By Tara Murray
Caroline Springs is proof that you can’t buy experience.
Having won successive premierships across two different competitions, the Springers know what to do at this time of the year.
And it’s showing, with two finals wins and a spot in this week’s Hockey Victoria Vic League 2 women’s grand final against PEGS.
First year coach Beau Kelly said he was speechless with what the side had been able to achieve.
He set the aim of making finals this season with a number of new players and they’ve exceeded that.
“Our motto is you can’t buy experience,” he said. “It’s unreal how well everyone is standing up. The finals experience shines through when the opposition is picking up the pace.
“They are getting nerves with their seasons on the line, and that’s when our experience shows through.
“They’ve exceeded my expectations.”
On Sunday, Caroline Springs beat Casey 1-0 to win through to the grand final.
Kelly said the playing group was awesome in difficult conditions.
He said despite some average weather conditions, the standard had lifted from their first final.
“It was pretty wet and quite slippery with puddles. It was quite slow to start with.
“The game started to quicken up and the standard lifted.
“Our defence held up and were awesome.”
Brittany Webster was the goalscorer from a penalty stroke in the second quarter.
Kelly said it was a strong team performance with all 16 players holding up their end of the bargain.
The win moves Caroline Springs into the grand final, with the club’s hopes of back-to-back Vic League 2 titles still alive.
They face minor premiers PEGS this weekend. PEGS had the weekend off.
Kelly said while they were initially just aiming for finals, now they wanted to win it.
“It’s pretty even,” he said of Caroline Springs and PEGS.
“They beat us last time we played them a few weeks ago. We stack up really well and we’ll have a red hot crack.”
Caroline Springs metro B north west men’s team also played in a preliminary final.
The Springers lost 5-2 to Altona.
In other hockey news, Melton’s under-14 team claimed its fifth straight premiership on Friday night.
This time, they defeated Hume 3-0.
Brody Lawrence, Jackson Caiafa and Brock Buttler were the goalscorers.
Tara Murray
