Milestone for Bassett as Fever Drops First Match for 2016
West Coast Fever Goal Shooter Caitlin Bassett has created history today, becoming the first Australian, and just the second player in ANZ Championship history to score 4,000 goals.
WAIS scholarship athlete Bassett, reached the milestone during the final quarter of Fever’s first loss of the 2016 season, after they were outmatched by the NSW Swifts in a tense and physical contest at HBF Stadium.
Fever raced out of the blocks for the second consecutive game, with the opening minutes of the match delivering exactly what one would expect from a top of the table clash.
An end to end first term saw both sides convert their early opportunities, with the Swifts edging ahead to take a three goal lead to the quarter time break.
The highly anticipated midcourt battle, that pitted WAIS scholarship trio; Ash Brazill, Shae Brown and Verity Simmons against Kim Green, Paige Hadley and Laura Langman dominated proceedings into the second stanza, with Swifts extending their lead to four goals early in the quarter.
An inspired period from the home side approaching halftime arrested the momentum though, as Fever scored five straight goals to secure a one goal lead as the teams headed to the rooms.
The visitors took full advantage of the main break and returned a different side, scoring six of the first seven goals in the second half to set up what would be an unassailable lead.
Down by five goals at the final interval, Fever Head Coach Stacey Rosman injected some fresh legs to try and inspire her side, with Erena Mikaere introduced at Goal Keeper and Brazill sent to Centre.
Fever were gallant in the final quarter but the task proved too tall, with the Swifts recording an 11 goal victory at the final siren.
The opening minutes of the second half proved critical according to coach Stacey Rosman.
“We didn’t quite match the levels from our opening half at the start of the second,” Rosman said.
“There was an element of playing safe and trying to treasure the ball, so by doing that we took some intensity out of our movement.”
“As a group we learnt plenty of lessons today, but there are certainly positives to take out of this game, including the knowledge that we have the capability to match it with this team.”
“Recovery will now be our primary focus ahead of an important couple of weeks on the road.”
Fever will travel to New Zealand this week for back-to-back away games against the Southern Steel and the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic, before returning to HBF Stadium to face reigning champions, the Queensland Firebirds, on May 14.
-WestCoastFever