By Tara Murray
The Caroline Springs women’s hockey teams have made it two from two for a second straight year.
Having had instant success in their first season, the Springers didn’t think they could go so well this time around.
But their metro B west team claimed the title on Saturday and then the Vic League 2 team won its premiership on Sunday.
They did it in a similar fashion, with both sides winning penalty shoot-outs.
Springers women’s coach Ron Shadbolt said they didn’t expect to have the same success this season.
“We’re setting a standard at the club,” he said. “We have a Vic League team that is quite different from last season.
“We had a host of injuries. In our metro team, we had a lot of players in their first season.
“We expected the metro team to play well, but the Vic League team performed extraordinarily well.
“The girls played to the best of the their ability and were able to play some good hockey.”
The Vic League 2 side defeated MHSOB in a penalty shoot-out for the second time in this finals series.
Shadbolt said goalkeeper Jess Kelly was the star for the second time in a row.
“We were outclassed for the first 40 minutes,” he said.
“We had moments, but didn’t take the opportunities. The last 20 minutes, Jess was the difference. She held the team together.”
Having kept her composure in the earlier penalty shoot-out with MHSOB, she needed to do it again.
She did just that, with the Springers winning 1-0 after their third penalty shot hit the back of the net.
“Jess made some really spectacular saves,” Shadbolt said. “She shone highest not just in the shoot-out … she was under the pump for considerable periods of time.”
The metro team won its grand final against RMIT 4-2
Shadbolt said keeper Sharmaine Patchett, who stopped three shots during the shoot-out, was the star.
But he also praised those who scored in the shoot-out.
Having won four titles in two years, the question for the club is: What is next for the women’s side?
Shadbolt said the Springers had been given the option of moving up to Vic League 1 next season. He said they would discuss the possibility of making the move.
“We don’t want to go too quickly,” he said. “We’ve doubled in size from last year and we’re looking at fielding another two senior sides.”
