Tournament week 2017 has started successfully for the 1st XI Girls Hockey at the Chica Gilmer Tournament in Whangarei.
The first game was against Mt Roskill, and seven minutes of madness saw MAGS score four goals in quick succession, and made a statement to the rest of the tournament that the team is here to take home the trophy. The final score against Mt Roskill was 5-0. All girls made the field, and were able to get rid of first game nerves.
The second game on Monday was against Whakatane High, a strong, physical team but the MAGS girls kept their cool. While Whakatane were relentless in attack, the MAGS girls put the ball into the back of the net twice. Whakatane came back and scored a goal to make the game 2-1, but the MAGS girls were calm, and held possession when it counted to wind down the clock and hold on to win. This meant that after the first day of play the MAGS girls were automatically in the top two of their pool and qualifying automatically for the top eight of the tournament.
Today’s clash against St Pauls Collegiate was the third game in two days so smarter tactics were required to conserve energy. MAGS were down two-nil after two solid goals from the St Pauls girls. But the fact that St Pauls only had 12 players finally caught up with them, and the MAGS girls drew even with the forwards connecting with cross balls to beat the ‘keeper. MAGS took the lead 3-2, even after a head clash between two players. But St Pauls fought back to take it to 3-3. With only a minute to play the ball was given to Maisy Simpson, who scored with a reverse shot for a 4-3 win to MAGS.
Tomorrow sees the MAGS girls cross over with pool B, which is a tough pool and they play Sacred Heart Girls College Hamilton. A win would mean MAGS is in the top 4 of the tournament.
