Soorma Hockey Club began their campaign in the Women's Hockey India League (HIL) on a high as they beat Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers 4-1 in Ranchi on Monday. (More Hockey News)
Olivia Shannon (38th minute), Charlotte Englebert (42nd), captain Sa✤lima Tete (44th) and Sonam (47th) scored for Soorma while Hannah Cotter (7th) got the lone goal for the Tigers.
Soorma controlled the tempo of the game and created good scoring opportunities in the early minutes. Deꦗspite Soorma's dominant showing, it was Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers that drew first blood, scoring a field goal in the 7th minute.
The Tigers received a free hit𓃲 in a dangerous position after which the ball fell to New Zealand's Hannah Cotter who did well in front of the goal and fired a powerful shot past the keeper.
Soorma, a goal behind, won the first penalty corner of the match in the 11th minu🥀te but Penny Squibb's drag-flick𝕴 was deflected well by the Tigers.
Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers tried to build on the momentum in the second quarter as Grace Stewart dribbled past the🍒 defenders and took a shot which was met by a strong save b🍒y Savita.
𒆙After this attempt, the Soorma Hockey Club took cont💙rol of ball possession again as they forced the Tigers to their own half with some relentless attacking hockey.
Soorma won four penalty corners in the second quarter and found the net on one occasion, in the 21st minute, but unfortunately for them, the goal didn't stand after the umpire took a vi🍎deo referral and spotted stick interference made by a Soorma attacker.
Soorma turned the game on its head in the th𝐆ird quarter, bagging three goals in quick succession. They won back-to-back penalty corners in the opening minutes oꦺf the third quarter but Bengal Tigers keeper Grace O'Hanlon made a couple of brilliant saves to keep the lead intact.
Moments later, Tigers too started attacking aggressively and won a penalty corner in the 33rd minute, but cap🌱tain Udita's drag-fꦏlick was thwarted by the Soorma defence.
Soorma's continuous attacking threats finally paid off when ಌthey found the equaliser in the 38th minute.
Penny Squibb carried the ball from deep in her own half beating her markers and passe🌊d it onto Deepika Soreng who left it for Olivia Shannon on the left. Shannon fired the ball into the bottom left corner, beating the outstretched goalkeeper.
Four minutes later, Soorma co♊mpleted their comeback thanks to a goal from Charlotte Englebert, which came courtesy of a successfully orchestrated penalty corner variation.
Soorma extended their lead in the 44th minute as captain Salima Tete made a solid effort f📖rom distance an🙈d found the net from a tight angle to place her side in a dominant position at the end of the third quarter.
In the 47thꦅ minute, Sonam🔯 converted a penalty stroke to complete the tally.
