Werribee had to pull out all the stops to claim the Hockey Victoria Vic League 2 men’s title on Sunday.
The Tigers found themselves trailing 5-2 against Casey in the decider and were staring down the barrel of defeat.
Werribee though had another gear and were able to work back into the game and on the scoreboard. They were able to force the game into penalties.
The Tigers were able to hold their nerve to come away with an 8-7 win.
Tigers coach Mark Bridge said the way they won the match made it even more special.
“To come back and win it in a shootout is fantastic,” he said. “It’s the club’s 50th anniversary year to top it off.
“We won three premierships as well with the two men’s teams both getting up. I think it’s the first time both senior men’s teams have won in the same year.
“It’s really special and cool at the club last night [Sunday] with some of the original members talking about looking at the wall and how things used to be.”
Bridge came on board this season at the Tigers and helped guide them to the grand final against Casey.
Casey had been the first team through to the decider, while the Tigers made it from third spot with knockout finals throughout.
Bridge said even when they were down 5-2 there still had faith in the group that they could come back and get the win.
“I thought it would be tough but we had beaten them before,” he said. “I still felt comfortable and knew we had to keep the pressure on.
“We did that and it was exciting and enthralling.”
Once in the shootout, Bridge said they were confident of getting the job done and coming away with the win.
Both sides missed their first shot in the shoot out, before both converted the second and third.
A stroke shot saw the Tigers take the lead in the shoot out, 3-2.
Casey had a shot to take the penalty shootout further and put the pressure back on the Tigers. It missed, giving the the Tigers the win.
Samuel Huxtable scored three goals in regular time as well as converting his penalty and the stroke shot for the Tigers.
Jacob Friedl scored two goals.
Bridge said he had never been involved in anything like that before and it was a pretty special moment for everyone.
For him it was his first senior premiership as coach.
The Tigers women’s Vic League 2 side fell short in their grand final, losing to La Trobe University, 2-1.
Bridge said having both sides play after each other on Sunday was really massive for the club and there was a big crowd there to watch all the action.
The men’s Vic League 2 reserves side had a 2-1 win on Saturday against Knox to claim that premiership.
