Round 3: A Weekend Of Dramatic Comebacks & First Wins
The Falcons Women extended their perfect start to the season with a dominant 6-2 win over the Alpiners on Saturday. Kelsey Smith opened the scoring in the 2nd minute, finishing off a brilliant run and assist from Emma Rainey with a composed conversion. The Alpiners responded quickly through Millie Calder, whose drag flick deflected off the keeper in a penalty corner to make it 2-1. The Falcons regained their two-goal lead when Olivia Shannon pounced on a rebound from a penalty corner, making it 3-1. Alpiners pulled one back in the 18th minute, with Tessa Reid scoring from another deflected penalty corner to make it 3-2. However, the Falcons extended their lead again in the 25th minute, with Kaitlin Cotter converting a penalty corner to make it 4-2. Kelsey Smith completed her brace in the 29th minute, scoring from a goalmouth scramble and then converting the following penalty corner to seal the win at 6-2. The Falcons' dominant display was backed by a 40-17 edge in circle entries and a 20-8 advantage in scoring opportunities, maintaining their unbeaten run.
Following the Women’s game, the Falcons Men produced a dramatic comeback to win 4-3 in a penalty shootout, handing the Alpiners their first loss of the League. Alpiners took a 3-0 lead by the 33rd minute with goals from James Nicholson, George Baker, and Sam Lints. The Falcons fought back in the second half, with Dylan Thomas scoring at 41 minutes in. As time was running out in the third quarter, the Alpiners had a chance to extend their lead with a penalty corner, but Falcons keeper Dom Dixon made a crucial save, before also saving a penalty stroke. With the game poised at 3-1, Oscar Nation pulled the Falcons closer in the 47th minute, scoring a stunning shot to make it 3-2, before successfully converting his shootout to draw the game level at 3-3. The match then went to a penalty shootout, where the Falcons triumphed 4-3, completing one of the more outstanding comebacks of the League so far.
On Sunday, the Mavericks women earned their first win of the season with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over the Tridents. Greer Findlay opened the scoring for the Mavericks in the 18th minute with a well-taken shot and converted shootout to double the lead. Julia King added a third goal shortly after, converting a penalty corner to give the Mavericks a 3-0 advantage. The Tridents fought back just before halftime, with Petrea Webster pulling one back in the 25th minute from a penalty corner to make it 3-1. Holly Pearson then struck in the 34th minute to bring the score to 3-2, setting up a tense finish. With just two minutes remaining, the Tridents were awarded a penalty stroke, which could have leveled the score. However, Mavericks goalkeeper Brodie Cochrane made a diving save to ensure the lead and secure the Mavericks' first PHL win of the season.
Follwing the Women’s match, the Tridents men delivered the biggest win of the weekend, beating the Mavericks 8-1. Scott Cosslett opened the scoring early with a penalty corner drag flick, and James Hickson extended the lead to 3-0 by the 7th minute with a goal and converted shootout. Maks Wyndham-Smith added another in the 14th minute, following up on a rebound, while Liam Mortimer scored in the 33rd minute after a scrappy goalmouth scramble. A 51st minute consolation goal was all the Mavericks could muster courtesy of Paul Dosch. A last display from the Tridents saw James Hickson put one away in the final seconds finishing off a well-executed team move before converting his conversion to finish the score at 8-1.