Match report NTU-SMU Ladies

It was a game neither team could afford to lose. With losses in both their opening games, both of them needed a win to have a fighting chance of qualifying for the semis.The game started at a frantic pace and SMU was the faster of the teams to settle down. They had the 1st free hit of the game but it was wasted. NTU then found their footing and began to ease themselves by holding the ball more and rained shots on the SMU goalie. A couple of shots from mid-court from NTU #21 Shanti and #9 Ain was saved by the SMU goalie. In the 7th minute, #17 Xinlin of NTU made a good cut in from the boards into the centre but her drag was parried by the SMU goalie who was in inspired form.SMU drew first blood through #16 Tracy Lee who scored with a good drag shot from 5 metres out. It was a poor defensive error from NTU who made a line change when the hit in was against them and after some tussle the ball fell to Tracy who took it with aplomb. NTU immediately drew level though when #15 Siti Nor Amilin took a shot after the mid court and it was deflected through the unknowing SMU keeper. NTU ended the 1st period stronger.

The 2nd period started brightly with SMU urged on by their coach Dennis to go in stronger. Both sides traded shots but NTU was having the upper hand with their structured play introduced by their coach, the legendary Jill Quek.In the 10th min of the 2nd period, NTU substituted their goalie and right after that, SMU #8 Yuen got in a goal from close range amidst a scramble. Things started to get heated up as NTU went in search of an equaliser as the physical challenges at the boards increased. It was not until the last minute of the period that NTU managed to equalise through #18 Vivian when her team mate tried to wrap the keeper to no avail but the ball rolled kindly for Vivian to knock it into the goal. 2-2 at the end of 2nd period and still no daylight between the 2 teams.

NTU dominated the 3rd period as tired legs began to show. There were no shots on target from the SMU ladies while NTU pressed on to find the winning goal. #4 Yiping tried a backhand shot and #11 Soak Kuan burst through the defence but the SMU goaltender kept them all out. In the 14th minute though, NTU finally made the breakthrough they were seeking when #77 Veron made a through pass to the blind side of the goal to find her team mate Xinlin who finished off the chance. The NTU team jumped for joy and they closed out the game to finish the game at 3-2, with 29-5 shots on target in their favour.