Rasmussen set for major milestone in Sunday's knock-out match
After a false start a few weeks ago due to the re-aggravation of an early season calf injury, Cold Power Magic wing attack Grace Rasmussen is set to play her 100th ANZ Championship game on Sunday. While the quality midcourter naturally wants the focus to be on the team's performance in the New Zealand Conference Elimination Final against the Mystics, she is nevertheless proud of the looming milestone.
"There are only a few privileged players who have reached it (100 ANZ games) so it's a huge milestone and it's a great feeling to get to this position," says Grace Rasmussen.
"It will also be a little bit more special that I'll be playing the Mystics because that's where my ANZ career began back in 2008."
The Cold Power Magic beat the Mystics in both regular season encounters but Rasmussen is expecting Sunday's game to go down to the wire given the talent in the Mystics side. That is where the thrilling one-goal victory over the Thunderbirds, and two other one-goal wins during the season, should help the home team.
"Being put in that position (of close games at the death) has put us in good stead for the elimination final.
"We know what it's like to be in a really tight match and be able to push ahead and seal the win."
Key to success on Sunday will be executing the game plan, doing the basics well and vocal support from home fans, adds Rasmussen.
"We've come a long way since we last played them and we've built on our game plan.
"So it's about implementing the game plan under pressure because they're an experienced team and will put us under pressure.
"But so long as we execute and do the basics well for 60 minutes, I'm confident of a win, especially with the great crowd support I know we'll have behind us.
"We've got such die-hard fans and they really do lift us, so that support will be crucial if the game goes down to the wire."
Centre pass for Sunday's game at Claudelands Arena will be 4:15pm. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketek.
