“IT was heartbreaking, I love hockey too much to lose like that.”

Those were the words of Souths coach Damien Carter on Saturday afternoon as his side exited the women’s Premier League Hockey title race after going down 3-0 to Parkes in penalties.

Through the 70 minutes of regulation time in the minor semi-final at Parkes then 15 minutes of extra-time, neither side was able to find the back of the net.

In the end the difference was Parkes goalkeeper Amy Thornberry – a player Carter had identified as a major threat prior to the sudden death match.

Not only did she shut out Souths during open play, she also saved a penalty stroke during the penalties period after she had fouled Kate Dooley.

“It just came down to their goalie, she is the best goalie in the comp,” Carter said.

“Sarah and Jess [Watterson] both got around her, but Jess’ shot went over the top and Sarah hit the post.

“Every stat in that game would have been even – shots at goal, short corners, breaks, it was all 50-50 everywhere. I think that was the best game of hockey we have played this season and as far as I am concerned, it was nil-all.”

With the season on the line for both Souths and Parkes, play was intense throughout the match.

Parkes enjoyed the better first half and really should have had the lead - two shots taken in front of an open goal going wide.

“We were lucky in that first half, the ball just bobbled when they went it hit it. We had no short corners at all in the first half, but things evened out in the second half,” Carter said.

With Dooley working hard to negate the threat posed by Parkes star Wendy Rix and Mandy George taking control when switched into centre half, Souths began to get on top in the final 20 minutes of regulation time.

With three minutes to go sisters Sarah and Jess Watterson launched an attacking raid. As Jess got around Thornberry and fired a tomahawk in from the left side of the field, Souths looked like they had a winner.

However, a Parkes defender had chased back and launched herself at the ball in a full length dive. She got her stick to the ball and knocked it away from the goal.

The final chance of regulation time fell to Souths when they earned a penalty corner with 30 seconds left on the clock. Tahlia Cranston, who was best on ground for the visitors, sent in a powerful drive but Thornberry came up with a save.

Souths had a second attempt saved by Thornberry after cleaning up the deflection and while the ball then fell to George, she put her effort over the crossbar.

With no score the game went into extra-time, the sides playing 71⁄2 minutes each way.

Souths had their chances with a pair of penalty corners while Parkes also had an attempt from the set play, but still the scoreboard remained nil-all.

With Thornberry completing a successful shut out, Parkes advanced to this Saturday’s preliminary final against Lithgow Panthers in Lithgow. Carter believes it is a match they can win.

“The way they played today – yeah I think they could win the comp. Just their commitment in defence today was amazing,” the Souths coach said.

PARKES 3 (Wendy Rix, Niamh Dixon, Louise Hawken) defeated SOUTHS 0 on penalties