Strikers’ home double header

After a long period of away games in Melbourne, it was nice to be home for the final regular season game against Southern United.

No matter the result the Strikers were always going to finish second on the ladder. It was a good chance for the coach to tweak the back line with Tarilyn Bottrell unavailable and Marisah Mock taking her place.

The Strikers had so much of the early play but could not convert any of their shot attempts. Their first goal finally came when a run into the circle from Zizi Pozzebon who laid it off to Charlotte Smith who scored. At halftime, it was a 1-0 lead but in the second half, the goals finally started to flow.

First, it was Marisah Mock converting a stroke before Zizi Pozzebon spun her way onto the scorebook and Bianca Zurrer pushed one in late in the game. The final score was 4-0. Next Friday night they will take on arch-rival Power House St Kilda in a do-or-die semi-final.

Strikers under 18s played KBH Brumbies at home on Friday night. They needed a win to have a home game advantage going into the finals but it was not meant to be. Strikers lost 3-1. They had great passages of play but could not score goals. Hopefully next week in the semi-finals they can put pressure on Brumbies and show them what the Strikers are made of.

Local hockey results:

Under 12s:

Gulls (4) defeated the Warriors (1). Goal scorers - Gulls: Jacob Mock scored three, and Olivia Camier scored one. Warriors: Sam Pepper.

Drouids (4) defeated Aztecs (2). Goal scorers - Drouids: Jacob Mock scored three, Steven McNamara scored one. Aztecs: Bowen McMaster and Lucy Tepper.

Under 15s:

Drouids (12) defeated Aztecs (1). Goal scorers - Drouids: Ben Schellekens scored four, Harry Coster and Hamish Zurrer each scored three, and Elijah Ryan scored two. Aztecs: Charlotte Lewis.

Under 18s

Aztecs (8) defeated Warriors (3). Goal scorers Aztecs: Jordan Oellermann scored five, Ebonie McAskill scored two and Murray Ellis-Williams scored one. Warriors: Ben Schellekens scored two, Elliot Stevens and Zach Coster each scored one.

Women:

Aztecs (7) defeated Drouids (4). Goal scorers - Aztecs: Monique McAskill and Lauren Austen scored two, Ebony McAskill, Lanaea Bone and Robyn Riddle scored one. Drouids: Scarlett Well scored two, Kirsten Finger and Kath Pennycuik each scored one.

Gulls (3) defeated Warriors (0). Goal scorers Gulls: Ariya Mock scored two, Charlotte Smith and Hannah Spragg each scored one.

Men:

Drouids (13) defeated Aztecs (2). Goal scorers - Drouids: not available. Aztecs: Harry Coster and Brian Taylor.

Warriors (5) defeated Gulls (0). Goal scorers - Warriors: Mathew Zurrer with two, Hamish Zurrer, Callan Wallace and Scott Marks with one each.

Aztecs player Monique McAskill observes the play downfield.

Warriors player Ben Schellekens celebrates his goal.

Warriors player Kaleb Van Dermarel suffers an injury to his hand during the game.

Warriors players Ben Schellekens and Aztecs Deakin Bolton fight over the ball.

Warriors player Sarah Weeks speeds down the field.