SHOT-BLOCKER: Kinross-CYMS goalkeeper Amy Symons will play a lead role for her outfit against St Pat’s today. Photo: MARK LOGAN
KINROSS-CYMS today enter the post Ellen Van Hoek era when they travel to Bathurst to face off against St Pat’s.
The classy dutch defender has returned home to Holland following the completion of her student exchange with Orange High School and will miss the rest of the 2012 women’s Premier League Hockey season.
It’s left a big void in the Kinross-CYMS defence.
One goalkeeper Amy Symons is hoping won’t result in her being peppered by the St Pat’s attack today.
“I’m hoping not,” Symons laughed.
“The last few weeks at training have been good and the last few rounds we’ve played, we’ve not been overly aggressive, just strong on the ball. We’ve worked hard on a few things so hopefully we can implement them.”
The 20-year-old goalie said it would be tough for the young Kinross-CYMS outfit to cover the loss of Van Hoek but added if the side wanted to remain in contention for place in the finals they’d have to find a way.
It’s a sentiment coach Pete Shea agrees with.
“The loss of Ellen will make it a challenge. Collectively, we probably need to lift, 10 players, maybe 10 per cent each,” Shea said.
“We’re coming off a good game against Lithgow Panthers so we’ll be looking to replicate that against St Pat’s.”
Shea said Symons will play a lead role for his side from between the posts.
“She is only quite young but already I think she is starting to put together all of the strong things that makes a good goalkeeper. Her quality of saves is high and it motivates the people around her,” he said.
Kinross-CYMS sit in seventh heading into round 10 this weekend.
They’re eight competition points off the competition’s fifth placed side, which just happens to be St Pat’s.
A win today will go along way to reducing the gap between Kinross-CYMS and a place in the finals.
“Definitely. I hope so, that’d be fantastic. We were pretty close there a couple of years ago. It’d be good to get back in (to the finals),” she said.
Kinross-CYMS take on Bathurst St Pat’s from 1.50pm.
In other women’s PLH action Lithgow Zig Zag play Bathurst Souths, Parkes United take on Lithgow Panthers and Bathurst City play Confederates.
