Women’s HIL: Soorma’s first win sends Pipers to the final

Jude Menezes, if he were watching Monday’s Women’s Hockey India League game, would have been left scratching his head over what Rani Rampal did differently. For the former India captain, having replaced him as interim coach only a day ago, managed to accomplish what had seemed impossible thus far — getting JSW Soorma Hockey Club its first points on the board. It managed a 2-1 win over Ranchi Royals at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Stadium here.

It took Penny Squibb merely 42 seconds to squeeze the ball between the Royals’ custodian, Bichu Devi Kharibam, and Sabine Plonissen from a short corner. Perhaps a two-minute suspension of Lucina von der Heyde, who would have otherwise been on the defensive battery, helped the already-eliminated team’s cause.

Things went from bad to worse for Royals, who lost a review in their efforts to check a goalline save from Squibb.

The fanatic cheering from the stands in the second period seemed to have woken up the home side, lagging 10-2 behind in circle penetrations in the first 15 minutes, from its slumber. The reward eventually came post the half-time break through Agostina Alonso, who rifled a cannonball into the net. A lot of the credit should go to Hannah Cotter, who cut through heavy traffic on the right before linking up with the Argentine midfielder.

Royals, however, ended up dropping the ball soon when Soorma was awarded a penalty stroke for an unwarranted push inside the circle. Olivia Shannon made no mistake, sending Bichu Devi the wrong way.

Soorma threw bodies on the line in the final quarter to preserve its lead. Soorma’s victory may have gotten a party started in the hotel of SG Pipers, which is now assured of a berth in Saturday’s grand finale.

The result: JSW Soorma Hockey Club 2 (Squibb 1, Shannon 39-ps) bt Ranchi Royals 1 (Alonso 35).