The Alpiners Men and Tridents Women have made fast starts to the new Premier Hockey League (PHL) season.
James Nicolson and Nick Findlay both scored two goals as the Alpiners defeated the Falcons 6-1 at Dunedin’s McMillan Hockey Centre on Sunday.
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Sophie Hildesley and Petrea Webster had two each in the Tridents Women’s 6-0 win over the Mavericks Women at Auckland’s Lloyd Elsmore Park on Saturday.
Kelsey Smith also grabbed a double in the Falcons Women’s 3-0 victory over the Alpiners Women in Dunedin on Sunday.
In all five instances, the second goals were from one-on-one shootout conversion attempts.
Hockey New Zealand introduced a new rule for the PHL, with a shootout attempt awarded following any field goals or goals from a penalty stroke given during field play.
Nicolson, Sam Lane, and Findlay each rattled the cage for the Alpiners in the two middle quarters, with Finn Ward adding another after halftime.
Despite a solid counterattack goal from Jonty Elmes, a Falcons comeback was never likely as the Alpiners had blown the match out with two successful shootout conversions on top of four solid field goals.
In the other men’s match of the weekend, the Mavericks topped the Falcons 4-3 in a shootout after a 2-2 in regulation time in Auckland on Saturday.
The Mavericks overcame two missed shootout conversions from Vance Harvey and Brad Coxon in the middle quarters, while both Tridents goals, from Robbie Capizzi in the first quarter and Jayshan Randhawa, came from penalty corners.
Paige Blake set the tone for the Tridents Women with an early goal in the first five minutes with a deflection from the top of the circle for the game's first penalty corner.
The Tridents continued to capitalise on their opportunities, with a penalty stroke converted by Pippa Norman before halftime. Hildesley and Webster added late goals to seal a comprehensive win.
The Falcons Women showcased their strength against the Alpiners Women. Smith opened the goal-scoring with a counterattack and a clutch shootout conversion, with Michaela Curtis added one more before halftime.
PREMIER HOCKEY LEAGUE RESULTS - ROUND 1
MEN
Mavericks 2 (Vance Harvey, Brad Coxon) Tridents 2 (Robbie Capizzi, Jayshan Randhawa). 1Q: 0-1, HT: 1-1, 3Q: 2-2, FT: 2-2. Mavericks win shootout 4-3
Alpiners 6 (James Nicolson 2, Sam Lane, Nick Findlay 2, Finn Ward) Falcons 1 (Jonty Elmes). 1Q: 0-0, HT: 3-0, 3Q: 6-1
WOMEN
Tridents 6 (Paige Blake, Pippa Norman, Sophie Hildesley, Petrea Webster 2) Mavericks 0. 1Q: 1-0, HT: 2-0, 3Q: 2-0
Falcons 3 (Kelsey Smith 2, Michaela Curtis) Alpiners 0. 1Q: 2-0, HT: 3-0, 3Q: 3-0