Tigers win thrilling preliminary final in penalty strokes

Tigers progressed to their first Lower Great Southern Hockey Association women’s A-grade grand final since 2011 after a thrilling 5-4 win in penalty strokes over Spencer Park in Saturday night’s gripping preliminary final.

After going a goal ahead early in the first half, Tigers had to withstand plenty of pressure as Park pressed for an equaliser which eventually came after half-time.

In the sole penalty corner of the second half, Spencer Park were awarded a penalty stroke after a Tigers player stopped the ball on the last line of defence.

Chloe Westerberg calmly slotted the stroke in the bottom of the net to get Park back on level terms with 11 minutes gone in the second half.

A tantalising battle ensued between the two sides in the final 20 minutes of normal time as both sides tried desperately to hit the front.

Park were close to netting their second goal when Emma Russell was one-on-one in the attacking area but she couldn’t conjure a shot as Tigers goalkeeper Bonnie Crook cleared the ball.

Tigers had Park’s defence working overtime in the final 10 minutes of the second half as they locked the ball inside their attacking half, but for no reward.

With the two teams locked together at 1-1 after 70 minutes, seven minutes of extra time followed, with Tigers’ Sian Turner narrowly missing a deflection on the far post in the dying stages of the second period which was the best chance in either period.

The final was forced into a best of five penalty strokes as Park’s Aleesha Thompson nailed the first, which was quickly answered by Tigers’ Lauren Hortin.

Rachael Goetze then gave Park the advantage, only for Julia Keymer to respond, leaving the sides level at 2-2.

Park’s Ash Evans became the first not to score when her shot missed to the left of the goal but Park goalie Erin Trotter returned fire when she denied Georgina Lilford with her stick in the resulting stroke.

Both Westerberg and Tigers’ Brigitte Rockwood-Turner scored to leave it on level pegging at 3-3 with one stroke each to come.

Park defender Annie Judd’s attempt was then saved by Crook and Turner slammed her shot past Trotter to send Tigers into jubilation.

Keymer was sensational in midfield for Tigers, while Rockwood-Turner, Georgie Powis and Crook were sturdy in defence.

Park coach Shane Congram said it was always tough losing a final in penalty strokes.“One of the downfalls of the game it’s decided like that (penalty strokes),” Congram said. “I was really happy with our girls’ performance but we just didn’t score,” he said.

“It’s not the result we wanted but the team has looked better than they did at the start of the year.”