Hockey One: Perth Thundersticks women’s win in penalty shootout thriller to finish regular season undefeated

It took a penalty shootout to separate Perth and Brisbane in the final Hockey One women’s match of the regular season, but the Thundersticks held on to finish undefeated and top of the ladder.

The Thundersticks, captained by Tambellup-raised Penny Squibb, were locked 6-6 at the final whistle against the Blaze at Perth Hockey Stadium on Sunday with forward Lexie Pickering netting five goals, including an equaliser in final quarter.

Despite her heroics, Pickering missed her penalty stroke in the shootout but the Thundersticks claimed a 5-4 win after the shootout, with Kaitlin Nobbs, Eva Drummond and Courtney Schonell all scoring before Nobbs and Schonell each added a second to defeat the Blaze.

The Thundersticks have a bye in the final round this weekend but they can’t be displaced from top spot before the finals start on Saturday, November 30.

The men’s Thundersticks were defeated 5-2 by the Blaze on Sunday but still sit second on the ladder but must rely on other results if they are to remain in the top two.

Jack Harvie and James Day netted the Thundersticks only goals, while Blaze’s Jacob Anderson converted a superb hat-tick.