Hockey is back with a bang

Friday night saw a return to Hockey with the under 16s away at Doncaster.

Looking to cement second place on the ladder against third place Doncaster the Strikers came out strong. It was a great tussle early on before Zizi Pozzebon finished a great short corner play slamming home their first goal.

Before half time a second goal was scored when Marisah Mock played on from the sideline, ran it to the edge of the circle and slammed it in to Jenna McLauchlan who was right on the spot and helped it home right over the goalkeeper's head. 2-0 at halftime.

With no substitutes at all, there was concern that the legs might not last the full distance but with some subtle field changes, the team lifted once again and finished as they started with another goal, this time it was Marisah to Leandra McLauchlan who with perfect precision found the corner of the net.

It was a fantastic all-round team effort especially from 'The Wall'. Sarah Sutton-McLellan, Tarilyn Bottrell and Eve Thorpe were impenetrable in defence.

Special mention to the latest recruit Alexis Smart who played an excellent first game despite the almost five hour commute from her home in Lakes Entrance.

Also on Friday night the under 18s travelled to Monash to take on St Bede's after a two week break. We came out fighting desperate for a win but unfortunately, it was not meant to be, St Bede's had the upper hand from the start. Strikers fought hard and kept the score at a 2-0 loss.

Strikers Women met top of the table Casey Cannons at home on Saturday afternoon. Their last clash was the Strikers best game this season despite the one-sided score line (a 5-0 loss). The team was fired up and ready for the challenge. Strikers started conservatively, playing safe hockey for the first quarter and heading into the second half two goals down. The second half was a different story with Strikers controlling the play and looking dangerous heading in to attack. They eventually scored in the fourth and missed an equaliser five minutes before the game ended by only centimetres. A well-fought game, with Strikers, eventually going down 1-2.

Under 12s

Aztecs (3) defeated Drouids (1). Aztec goal scorers: Charlotte Lewis with two and Jacob Mock with one. Drouids scorer was Liam Finger.

Gulls (3) defeated Warriors (1). Gull's goal scorers were Jayden Sciortino, Zoe Finger and Brady Cake. Warriors, Alexis Hazell.

Under 15s

Drouids (3) defeated Aztecs (2). Goal scorers Drouids: Not available. Aztecs: Marisah Mock and Liam Finger.

Under 18s

Aztecs (7) defeated Warriors (1). Goal scorers Aztecs: Jordan Oellermann and Harry Coster scored three, and Charlie Coster scored one. Warriors: Hamish Zurrer.

Women

Aztecs defeated Drouids (5-1). Goal scorers Aztecs: Felicity Johnson and Sarah Chandler scored two each and Helen Tinbury scored one. Drouids: Scarlett Wells.

Gulls (10) Defeated warriors (1): Goal scorers Gulls: Ariya Mock scored four, Laura James scored three, Marisah Mock two and Ruth Tucker one. Warriors: Kate Rinehart.

Men

Drouids (5) defeated Aztecs (1). Goal Scorers Drouids: Mathew Zurrer scored five. Aztecs: Jordan Oellermann.

Gulls (2) drew with Warriors (2). Goal Scorers Gulls: Mathew Sciortino scored two. Warriors: Goal scorers not available.

photographs AMANDA EMARY. Drouids player Leith Metcalf moves the ball down the field.

Drouids player Hamish Zurrer about to pass the ball.

Drouids player Caleb Vandermare and Aztecs Deakin Boltong (right) battle it out on the field.

Drouids player Ben SchelleKens and Aztecs’ Eve Thorpe sprint toward the ball.

Drouids player Flynn Furphy fights against Aztecs’ Cailean Thomas.

Aztecs player Kailey Bone observes her teammates.