Women’s Hockey India League: Second-half surge gets Soorma Hockey Club comeback victory over Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers

Women’s Hockey India League: Second-half surge gets Soorma Hockey Club comeback victory over Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers

JSW Soorma Hockey Club got its Women’s Hockey India League campaign up and running with a come-from-behind 4-1 victory over Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium here on Monday.

Soorma, despite showing a sense of urgency from the get-go, conceded in the seventh minute. A free-hit from the edge of the circle culminated in Hannah Cotter hitting into the roof of the net.

Even though Soorma kept attacking in waves, the Tigers’ defensive wall did well to thwart the attempts. Salima Tete’s side also won five penalty corners in the first 30 minutes, but each of those efforts was foiled by the opposition rushers.

The Tigers almost ended up extending the lead on several occasions, having come the closest in the second quarter when Fiona Crackles’ ferocious reverse hit was briskly dabbed away by Savita.

Soorma finally broke down the door in the second half after repeated knocks when Penny Squibb put in a blistering run and found an unmarked Olivia Shannon on the left. The latter wasted no time in nutmegging Grace O’Hanlon in goal. Charlotte Englebert followed that up with another goal in the 42nd minute as her backhand strike zoomed past the keeper’s left kicker.

Crowd favourite Salima buried the third into the net from the acutest of angles at the edge of the ‘D’ after one of her earlier attempts was disallowed for a stick check.

Sushila Chanu, almost in a reflection of the Tigers’ frustration, got her stick in the way of Maria Verschoor near the backline. And a young Sonam, entrusted with the responsibility of taking the penalty stroke, repaid the faith with a fourth goal in under 10 minutes.