By Jonty Ralphsmith
Casey has won its way through to the Vic League 1 preliminary final with a 3-1 win in an elimination final against Monash University.
The Cannons scored all three of their goals via penalty corners, with their set pieces the most potent on Sunday that they have been all season.
After struggling to find the back of the net from penalty corners all year, Casey went at a 60 per cent strike rate on Sunday, and will look to continue to nab goals in that way against Mornington Peninsula’s watertight defence this week.
Mikaela Davis got an early goal for Casey, with Michaela Bullock and Jess Rowland the other goal scorers, with the early goals allowing the Cannons to dictate the play.
Monash University came out strongly after halftime, with Sarah Sutton-McLellan making a series of saves and the defence forcing the attackers wide.
The Cannons settled midway through the third term, Monash University’s body language dropping as there seemed no way back.
It took until late in the last quarter for the visitors to hit the board, but by the stage the result was a fait accompli.
The key against Mornington Peninsula this week will be shutting down a pair of play-makers in defence, who set up their attacking chains from the back.
As well as averaging more than two goals per game in 2022, they have statistically the best defence in the league, with their structure holding up week after week.
Mornington Peninsula won the first game between the sides 3-1, but Casey was able to shut them down effectively in their most recent meeting, a 1-1 draw.
The Frankston-based club, which finished the season in first place, went down 3-1 in the qualifying final this week to Yarra Valley, which awaits this weekend’s winner in the grand final.
