By Tara Murray
Melton is hoping finals will still be on the cards this season in Hockey Victoria’s Vic League men’s 3 competition.
The Mustangs sit just outside the top four, but are more than in contention for a top-four spot.
Mustangs’ Tom McMurrie said they hoped to return to finals after missing out last season.
“We are just outside the top four and it’s starting to get to the point of having to win every game,” he said.
“RMIT is just above us and if we knock them off, it will look better.
“We also have Caroline Springs and Old Melburnians. We have a good run home and hopefully we will win at least three of our four matches and look at finals.”
McMurrie said there had been improvement across the board in the men’s program at the club.
“With a more settled coach coming in compared to last year, it has helped,” McMurrie said.
“We’ve had more consistency with Steve [Lawrence] and the group has come together”
However on Saturday the Mustangs found the going tough against the second-placed Craigieburn Falcons.
The Falcons came away with a 4-1 win, in a below-par performance by the Mustangs.
PHOTO GALLERY: Melton vs Craigieburn Falcons
“They are a really tough side and are new to the league,” he said.
“They have come in and pretty much dominated since the beginning.
“We had a good couple of weeks training coming into the game and were hoping to play well.
“It was disappointing not to put up a bit more of a fight, but they are a really good side.”
As well as hoping their Vic League men’s side makes finals, their second side is sitting fourth.
McMurrie said that side had also made massive inroads.
Like the top men’s side, the Mustangs lost to Craigieburn Falcons 4-1 at the weekend.
“Last year they finished second bottom,” he said.
“You can see the depth in the side as well.
“It might end up with both our firsts and seconds in finals.”
While it was a tough day for the Mustangs men, it was an exciting day for the Vic League women’s 2 side.
After a tough year, the Mustangs broke through for their first win of the season.
The Mustangs beat Gippsland Bulls 2-1 after pushing a number of sides in recent weeks.
Kiara Ive and Danique Ekelmans were the Mustangs’ goal scorers and Ekelmans was named player of the day.
Last week, Mustangs chairman Royce Schwarze said it was a match that they thought they could win.
The women’s metro side lost to Footscray 5-0.
