# Dual Ambition: How Lander Coach Robbert Schenk Carried Team USA on the World Stage

**By Petra Nowak**  \nPublished August 4, 2026  \nUpdated September 9, 2026

> While guiding Lander University to its winningest season in history, head coach Robbert Schenk took his elite playing career abroad, scoring two game-winning goals for Team USA at the 2026 World Masters Hockey World Cup in the Netherlands.

When summer arrives, most collegiate mentors turn their focus entirely toward recruiting calendars and tactical whiteboards. For Lander University head field hockey coach Robbert Schenk, the summer of 2026 demanded a double shift. While managing the administrative and developmental weight of an ascending NCAA program, the Leiderdorp, Netherlands native was simultaneously preparing to face the globe's finest elite players at the 2026 World Masters Hockey (WMH) World Cup, hosted across Rotterdam and Schiedam.

Securing a spot on the United States O-35 (over age 35) Men’s Masters Team alongside 17 other players from across the country, Schenk balanced a rigorous, self-funded training regimen with a historic collegiate campaign. Just prior to making his mark on international soil, he guided the Lander Bearcats to a 15-4 record—the winningest season in school history—and a runner-up finish in the South Atlantic Conference championship game. Under his tactical direction, the program has compiled a 47-26 overall record since its inception in November 2021, reaching as high as No. 7 in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association national rankings.

“It is a true privilege to compete in the World Cup, representing the United States,” Schenk said, as quoted by Brenda Stewart. “I hope to show our student-athletes that with hard work and determination, there are no limits to what they can achieve. I am also very grateful for the support that the University has shown me, and the continued support of Lander Athletics.”

That personal dedication translated directly onto the turf in the Netherlands. Playing under head coach Danny Haydon, assistant coach Jeremy Mason, and manager Patrick Holmes, Schenk proved instrumental in anchoring the U.S. attacking structure during group play. He notched two crucial game-winning goals to help propel the red, white, and blue through an undefeated preliminary pool run.

The tenacity of the U.S. O-35 squad faced its sternest test in a contentious quarterfinal matchup against Wales on July 29. After a grueling, scoreless deadlock through three quarters, Wales broke through with a 50th-minute breakthrough. Refusing to yield, the U.S. side responded immediately through set-piece execution. Two minutes later, Schenk delivered a clinical penalty-corner strike to knot the scoreline at 1-1, forcing the high-stakes contest into a tense sudden-victory shootout where Wales ultimately prevailed 5-4.

## Navigating the Global Landscape

Schenk's performance on the international stage mirrors a lifelong immersion in elite field hockey. Before building a powerhouse in Greenwood, South Carolina—including three consecutive SAC tournament semifinal appearances and two championship matches—he accumulated extensive playing and coaching experience across the Netherlands, England, and Australia. His résumé features stints with Premier League clubs in Den Haag, Melbourne, East Grinstead, and Oxted, alongside an assistant coaching run at the University of North Carolina from 2019 to 2021 that yielded three Atlantic Coast Conference titles and two NCAA National Championships.

That wealth of high-level experience resonates deeply within the Lander locker room. Victoria Hulst, a recent Lander media and communication degree graduate from the Netherlands who reunited with her collegiate teammates abroad to support their coach, noted the profound impact of watching Schenk embody his teachings.

“He really understands the game inside and out,” Hulst said, highlighting the inspiration drawn from seeing her mentor compete at peak capacity. “We’re really proud of him.”

Lander University President Richard Cosentino emphasized that Schenk’s dual success reflects both individual excellence and institutional ambition. “Coach Schenk is not only an exceptional field hockey coach who has built one of the premier programs in the South Atlantic Conference, but he is also an accomplished athlete in his own right,” Cosentino stated. Executive Director of Athletics Brian Reese echoed that sentiment, noting that the coach's international campaign underscores the caliber of mentorship defining the Bearcats athletic department.

Following their quarterfinal heartbreak against Wales, Schenk and the U.S. O-35 Masters turned their focus to the placement bracket, closing out their tournament slate against Germany on August 1. For a program builder who demands resilience from his student-athletes every autumn, stepping back onto the pitch as an active competitor provided the ultimate live demonstration.

## Sources

- [Cort Street cstreet@indexjournal.com](https://www.indexjournal.com/sports/lander-coach-robbert-schenk-shines-on-world-stage-with-team-usa/article_edfd8d46-d38d-4905-ac14-f3c27d9693f1.html) — original
- [usafieldhockey.com](https://www.usafieldhockey.com/news/2026/july/30/Placement-Matches-at-2026-WMH-Masters-WC) — original
- [Brenda Stewart](https://whosonthemove.com/lander-field-hockey-coach-part-of-team-usa-at-world-cup/) — original
- [landerbearcats.com](https://landerbearcats.com/news/2026/2/17/field-hockey-robbert-schenk-selected-to-compete-in-world-masters-hockey-world-cup.aspx) — original
- [masters.altius.live](https://masters.altius.live/players/49023) — original