For a second straight week, Northern Stars goal attack Amorangi Malesala has provided the last-gasp heroics to keep her team's ANZ Premiership hopes alive.
The Stars have dethroned defending champions Central Pulse 53-52 in the elimination playoff at Porirua to set up an all-Auckland final with Northern Mystics at Hamilton next Sunday.
Seven days ago, Malesala slotted a crucial goal after the final whistle in a loss to the Mystics, securing a bonus point that kept her team clear of Mainland Tactix in the scramble for post-season play.
This time, her calm under pressure propelled the Stars to a victory that seemed out of their grasp at halftime, when they trailled the Pulse 29-25.
They rode a 16-8 third-quarter advantage to sweep into the lead and barely held off a late charge to book their ticket to the big show.
The Pulse had their chances to snatch the win over the final moments. With 2m 15s remaining, defender Kelly Jury - celebrating her 100th ANZ Premiership appearance - pulled off a superb intercept that enabled her team to draw level 52-52 in the final minute.
Goal attack Tiana Metuarau slotted the equaliser with 34 seconds remaining, but the Stars had the next centrepass and held their composure around the attacking circle to draw the penalty for Malesala to score.
"That's what finals netball is," reflected Stars captain Maia Wilson. "It all comes down to the last second.
"It really could have been anyone's game and we could have gone to extra time, so we're very lucky that last contact happened in the circle.
"[At halftime] we knew we were still in it - it was only four goals and we just needed to gain a bit more possession."
Wilson, who converted 36/38 attempts on goal, admits the competition's cut-throat nature helped prepare the Stars for the sudden-death pressure of playoffs. Their place in the post-season wasn't truly safe, until the Tactix lost in overtime to the Mystics in the final game of the regular season.
The result also rained on the parade of Pulse coach Yvette McCausland-Durie, who steps away from the team, after guiding them to three titles in the last five years.
"We're going to miss her," sobbed Jury. "She's brought so much to this franchise.
"We wish her all the best with her new school. Maybe we should just lock her in the gear-room and not let her go - that sounds like a good plan."
Northern Stars 53 (Wilson 36/38, Malesala 17/21) Central Pulse 52 (Walmsley 41/45, Metuarau 11/13)
