On a very windy day on Saturday, 31 August, Oakhill U13A girls took to the field in what would be the toughest game of the season. Coming second in their pool in the A division of the Eden Hockey League meant they would face Outeniqua in the semi-finals, a very daunting task indeed. The girls knew if they were to have any chance of playing finals they would have to take any chances they were given.
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Outeniqua opened the scoring with a very good goal. Oakhill did not drop their heads but instead scored the equalizer immediately and followed this goal with a stunning second goal from captain, Sina Hespeler. Oakhill held the lead until the last five minutes of the match when Outeniqua equalized once again. With the match ending in a draw, the decider would be on 8-seconds. Neither team gave an inch and both keepers were up to the task. The 8-seconds went down to the wire with an absolute must score moment for Oakhill, which they did.
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With this win, confidence was high and Oakhill played in the finals two hours later against Holy Cross. With the final game not being as tense as the semis, the Oakhill girls could play with flare and confidently express themselves on the field. The end score was a fantastic 4-1 win, with most goals coming from short corners.
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What may have seemed like goals scored by luck and sheer determination on Saturday was actually a testament to long hours of practice and many “almost” moments experienced during the season. Sincere congratulations to all players and coach Rene Korsten!
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