By Jonty Ralphsmith
The Casey Cannons women have suffered their first defeat in two years.
After blitzing the Vic League 2 competition last season, winning the grand final after an undefeated run, the Cannons have started the season strongly in 2023.
It took Yarra Valley, which last season competed in the women’s premier league before being demoted, to stop Casey.
Even still, the 3-1 loss could easily have been a tight win if the women had taken their opportunities.
The Cannons started strongly, with Mikayla McDonald hitting the scoreboard first in the opening period.
The goal came amid a swarm of opportunities which were either offline or well saved by opposing goalie Mackayla Coote.
Among those was a penalty that Casey couldn’t convert.
Against the quality of Yarra Valley, which sits fourth on the 10-team table a month into the season, those missed chances came back to haunt Casey.
Yarra Valley was able to claw its way back into the contest in the third quarter and take a commanding lead into the final period.
Despite Casey dominating possession and territory, it was unable to convert any late chances.
Emma Godfrey and skipper Michaela Bullock lifted the intensity in the last quarter while Tegan Hyland was consistent throughout the day.
The Cannons were missing star April Picton again this week but they expect to have a full strength squad to pick from this week.
Casey will face another stern test this week against the undefeated Mornington Peninsula.
Meanwhile, the men were consigned to their fourth consecutive defeat, going down 3-1 to the same opponent.
Skipper Matthew Light was the player to find the back of the net against an opponent which was winless going into the weekend.
The Cannons face a tougher task this weekend as they try to get on the board against Melbourne Sikhs, which is second with three wins from four games.
Women’s Vic League 1 Ladder: Monash 12, Mornington Peninsula 9, Casey 9, Yarra Valley 6, Pegs 6, Knox 6, West Vic 3, Werribee 3, Brunswick 3, North West Lightning 0.
Men’s Vic League 1 Ladder: Brunswick 10, Melbourne Sikhs 9, PEGS 8, North West Lightning 7, Old Xaverians 7, Monash University 7, Werribee 4, Yarra Valley 3, Eastern Christian Hockey Organisation 1, Casey 0.
