By REDintern Kenneth Tan

Republic Polytechnic Sports Complex, Monday, January 25, 2010 - In a rather turgid affair, the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) beat Temasek Polytechnic (TP) with a solitary goal in the playoff for third place in the Institute-Varsity-Polytechnic (IVP) Floorball Championship.

In their respective semi-finals, SIM had lost out to the National University of Singapore (NUS) in a penalty shootout while TP were trounced 4-1 by Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

In the first period, the majority of the attacking moves came from SIM as TP struggled to make an impact on the game. Priscilla Chia (SIM #20) has a couple of shots that cleared the crossbar by inches. Farah Alsagoff produced a few powerful efforts on goal, notably with one at 11.21 that came right off the cross bar before TP goalie Madura McCormack (TP #2) managed to smother it. The last significant shot of the half came from SIM captain Ng Mei Wei (SIM #12) at 13.48, but her effort from the left flank did not manage to trouble McCormack.

Thus it was a surprise that TP actually managed to hit the back of the net first. On 16.35, Heng Hui Shan's (TP #67) powerful shot was saved by SIM custodian Priscilla Tan (SIM #4) and Sarah (TP #11) slotted in the rebound into the empty goal. However the goal was disallowed for a foul in the penalty area committed by TP.

The tide soon turned in the favour of SIM as they manage to get the opening goal of the game. On 19.01, Mei Wei (SIM #12) ran down the left flank before pulling the ball back for Priscilla Chia (SIM #20) who was free from quarter court range. Her stinging shot was parried only as far as Lee Hui Yi (SIM #6) who has the easy task of slotting it into goal.

Nur Hazwany (TP #5) tried to hit back immediately for TP with a great reverse drag shot after cutting in from behind the goal, but the shot went just wide. The TP supporters roared from the sidelines as they thought it was a goal already.

Tania Cher (TP #12) also produced a shot from quarter court at 22.05, but was well saved by the TP goalie. However the rest of the second period was dominated by SIM. Priscilla Chia (SIM #20) weaved past the defence at 22.46 with some slick dribbling but her shot went wide of the right hand post. Seconds later, Mei Wei (SIM #12) got herself free in the penalty area, however her shot came right off the bar.

A sweeping move from a counter attack nearly resulted in a second goal from SIM at 24.01 when Joan Hia (SIM #10) intercepted a pass and ran down the right flank before making a cross into the box for Hui Yi. The latter's shot was well saved by McCormack at her first attempt, and her follow-up was parried away as well.

TP started the third period with something to prove as they showed much more attacking intent than the first and second period. Carole Ogawa's (TP #4) attempt from a drag shot went wide, and Heng Hui Shan's close range shot also miss the goal by inches. The TP coach can be seen getting animated from the sidelines, trying to push her team to get an equaliser.

SIM managed to muster efforts of their own as well, as the game began to take on a more balanced match. Ong Huishan's (SIM #8) effort from the right flank at 32.03 was parried by McCormack, while Hui Yi's drag shot at 35.53 was denied by the legs of McCormack.
TP then had two attempts which forced saves from SIM goalie Priscilla Tan (SIM #4).

Carole Ogawa went on a surging run on the right at 36.18 and got past two TP players before her shot was saved. Carole had a powerful shot from similar range barely a minute later but Priscilla managed to pluck the ball out of the air with a flying save.

However TP could sustain their efforts as SIM took over the dominance in the last six minutes of the match. On 39.30, Mei Wei ran down the middle before passing the ball to Priscilla Chia (SIM #20) whose shot on the run was saved.

Priscilla Chia then had another shot that threaten the TP goal at 42.32. After Farah Alsogoff (SIM #13) broke up an attack by TP, she passed it to Priscilla who made a great run down the right flank and produced a powerful shot which hit the right-hand post with the TP goalie beaten.

Sarah (TP #11) had a great opportunity to level the match with just 41 seconds left, but she produced a tame shot amid the melee inside the SIM box which was eventually cleared.

With the seconds ticking away before the final whistle, TP still had one last chance to score that vital equaliser to bring the match into extra time. With just seven seconds left, the TP goalie McCormack (#2) decided to launch a quick counter attack with a stupendous throw out of her half, and the whole SIM defence somehow contrived to miss the ball. Eventually the ball fell to Nur Hazwany (TP #5) who was one-on-one with SIM goalie Priscilla Tan, but a lack of composure saw her mis-hitting her shot and the SIM defenders got back and snuffed out the danger.

That marked the last piece of action in the game as SIM managed to win the encounter 1-0 and take 3rd place in the IVP floorball championship this year.

Score Breakdown
TP vs SIM
1st Period: 0-0
2nd Period: 0-1
3rd Period: 0-1

Scorers
19.01 Lee Hui Yi (SIM #6)

TP Line-up
Carole Ogawa (#4), Tania Cher (#12), Priscilla Chia Si Wai (#77), Maisurah (#14, captain), Sarah (#11), Madura Asmawiya McCormack (#2, GK), Jowie Tan (#16), Heng Hui Shan (#67), Nury Idzaty (#13), Liew Liting (#24), Lo Ang Chin (#19), Lim Wen Lin (#95), Shalini (#33), Maria Chia (#17), Nabila (#7), Nur Liyana (#8), Nur Hazwany (#5), Charlotte Chua (#3)

SIM Line-up
Priscilla Tan (#4, GK), Chong Beixi (#44), Narita bte Omar (#3), Louisa Cheong (#2), Joanne Toh (#5), Lee Hui Yi (#6), Lee Cin Hui (#7), Ong Huishan (#8), Teresa Yew(#9), Tam Wan Ting (#14), Samantha Neo (#11), Ng Mei Wei (#12, captain), Farah Alsagoff (#13), Tina Seah (#54), Yap Liying (#87), Ayuni (#25), Joan Hia (#10), Angela Danielle (#19), Wenna Lee (#17), Priscilla Chia (#20), Teo Jie Lin (#16), Guo Jiying (#22), Nurhuda (#69)