REPLAY: Watch U15 Diamondbacks vs North-West Grads

Tassie’s top U15 girls teams duked it out, locked 2-2 after normal time, and after a thrilling ten minutes of extra time, the match was decided with a shootout. REWATCH ALL THE ACTION + MATCH REPORT >>

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A SENSATIONAL penalty shootout performance from North-West Graduates goalkeeper Jess Stevens has inspired them to the U15 girls’ premiership against a courageous DiamondBacks.

Locked 2-2 after normal time and scoreless after a thrilling ten minutes of extra-time, Stevens saved three shootout attempt in succession to secure victory for her side.

While Giselle Fernandez and Emily Rawson converted their attempt for DiamondBacks, Graduates scored through Georgie Fox, Lucy McMullen, Felicity Wilson-Haffenden and Lucy Cooper.

Victorious coach Paul Ashby was delighted with his girls efforts after a difficult week where the club tragically lost talented under thirteen player Kai O’Keefe.

“Jess Stevens was outstanding during the shootouts, she has put a lot of work into her game over the last eighteen months,” Ashby said post-game.

“DiamondBacks pushed us all the way in what a great hockey spectacle and a great showcase for young women’s sport in Tasmania was.”

Indeed, DiamondBacks were gutsy in defeat, twice coming back from a goal down during regulation time with goals to Alice Maddock and Wilhelmina Fish.

But the strength and experience of Graduates’ pair Emma O’Grady and Wilson-Haffenden was telling at times, with the latter finding the net alongside teammate Taylor Cunningham.

The Mercury will continue its live streaming with coverage of both U13 boys (Division One) and girls on Friday night.