Geelong sends three teams to finals
HOCKEY Geelong has three of its four junior teams in state league knockout finals which start on Friday night.
A host of senior Premier League squad members will lead the charge in the under-16 Ron Penpraze Shield semi-final against Toorak East Malvern, including the competition’s leading goalscorer Joanna Howie.
Howie, a regular first grade senior player after moving to Geelong from Darwin with her sister Sally this season, has score 16 goals in 10 matches at junior level.
Also in the line-up are fellow Premier League players Kahlua Smart and Maddi Samsa, along with senior squad members Annabelle Brook, Zoe Jenkins, Puck Klaassen and Charley Russell.
The under 16 girls have lost just two matches this season, to the unbeaten Waverley, which meets Footscray in the other semi-final.
Geelong met Toorak East Malvern twice this season for a 2-1 win in Round 3 and a 4-3 win in Round 10.
In under 16 Mixed Shield B, Geelong finished third on the ladder and faces KBH Brumbies on Friday.
While the second placed Brumbies finished 10 points clear of Geelong on the ladder, they fought out a 2-2 draw in their only meeting this season.
Geelong’s under 14 Girls Shield B team has had an impressive season to date with nine wins and three draws in 14 games.
The young Sharks, who finished bottom of the Pennant ladder two year ago, finished second on the ladder with nine wins and three draws from 14 matches.
They meet Mentone on Friday in what should be a quality match having won 1-0 in Round 3 and fighting out a 3-3 draw in Round 10.
Geelong under 14 Mixed Shield team finished the season in sixth spot.