GOLD COAST CUTS IT FINE TO CLAIM COUNTRY CROWN
THE best was saved to last as Gold Coast pipped Sunshine Coast in a women’s gold medal thriller at the Queensland Country water polo championships.
Caroline Zanussi scored the winner 1.19 minutes from fulltime to break a 5-all deadlock.
It was ever so close for the Sunshine Coast, with two lob shots in the closing stages hitting the cross bars.
Jess Lundgren and Cose Winter both tried the deft shots over the top of the keeper without luck, then the Gold Coast nailed the winner.
“It is always a tough game against Sunshine Coast,’’ said Gold Coast captain Peta Schulte.
“They are arch rivals and we know how each other’s play. It was always going to come down to the wire.
“We are lucky to be going back-to-back.’’
She said the side came together as a team when it counted most and stuck to the game plan.
“We remained composed and fought it out to the end.’’
Sunshine Coast captain Lily Merlo, although on the wrong end of a 6-5 result, said it was a great game worthy of a final.
Defence dominated the match, with both team’s spoiling countless scoring opportunities in a game that ebbed and flowed.
Sunshine Coast entered the last quarter with its nose in front, leading 5-4 after Lundgren had scored a double and Winter a goal.
But Jackie Lewis scored for Gold Coast and it was tied up again at 5-all.
It was edge of the seat stuff in the last quarter.
Both goalkeepers also played their part, with Lily Merlo (Sunshine Coast) and Mikayla Thomas (Gold Coast) outstanding.