2019 has been a breakthrough year for the Moss Vale High School girls' hockey team.
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In the past, they have had some fantastic teams, but have never made it as far as this team.
The signs were good at the start of the year when the girls were keen to get on the field and play school hockey.
They were disappointed however, when their first game of the year against Figtree High School was a forfeit. That left them facing their old school rivals Bowral High School in round two.
It was a good game, but Moss Vale held firm in defence and had too much in attack for Bowral to contend with. The end score was Moss Vale 2, Bowral 0.
Kiama was the next opponent in term two, although Moss Vale always looked in control winning 2-1.
This brought the team to the regional finals against Mulwaree. No Moss Vale girls' team had progressed to this stage in the last 20 years, so it was a great achievement for such a young team to reach this stage.
It was also a goal that their coach had set for them for 2019. Anything else achieved was a bonus.
This game was not a knockout game.
It determined where both Mulwaree and Moss Vale would be placed in the draw for the remaining 32 schools in NSW. Missing two players as well as the coach, the girls fought hard but were overpowered by their bigger, more experienced rivals. (Mulwaree HS would go onto place 3rd in NSW)
The girls did a great job coming away from that loss to pick themselves up against their next opponents, Kirrawee High School in mid-term three.
Moss Vale started extremely strongly knocking in two early goals and controlling the ball well in the second half to keep that winning margin.
This meant now that the Moss Vale girls would be invited to a two-day carnival for the top eight public high schools in NSW at Moorebank, Sydney on September 18 and 19.
The Mossy girls' hockey team had their first game at top eight NSW schools in very challenging conditions as it was pouring with rain.
They came up against Westfield Sports High. A team that was much older and has a NSW hockey program as part of their regular studies. The girls played their best game of the year giving Westfield an almighty scare. With 10 minutes remaining, Moss Vale were pressuring Westfields goal being down 4-3 at the time.
Unfortunately, Westfield snuck a few goals in late with the game finishing at 6-3. As a coach. This meant that the girls would line up in an early game of 8am the next day against Parkes High School.
If the girls won that, they play off for fifth and sixth later in the day. A loss would result in a play-off for seventh and eighth in the state.
After the narrow loss against Westfield Sports High (who made the GF and finished second in NSW) the team started out on fire against Parkes High School scoring in the first few minutes and looking very dangerous to score multiple goals within a short period of time.
However, Parkes came back strongly into the game and were winning 2-1 with 5 minutes remaining.
Rolling the dice, Moss Vale made a tactical gamble to replace their goalkeeper Issy Nash with another field player to try and get an advantage and score that goal that they desperately seeked.
With the full-time siren sounding, Moss Vale had a penalty corner to bring the result to a draw. Much to the relief of their spectators and suffering coach, they slotted that goal to bring it to extra time.
Dropping off two players making it nine a side and bringing the goalkeeper back into the game, it was still 2-2 at the break of extra time. It then came down to a seven on seven game where Mossy were able to take advantage of the space and grab an excellent goal.
With only 40 minutes to relax, the girls were required to play off for fifth and sixth in the state against Grafton High School. It was always going to be a big ask with little rest and injuries to key players before and during the Grafton match.
The team, however, fought bravely keeping out many attacking raids from Grafton and being unlucky not to score themselves. In the end though, Grafton won leaving Moss Vale High girls finishing sixth in NSW.
It was an extraordinary performance with Moss Vale's oldest girls only being in year 10.
The Mossy boys had a golden run of top eight finishes in the schools recent past. Judging by this team's performance, the girls may just have that same golden run in the future.
Congratulations to every single player in the side. Be proud of your achievement and effort. 2020 promises much on the hockey field for these girls.
