By Jonty Ralphsmith
After their first two losses since 2021 came in consecutive weeks, Casey’s women have bounced back and recorded a 2-1 victory over North West Lightning.
Mikaela Davis and Mikayla McDonald each scored field goals to put the women 2-0 up at halftime before a late one to the Lightning closed the margin.
The Cannons dominated much of the contest, but missed some opportunities, including penalties, to extend the lead further.
It’s an issue that’s plagued them in the last couple of weeks and while they emerged with the three points on the weekend, capitalising remains an area of growth.
While the visitors’ only goal came courtesy of a defensive error, the backline held up much better on the weekend than in the previous fortnight.
Players were tighter on their direct opponent and the midfield was stronger on the ball.
Club stalwart Fiona Young, who has played more than 700 games, filled in as goal keeper and did a sensational job to lead the defensive effort.
A life member of the club, she played all her hockey in the seniors before deciding to play at a lower level this season.
Usually a field player, she put her hand up to fill the role in the absence of the two first-choice goal-keepers.
The women’s win is an important one to arrest the losses and keep pressure on the top-two teams.
Next up, the Cannons expect a physical clash with Werribee which is in the chasing pack.
Meanwhile, for the men, goals to Gurpreet Singh and Elliot Stephens wasn’t enough to see them break their duck as they went down 3-2 to the Lightning.
After being up 2-0, the visitors pipped the Cannons but there is confidence that a win is around the corner, with the group beginning to gel.
Steve Noney’s men have a strong opportunity to open their account for the season against Werribee on the weekend, whose only win has come against ninth-placed Yarra Valley.
The men’s and women’s firsts games were part of a series of six games played by Casey at home on Saturday as the club raised more than $2000 for Breast Cancer Network Australia.
Casey ran a raffle, sold cakes baked by the players and fundraised via pink socks and pink travel mugs to raise awareness and money for an important cause.
The women’s seconds and men’s thirds also recorded a win in front of a large crowd.
MEN
Results: Eastern Christian Hockey Organisation 1 v Melbourne Sikhs United 5, Casey 2 v North West Lightning 3, Brunswick 0 v Old Xaverians 1, Werribee 2 v PEGS 2.
Ladder: Melbourne Sikhs 15, North West Lightning 13, Old Xaverians 13, PEGS 12, Brunswick 10, Monash University 7, Werribee 5, Eastern Christian Hockey Organisation 4, Yarra Valley 3, Casey 0.
Fixture: Casey v Werribee, North West Lightning v Eastern Christian Hockey Organisation, Yarra Valley v Brunswick, Old Xaverians v PEGS, Melbourne Sikhs v Monash University.
WOMEN
Results: Casey 2 v North West Lightning 1, Brunswick 2 v West Vic 3, Werribee 2 v PEGS 1, Knox 1 v Mornington Peninsula 5.
Ladder: Mornington Peninsula 15, Monash University 13, Casey 12, Yarra Valley 9, PEGS 9, Werribee 9, West Vic 7, Knox 6, Brunswick 3, North West 0.
Fixture: West Vic v PEGS, North West Lightning v Knox, Yarra Valley v Brunswick, Casey v Werribee, Mornington Peninsula v Monash University.
