for helping me with my fitness, technique and their unwavering support." 

Roseanne received a Sussex sports bursary throughout her three years on campus and was one of only six Sussex students in 2012-13 to receive a High-Performance Athlete Award from the University. The award is the highest level of sports bursary that the University gives to its students and recognises Roseanne’s rise into senior international competition. 

Sports bursaries are offered annually to Sussex athletes who play at an international or national standard in their chosen sport and are supported by former students through the Sussex Fund, managed by the Development and Alumni Relations Office. 

The support package – provided by the University’s sports service (Sussexsport) and the Students’ Union – includes free use of the University’s sports facilities, fitness testing and programming, physiotherapy/sports massage support, a parking permit, a financial package, regular mentoring sessions, and some academic flexibility. 

The EuroHockey tournament ran from 21 to 26 July.

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