Hockey: Northland women reach new heights

Northland captain Ella Gunson (right) shares a laugh with Stacey Michelsen after their semifinal win. PHOTO/ANDREW CORNAGA / WWW.PHOTOSPORT.CO.NZ

The 2014 Mark Cromie Holden Northland women's hockey team is officially the best there ever has been, even though their coach may not lay claim to that yet.

Northland finished their National Hockey League (NHL) season, playing for the K Cup, as runner-up - losing 1-0 to Auckland in the final, but beating their previous best finish of fourth.

After the battle, Northland coach Angeline Waetford was receptive to the compliment of being part of the most successful women's team, but with a sense of disappointment.

While the team had met the goals she had set for them - a top-four finish - second place was not what they wanted yesterday. "We certainly were going out to win it. We went so close. All credit to Auckland though. They did a good job on Stacey [Michelsen] - they tied her up well," she said.

"I'm really proud of the girls. Obviously they've played a great NHL and they deserved to be in that final.

"[But] it is gutting. We had one guy come up to us and say, 'Well there were six other teams who weren't in that game and another who won bronze and they were happy'.

"We did really well in achieving what we did and we only just lost the final I think in a couple of days we'll appreciate it more."

Northland was made to pay early on as Auckland Black Stick Krystal Forgesson put away a loose ball inside the circle in the sixth minute.

Having already played Auckland this season, and won 3-1 two weeks ago, Auckland stepped up their game and shut down Michelsen who had been key to Northland's success.

Despite a spirited fightback late in the game, Northland was unable to score the equaliser even though they created opportunities.

With this year's Northland women's team being the best to come from the region, Waetford said the rise up the ranks had come a lot faster than she thought.

Boosted by the availability of Stacey Michelsen for the first time since 2012, Waetford felt before the season this year would be about laying the ground work to launch from for the next few seasons. However, she was wrong.

"When I took the job on this year it was a two or three-year plan I had. This year was about starting to get culture and start developing players, maybe attract a few players to come back and play for us next year."

Waetford said the response from the team after the game was a bit of disappointment coupled with a shift of focus to next year.

She added the word was the NHL would be played in Whangarei, something which appealed to her side - winning in front of a home crowd.

Playing for Auckland were four Northlanders - Jan Rowsell, Charlotte Harrison, Sam Harrison, and Melissa Simpson.

Northland's men's team finished in last place, losing 6-1 to Central in the seventh/eighth playoff.