NSW Pride have claimed Australian women's hockey bragging rights with a thrilling grand final victory over defending One League champions Brisbane Blaze.
Hockeyroos goalkeeper Jocelyn Bartram was the hero for the Pride, producing three world-class saves in a tense shootout after the scores were locked at 2-2 at fulltime.
The Pride finished deserving winners after out-scoring the Blaze with two field goals to one only to miss both conversion attempts and then watch heart in mouths as rising star Grace Young's gallant last-ditch attempt sailed across the face of the goal with 12 seconds left on the clock.
No matter, though, as Bartram stepped up to deny Claire Colwill, Rosie Malone and Hannah Cullum-Sanders with three consecutive saves as Grace Stewart, Greta Hayes and striker Mariah Williams all scored for NSW.
The victory completed a stunning turnaround after the Pride finished second-last in 2019 before state border closures wiped out the 2020 and 2021 leagues.
"It's so, so exciting," said Williams, who was crowned player of the match.
"We're really happy and stoked with the win. Our keeper's awesome and she did amazing in there."
The Pride had trailed 2-1 after Savannah Fitzpatrick converted her slapped-home goal to cancel out skipper Abby Wilson's 22nd-minute tomahawk strike.
But a diving deflection equaliser from the league's leading scorer Stewart early in the second half set up an exhilarating finish in a free-flowing affair in Bendigo.
Despite Brisbane's defeat, the Blaze still produced a spirited title defence.
They only scraped in to the semi-finals in fourth place after winning only one of their first four games.
Yet the Blaze went painfully close to winning the grand final despite being without a host of Hockeyroos including Europe-based stars Steph Kershaw and Madi Fitzpatrick and the injured Renee Taylor.
HC Melbourne's Amy Lawton was announced as the Hockey One League's MVP of the year.
NSW Pride will attempt to defend their men's title later on Sunday against the Perth Thundersticks.
