The Westlake Girls Premier Hockey Team won the Auckland Premier League for just the second time in the school’s history last night. Facing perennial champions, St Cuthberts in the final at Lloyd Elsmore Park, Westlake Girls trailed 1-0 for most of the game, until Year 12 student, Ashley Brown equalised with a clinical goal in the fourth quarter. With scores drawn at full time, the teams then met in the nerve-wracking penalty shootout.
Each team put forward their top 5 scorers and were even until Westlake’s #3 Sasha Roberts shooter, slotted it into the back of the net to put the school ahead. St Cuthberts was unable to respond to the game winning goal, and coupled with superb goal keeping from Bella Holt, Westlake Girls lifted the prestigious trophy for the first time since 2015.
Coach Will Lacey was elated with the victory, after being in 4 finals against St Cuthberts (two cancelled due to Covid-19), and finally winning.
Led by captains, Zoe Crawford and Nicole Cosslett, the team flies to Christchurch on Sunday 27 August to contest the New Zealand Secondary Schools Championship from Monday 28 August to Saturday 2 September where they are likely to meet St Cuthberts once again.