TEM Weekly Review #17

Mens Vic League 1 - The TEM VL1 Men came up against 9th place La Trobe on the weekend fully determined to hold their top 4 position. Despite taking control from the outset, a well converted stroke by Hugh McLaughlin would be the only first half score. The second half played out very similarly to the first with TEM fully controlling momentum; brilliant forward pressure allowed the boys to snag 2 more goals increasing the final margin to 3-0. Unfortunately TEM left the match 2 men down with Jonny Rea heading home to England and George Hurley ending his season with a wrist injury.

Mens Vic League 1 Reserves – After a tough draw against KBH the previous week the Reserves were out to bounce back with a win. On a perfect Sunday weather wise for hockey the boys came out firing, peppering the La Trobe circle but unable to capitalise.

Some great circle work through the forwards allowed Charlie Blanchard to slot an open goal on the far post, giving TEM a 1-0 lead at halftime. The second half was dominated by TEM with chances to score and short corners regularly occurring. Cam Mckenzie came through the circle around the keeper to slot a nice reverse goal and Alex Baer made sure of the result with another close range finish giving the Reserves a 3-0 win. A big test coming up next week against 4th placed PEGS which the boys will need to be up and about for.

Mens Pennant A – In a back and forth game, Pennant A managed to come through with a 3-2 win over MUHC due to some solid build up play and great individual performances.

Sammy Kleinschmidt showed great composure to slot home not one but two penalty strokes, the second due to a great piece of individual play from Harry Geddes, who also managed to score the third goal. James Shrimpton had another great performance, making some excellent save to keep us in the game through some tough period of play. Campbell Rickard also had a great game making some strong tackles and generally looking comfortable on the ball.

The result leaves TEM in 4th position, just behind Hawthorn on goal difference, and two points ahead of Camberwell in 5th, leading to an exciting closing three rounds before finals to decide 3rd and 4th positions.

Mens Pennant C – TEM Pennant C men faced off against Melbourne Uni last weekend. Coming off a tough 1 - 1 draw the previous week against KBH the boys needed a win to stay within swinging distance of the top 4, but it wasn't going to be easy against second place MUHC. TEM started off well, but lost steam half way through the first half and conceded 2 goals before half time.

Ed Elder scored for TEM, rekindling some hope but it seemed the damage had been done. The second half was not a strong showing from the team, and MUHC scored another three times and TEM was unable to answer, resulting in a 5 - 1 loss. Next week TEM (7th) take on Hawthorn (5th) down on H2, Saturday 12:30. 

Mens Metro Blue – TEM Metro Blue started the game with Travis Brown scoring first, and then TEM had most of the play around the ground and controlled the game fairly well. 

Powerhouse had their own chances to score but to no avail. The second half was dominated by TEM who added with 3 second half goals with the highlight of the game Bailey Macphie stealing the show with a tomahawk goal to seal the game. A great 4-0 win, and a great way to celebrate with Bailey's first senior goal of the season.

Womens Premier League – TEM Premier League Women travelled out to Altona this Saturday for a tough game, as Altona needed to win to keep their finals hopes alive. TEM came out strong, scoring early on in the match through Fran Flores. Despite then soaking up some pressure in their defensive end, TEM let in an equaliser and then another shortly after the halftime break, from one of Altona’s many attacking penalty corner variations. The girls rallied however and earned a short corner not long after. The ball was mistrapped at the top, but re-entered the circle and TEM scored through an exceptional shot high over he keepers head from Gemma Donataccio.

It was end to end hockey through the last part of the match, with keeper Bridgette Allen and defenders Rachel Graven, Bonnie Bonnes and Bronte Hough required to make many great saves. The girls scored the winner late in the game, again through Donataccio. Final score was 3-2 to TEM! The team was also proud to support Hockey Victoria's Fair Go Sport round, celebration gender, age, racial and sexual identity within hockey, and ensuring a safe and inclusive environment! Darci Kleinschmidt picked up the Fair Go Sport medal for TEM with some commanding play in the midfield and defence.

Womens Premier League Reserves – A fantastic result for the Reserves this week out at Altona. The score was 2-0 down at half time, but TEM came out firing in the second half and within the first minute Jacquie Lawson scored a fast paced field goal. Then with another pressured attack the girls earnt a stroke, and it was successfully converted by Captain Rebecca Haining. Altona scored one back soon after for a score of 3-2, and some tight hockey ensued! With 5 minutes to go TEM put away a deflection for a final score of 3-3.

Womens Pennant A – It was the best Saturday night spent in Altona in a long time, with great support from the top two womens’ sides hanging around after their matches. This game was an important win for Women’s Pennant A as the risk of relegation back to Pennant B is still quite real. There was a lot of great ball movement across the turf, and a heap of passes linked nicely together – the girls just had a little trouble converting them. Karen Bussell managed to put an absolute stunner in the net, being the sole goal of the match, the girls were rapt it was such a goodie! Impressive performances by Eugenie Rickard and Danni Seiwaa and a final score of 1-0, go TEM!

Womens Pennant C – Despite several players still out of action for WPC this weekend, the girls should be fairly happy with their performance. The intensity was high and the passes were strong, and TEM managed to hold MUHC to nil all at the break. Unfortunately a few lucky goals to the opposition meant the final score was 2-0 but with several close goal attempts by TEM, some strong saves by Angie Ngo in goal and good possession throughout the game this was a good result against the second placed team.

Womens Metro Red – TEM Metro Red started a little flustered & were praying for kind parking inspectors as the girls lined up at Monash Uni with a jam packed 'Open Day' crowd. In the first half TEM converted a corner with a pass from Leesa Needham to Kris Tulloch at the top of the circle. Again the girls had most of the play in the attacking half, however just could not find a path to the goal.

In the second half TEM’s eagerness to press up for a second goal saw an opposition break away that exposed the defense resulting in a field goal to Collegians. Disappointed not to have made just one more score from the opportunities TEM Metro Red had to settle for a 1:1 draw at the final whistle.

Womens Metro Blue – Metro Blue came up against third on the ladder St Bede’s for the third time this season. With Blue sitting fifth and only separated from 4th position by goal difference, the girls were determined for a win to help boost the team over the line. Aware St Bede’s would come out tough, TEM began the game both strong in attack and tight in defense. An early goal by Bailey Ryan gave the girls an extra boost of confidence, further leading to another brilliant goal created by strong teamwork, placed in the net by Fiona Troise. However the team’s unlucky injury streak continues, with Eliza McLaughlin unfortunately out for the season with a broken finger from a stray ball.

Coming into the second half 2-0 up, TEM were conscious not to become complacent with the score by continuing to fight for possession of the ball. Everyone made use of the field’s width, switching the ball to create space as well as utilising the centre, which was strongly held by Bridgette Allen. Bailey Ryan capped off an excellent game with another goal, finishing the game off with a 3-0 win, now placing TEM fourth on the ladder and on the road to finals if the girls continue to play to their strengths. 

Womens Masters – TEM Masters women drew against Southern United 1-1. It was an even game that in the first half became a game of "who can hit the post". If hockey scored like AFL, Southern United would have won with 2 post shots against TEM’s one from Kim Davies. Beside the post, both teams did find the back of the net. Karen "Jonesy" Jones scored the girls only goal from a short corner. Southern United was a little stronger in the second half but didn't score.