Melton’s season came to a heartbreaking end just short of a grand final appearance in Hockey Victoria women’s Vic League 2.
Having won their semi-final on penalties, the Mustangs knew they would have to go up another level on Sunday to match it with WestVic Hockey, which had the better of their tussles during the regular season.
WestVic scored early in the preliminary final and it proved to be the match winner as it won through to the grand final with its 1-0 result. WestVic now plays Old Xaverians in the grand final.
Mustangs co-coach Ron Shadbolt said it was a game that could have gone either way. “No quarter was given by either side in a very even game,” he said.
“We probably had more opportunities and short corners but couldn’t convert. It’s disappointing, but the girls played their hearts out so we can’t be disappointed with them.”
The preliminary final berth is a long way from last season when the Mustangs failed to make the finals.
As an overall group, Shadbolt said the women’s program at Melton had come a long way this year. “We made huge inroads with the women’s team and a new game plan,” he said.
“We envisaged the game plan and had been working on it since January and everyone has pitched in.”
It wasn’t all bad news for the Mustangs with the club’s reserves side making it through to the grand final.
The reserves team bounced back from a loss in the semi-finals to defeat MHSOB in the preliminary final.
The Mustangs won 3-2 and now face Monash University in the grand final.
At the weekend it was the reserves who needed a penalty shoot out to get the win.
“Our 14 and 15-year-olds came to the fore and showed how their skills have improved this season,” he said. “No team looked like scoring and there was some really fantastic play by both sides.”
Shadbolt said the side had nothing to lose in the grand final. It plays Monash University, which beat them 3-1 in the semi-finals. “It’s a young team which will be better for the experience. We train together as a whole squad and they’re the same as our top team, just younger girls who are coming through,” Shadbolt said.
