Werribee has a mountain to climb if it wants to peak in this season’s Hockey Victoria women’s Vic League 2 finals.
The Tigers are barely breathing, and face almost certain death if they fail to beat Old Xavarians on Saturday.
And no side has managed to beat the top-of-the-ladder Xavs this season, at 12-0 with a 52-plus score difference.
It is seemingly mission impossible for any opposition, but Tigers’ coach Les McAlinden still has faith.
“Knock them off and we’re still in the hunt,” McAlinden said.
“If they get over confident and a bit cocky, and we concentrate on the little things, you never know.”
This confidence might be misguided, but at least Werribee will not die wondering.
The Tigers will need to significantly improve on their 2-0 loss to Melton at President’s Park on Saturday.
It was an error-riddled performance from a Tigers side with everything to play for.
“We’re doing some positive things, but it’s just turnovers that are killing us,” McAlinden said. “It’s the little mistakes here and there, and teams are capitalising.”
Rachel Catania was superb on the last line for Werribee. It has been a tough year for the goalkeeper, but she keeps fronting up and causing troubles for opposition attacks.
“She’s had an emotional year, but she’s been the backbone of the team all season,” McAlinden said. “Her father passed away this year, and a week later her father-in-law died, so she’s had a bad year off the field, but on the field, she’s been blitzing it.”
Emma Tivendale and Claudia Beamish worked tirelessly in the midfield, while Chloe Pickersgill and Lisa Ross found good positions up forward, only to be left wanting with the goal in sight.
“We just couldn’t finish off the hard work,” McAlinden said. “Melton got two lucky breaks and scored two good goals, so you can’t take that away from them.
“They just wanted it more than us.
“They were a little bit hungrier than we were.”
