Women’s Hockey India League 2024-25: Sonika, Kaitlin score in shootout as Odisha Warriors edges past Soorma Hockey Club
Women’s Hockey India League 2024-25: Sonika, Kaitlin score in shootout as Odisha Warriors edges past Soorma Hockey Club
An unstoppable force met an immovable object on Tuesday as the Women’s Hockey India League table-toppers clashed at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Stadium here.
It needed a shootout to separate JSW Soorma Hockey Club (1) and Odisha Warriors (2) after an hour of regular play didn’t disturb the net. The Warriors went on to win their second shootout 2-0 after Sonika and Kaitlin Nobbs slotted home.
Soorma would have been the more confident of the two units, having won 2-1 in the reverse fixture on January 15 and registered the biggest win this season (5-1 vs. Delhi SG Pipers) only the previous day.
But it wasn’t to be, as Soorma’s weakness against penalty corners stuck out like a sore thumb yet again. Coming into the contest, it had the worst conversion rate—6.3 per cent—among all teams in the league. The figures plummeted further as it missed all seven shots at getting a lead.
The Warriors, too, made a meal out of its two PCs. Although Yibbi Jansen was on the pitch on both occasions, Savita Punia rendered her drag flicks ineffective.
Earlier, Neha Goyal’s side was looking for an early breakthrough by sending in long balls in search of the solitary forward who had parked herself inside the opponent’s half. However, the ploy fell flat as Soorma defender Maria Verschoor kept a weather eye on any loose ball inside her team’s circle.
The best opportunity for the Warriors came up with 10 minutes remaining on the clock. Neha Goyal pierced the midfield and fed the ball to Rutuja Pisal on the left. While Savita managed to put the first attempt out, Neha almost ended up getting a touch on the rebound.
