SMART, possessive hockey was the key to WestVic fending off La Trobe University for a one-goal win in Hockey Victoria women’s state league one.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bendigo Bank WestVic was determined to improve on a one-all draw from when they last met La Trobe and enjoyed home crowd support on Saturday.
Mindee Stone made a breakaway for an open shot on goal to make the first score.
La Trobe stretched Westvic’s defence until it managed to get a goal in the last five minutes of the first half.
Westvic came out strong in the second half looking for the net but missing some opportunities.
They continued to punch forward and link up through the midfield, finally the second goal was from a direct hit inside the circle and deflected off Cristin Ruyg’s stick.
Westvic will take confidence from this much-needed win into next week’s home game.
WestVic men served up a challenge to second-ranked state league two team Frankston before falling three goals short.
Missing two key players and the coach to Australian Country Championship duty, WestVic still showed it was close to matching the division’s best.
WestVic rattled Frankston for the first 15 minutes and had Frankston defending.
Pace via Toby Hoy, Jamie Lovett and Ben Smith was a constant worry to Frankston.
WestVic’s ability to hold the ball and move dangerously into attack was rewarded when Toby Hoy scored a tomahawk goal that gave the Frankston goalkeeper no chance.
Frankston scored from a penalty corner and the match went to half-time at one-all.
The WestVic men had few attacking opportunities in the second half but defensively were holding well.
Michael Churcher, Al Cardew and Nathan Geaghan were called on numerous times to repel Frankston’s fast-moving midfield.
Scoring from another penalty corner, a penalty stroke and a field goal, Frankston made the most of limited opportunities.
STATE LEAGUE
Men’s division two
Frankston 4 d WestVic 1
WestVic goal: Toby Hoy
WestVic best: Michael Churcher, Al Cardew, Nathan Geaghan.
LADDER: Mornington Peninsula 34 points, Frankston 33, Knox 30, Monash University 24, PEGS 20, CV Blazers 17, MHSOB 16, WestVic 15, St Bernards 8, Box Hill Whitehorse 1.
Next week: Monash University
Men’s reserves
WestVic 2 d Frankston 1
WestVic goals: Matt Klopac, Brandon Rich.
WestVic best: David Foxall, James Nisbett, Zac Shipham.
LADDER: Mornington Peninsula 34 points, Monash University 34, MHSOB 34, PEGS 33, Knox 24, Frankston 18, WestVic 12, CV Blazers 7, Box Hill Whitehorse 6, St Bernards 5.
Women’s division one
WestVic 2 d La Trobe 1
WestVic goals: Cristin Ruyg, Mindee Stone
WestVic best: Emma Ruyg, Claire Noether, Elena Hobson & Bianca Maher
LADDER: KEW 45 points, Yarra Valley 35, Hockey Geelong 35, MUHC 34, CV Blazers 29, Southern United 27, Brunswick 24, La Trobe University 14, Mornington Peninsula 14, Old Xaverians 13, Monash University 11, WestVic 8.
Next week: WestVic v Monash University
Women’s reserves
La Trobe 1 d WestVic 0
WestVic best: Melanie Snow, Cecily Frost, Gemma Chase
LADDER: Southern United 47 points, MUHC 45, Brunswick 41, Hockey Geelong 39, KEW 26, Yarra Valley 23, CV Blazers 21, Monash University 18, Mornington Peninsula 18, WestVic 14, La Trobe University 13, Old Xaverians 3.
Girls’ under-16 pennant
Greensborough 8 d WestVic 1
LADDER: Greensborough 28 points, Hockey Geelong 25, Werribee 21, WestVic 12, Yarra Valley 9, Brunswick 0.
Next week: WestVic v Werribee
Mixed under-16 pennant
WestVic 3 d St Bernards 0
LADDER: WestVic 30 points, Altona 27, Greensborough 23, Yarra Valley 23, St Bernards 9, Hockey Geelong 5, Kew Junior 4, Brunswick 4.
Next week: WestVic v Yarra Valley
