In stark contrast to the Goulburn Geckos men, who lost 4-0 to perennial rivals, Wests, the women picked up a strong win over the University of Canberra, this time 4-0 in their favour.

Laura Gray (2), Makayla Jones, and Chloe Kemp (1 each) scored for the Geckos at the Goulburn Hockey Fields today.

The win first up for Goulburn's women continues the momentum built by the team at the tail-end of 2020, in which a five-match win streak propelled the team to a semi-final, which they narrowly lost against eventual champions ANU.

For years, the Goulburn women battled on field for few positive results as coach Naomi Jones built the side from a young, inexperienced group to where they stand now: a legitimate dark horse in the ACT competition.

Ahead of next weekend's clash against the North Canberra Eagles, it was crucial that the Geckos get off to a good start.

Meanwhile, the Goulburn men also played and suffered a tough defeat at the hands of Wests, with whom they share a fierce rivalry.

Although they held the home ground advantage, the Geckos were without several of their key players, most notably Ben Staines and Glenn Turner.

Without these two, who are the team's most efficient scorers, Goulburn struggled to get on the board against the notoriously clinical Wests outfit.

After a tough start to their season, the Geckos' next assignment will not be much easier, as they prepare for a clash against United next weekend.

Like Wests, United are a consistently strong team who often sit among the top four in the competition. Goulburn will need to find a way to score more frequently if the team hopes to avoid a similar result to today's.

The Goulburn men will face United on Friday, April 9, at ACT Hockey's Carter Field from 8pm. The Goulburn women, meanwhile, will next play North Canberra in Goulburn on Saturday, April 10, from 1.30pm.

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