WHEN St Pat’s take on Lithgow Panthers at Bob Roach Field this afternoon, it will be more than a desire to maintain second place on the women’s Premier League Hockey which will motivate them.
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The Saints will also be keen to make amends for one of their biggest defeats in recent times.
On May 14 this year the Saints travelled to Lithgow to take on Panthers full of optimism. They had enjoyed a solid start to their campaign with four wins from the opening six rounds.
However, the Saints’ confidence was soon gone as Panthers beat them 11-2.
It is a result which still hurts the blue and whites.
“They were a bit embarrassed in the first round there when they beat us 11-2, so the girls will be keen to do better this time,” St Pat’s trainer Jim Muldoon said.
“We are happy to be playing here this time, we’d rather play here obviously than playing over in Lithgow.
“They are a very, very good side, so we have got to be at our best to beat them.”
Panthers’ only blemish thus far in 2016 is a draw, the defending premiers having won their other 12 games.
The have the best attack in the league, but perhaps an even more daunting prospect for the Saints will be trying to crack a Panthers defence which has conceded just six goals.
Pat’s will also have to do it without Kristy Ekert. The experienced forward who has scored six goals in the last fortnight is currently in Darwin with the NSW Country team.
“It is going to be a tough game, especially without Little [Ekert] being there, she has been on fire the last couple of weeks for us,” Muldoon said.
“But the other girls have been playing good too. It’s been good to get Amy Glenn back and Jodi Sharp and the young girls too, the experience they got from playing last season is showing.”
Just as the Saints are missing Ekert, Panthers will be without Amelia Leard and Jess Luchetti, who are also in Darwin with NSW Country.
Muldoon hopes that will help the cause of his side as they fight to retain second place on the ladder.
Pat’s are currently four points ahead of Ex-Services and eight ahead of Bathurst City, but the blue and whites have played one extra game.
“There is a bit of a battle there for second spot, it could be a three-way tie for second at the end of the season,” Muldoon said.
“We were hoping just to make the semis, that was our main goal at the start of the season – to improve on last year. Now the girls can make the major semi.”
St Pat’s and Panthers will square off in their top of the table match from 3.20pm tomorrow afternoon.