Sport
Mooroopna women stay perfectly balanced after important Vic League 2 hockey win over Gippsland
The Goulburn Valley’s standout hockey side has acquitted itself well in state competition in 2024.
Of course, not having to undertake hours of travel for this past weekend’s round nine Victorian League 2 women’s game at Shepparton Regional Hockey Complex was a welcome relief.
Instead, it was Gippsland Strikers who made the enormous trip north — but the sixth-placed travelling side gave Mooroopna a deserving contest.
Sunday afternoon’s meeting on the affectionately-named “Smurf Turf” had one of the Strikers’ more reliable targets around goal hit the score sheet again as Ebonie McAskill struck for the visitors.
Mooroopna coach Hannah Vibert would not let it end there, though, notching her second and third goals of the season — after opening her account the previous week — to get the host home 2-1.
Image 1 of 9
Mooroopna’s Kate McKernan knocks on to advantage. Photo by Megan FisherImage 2 of 9
Mooroopna’s Olivia Hall got in position to fire off a powerful shot. Photo by Megan FisherImage 3 of 9
Mooroopna's Tegan Summers spots a long-range passing option. Photo by Megan FisherImage 4 of 9
Mooroopna’s Alex Druitt turns on the pace to get on the receiving end. Photo by Megan FisherImage 5 of 9
Mooroopna’s Lauren Varapodio tries to get into space. Photo by Megan FisherImage 6 of 9
Mooroopna’s Tegan Summers is embroiled in a challenge. Photo by Megan FisherImage 7 of 9
Mooroopna’s Kirrilly Gollan streams towards goal. Photo by Megan FisherImage 8 of 9
Mooroopna’s Alicia Cornelius gets set to restart play. Photo by Megan FisherImage 9 of 9
Mooroopna’s Kirrilly Gollan prepares to engage Gippsland’s Hannah van Breugel. Photo by Megan FisherWhile anything but a pretty game in Vibert’s eyes, scrapping out the win was the all-important goal.
“We didn’t play our best game and, certainly, didn’t play how we wanted from the start,” Vibert said.
“Lindi Cardamone has been helping out on the coaching side of things, but she was absent on the weekend and I think we noticed that presence lacking.
“It was a pretty tough game, but it was one of those that you just have to grind out and the girls did that really well.
“Luckily, I was just in the right time and place a couple of times; I’m normally a defender, but the girls know I like sneaking up there when I can.
“I was happy to get on the end of some of their hard work.”
The result restores a total balance in the win-loss ledger for Mooroopna, which has now tasted four of each alongside a draw from its nine games as the season reaches its halfway mark.
Sitting fourth as the teams turn for home, Vibert’s side also continues a three-week sequence of alternating wins and losses, having struggled for consistency in a league quickly becoming polarised around it.
“From the start of the season, we knew we’d be somewhere in the middle, so this is about where we expected to be,” Vibert said.
“We plan to make finals and we’re really hoping we’re underrated and underestimated and can shake up some of those top teams.
“We know we’ll be underdogs and we’re happy to wear that tag and, hopefully, give a few of them a fright.”