Coach Nikki Taylor expresses relief after taking Brisbane Blaze to victory in inaugural Hockey One
Coach Nikki Taylor has expressed relief after taking Brisbane Blaze to victory over HC Melbourne in the inaugural Hockey One women’s national league on Saturday.
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Coach Nikki Taylor has expressed relief after taking Brisbane Blaze to victory over HC Melbourne in the inaugural Hockey One women’s national league on Saturday.
In dramatic final, Brisbane claimed the title 3-2 in a shootout to go one step further than last season’s silver medal effort in the national competition.
University of Queensland’s Hannah Astbury was the hero when, with scores tied 1-1 and just three minutes left to play, the goalkeeper saved a HC Melbourne penalty stroke.
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The game ended 1-1 before Brisbane Blaze won the shootout 3-2, with Astbury making three key saves.
“I’m relieved, excited and so very proud of these girls,” triumphant Brisbane Blaze head coach Nikki Taylor told the HockeyOne website.
“It’s a hard way to win (in a shootout) and obviously nerve racking but I had faith in the team they could do it and they did.”
“It could have gone either way. Astbury was magnificent … I had a feeling when she saved the penalty stroke that she was seeing the ball like a watermelon and in the shootout she was fantastic again.”
“Then for our attackers to handle the pressure and score when it was needed was exceptional.”
“I’m so happy that Brisbane Blaze are the inaugural women’s champions. This competition is a great concept for what they are trying to do for hockey in Australia and I think it’s only going to get bigger and better.”
“For us to be the first ones to have our name on that trophy is an extremely proud moment and something we’ll cherish.”
Players from around Brisbane contributed to the victory.
Aside from Astbury, Brisbane grand final side also featured her UQ teammate Morgan Gallagher and Meg Pearce, who had previously won the national league with Victoria.
Gordon Park’s Britt Wilkinson (Kedron Wavell) scored for Brisbane while her club teammates were captain Jodie Kenny and Kendra Fitzpatrick, who also won the Brisbane Division 1 premiership under coach Taylor.
Ashlyn McBurnie (Kedron-Wavell Hockey Club) and Dayle Dolkens (Commercial Hockey Club) also played in pool games.
Jesse Reid from Commercial also contributed to the victory on the day.
But there was an array of other players who contributed along the way like teenage Easts’ striker Ruby Harris who scored in three matches during the qualifying games, Norths veteran Aleisha Neumann and another teenager, Georgia Hillas.
The winning team was: Brisbane Blaze Women’s team: 1. Savannah Fitzpatrick, 2. Madison Fitzpatrick, 3. Layla Eleison, 4. Ashlea Fey, 5. Rosie Malone, 6. Morgan Gallagher, 7. Jodie Kenny (c), 8. Jordyn Holzberger, 9. Jesse Reid, 12. Kendra Fitzpatrick, 14. Meg Pearce, 15. Hannah Astbury (GK), 19. Morgan Mathison, 22. Britt Wilkinson.
In the men’s final, NSW Pride defeated Brisbane Blaze 8-3.
University of Queensland striker Joel Rintala opened the scoring for Brisbane Blaze, which featured UQ’s Mitchell Nicholson in goal.
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