WERRIBEE rounded out its impressive Hockey Victoria men’s state league 3 home and away campaign with a 3-2 win over Greater Dandenong Warriors at Presidents Park on Saturday.
The Tigers had already qualified in second place for the finals and went into the game with a weakened line-up – minus first team regulars Sean Gardner, Adam Hopkins and Daniel Collins.
The hosts still wanted to give a good account of themselves and were not about to start flirting with their form on the eve of a promising finals campaign.
“We wanted to go into the finals with winning form,” Tigers captain Ross Cowlishaw said.
“We haven’t lost a game at home all year and that is what we set out to do from the start.”
The Tigers enjoyed a spread of goal scorers with
Matthew Skoglund, Josh Pace and Josh McDonald finding the back of the net.
They will be hoping for a repeat dose of unpredictability when they square off with minor premiers Casey in a second semi-final this weekend for the right to move directly into the grand final.
“The boys are pretty excited about finals,” Cowlishaw said.
“There is a good vibe around the club.”
The Tigers led Casey in both their meetings this season, but failed to pick up a victory.
Their first encounter finished in a 2-2 draw and the second in a heartbreaking 4-3 defeat.
The Tigers think they have found an answer to their problems in the form of new goalkeeper Aaron Durajski, who has been a revelation in his seven games.
“He an agile keeper and a bit quicker with the hands,” Cowlishaw said.
“The change of goalie should work well against Casey.”
Werribee had a mid-table finish in the women’s state league 3.
The Tigers were roughed up 2-0 by the finals-bound Monash University in the last game of the season on Saturday.
