WA Diamonds 2013 AHL Runners Up
The WA Diamonds have finished the 2013 AHL as runners up after a penalty shootout was required to separate WA and Queensland following a 0-0 draw.
The first twenty minutes was dominated by the defence of both teams with few clear chances. QLD probably made most of the play with chances falling to Jordyn Holzberger, Ashlea Fey, Rebecca Reuter and Jasmine Larosa.
WA had to wait until the 24th minute to create a clear chance, Katy Symons (WAIS) bringing out a good save from QLD keeper, Audrey Smith.
The rest of half continued in the same theme. For QLD, Stephanie Kershaw showed excellent stick work and Madonna Blyth was good around the park, distributing the ball. Rebecca Reuter had another good chance but was thwarted by WA keeper, Ashlee Wells.
QLD started the 2nd half the stronger side. Madonna Blyth and Jodie Schulz both had shots saved by the WA keeper.
In the 43rd minute Qld were saved from embarrassment with Kirsten Johnson making a decisive challenge in the QLD circle after WA had sliced open the heart of the QLD defence with an excellent long pass and a deft flick.
Not long after, QLD’s Madonna Blyth and Jodie Schulz both had shots saved, with WA keeper Ashlee Wells saving the later with a lunged leg.
WA having withstood the pressure, started to work their way into the game. WAIS athlete Kobie McGurk fired a long pass into the QLD circle with Olivia Chiu deflecting cms wide.
With ten minutes to go Qld started to wrest back control of the match. Renee Ashton and Stefanie Kershaw both manufactured good crosses that just needed the vital deflection. When WA pressed Kirsten Johnson was again there to break the attack down.
Down to the last two minutes and it all belonged to WA who suddenly increased their tempo and, earned themselves a corner. The shot went narrowly wide and it was onto one on one shoot-out to determine the Grand Final winner.
Penalty goals to Jodie Schulz and Aslea Fea were enough for Queensland, with WA unable to convert any of its four attempts.
The final score at end of normal time was reflective of the game according to Diamonds head coach Jason Butcher.
“Both teams had some good opportunities today” said Butcher.
“The reality is it could have gone either way during the game”.
“We feel there’s things we could have done better but overall we played well”
“We had a lot of circle penetrations but things just didn’t go our way”.
WAIS athlete Penny Squibb was adjudged the Player of the Final, for her outstanding work in defence, whilst WA goalkeeper Ash Wells was named AHL Goalkeeper of the Tournament.
Kobie McGurk was later named the 2012 Hockeyroos International Player of the Year, an award that holds even greater significance given it coincided as an Olympic year.
– Hockey Australia/Hockey WA
