By Farah Alsagoff

Republic Polytechnic Sports Complex Competition Hall, Monday, October 26, 2009 – Temasek Polytechnic (TP) beat second-placed Nanyang Polytechinic (NYP) 2-1 in a girls’ Polytechnic-Institute of Technical Education (POL-ITE) floorball game that could have gone either way.

TP got the game started with #16 Jowie Tan scoring in the 9th minute. Barely three minutes later, she scored once again to give TP the much-needed leg up.

The reply from NYP was immediate with Nursaliza Rusley (#77) scoring just a minute later in the 13th minute to reduce the deficit and make it 1-2.

The start of the second period saw TP's Jowie tried for a hat-trick when she dribbled up along the left, going behind the goalpost and trying to wrap her shot on the right. Unfortunately for her, NYP's keeper Siti Syamimi (#1) had anticipated this and saved the ball promptly.

NYP had a chance to level up during a free-hit in TP's half. The eventual shot got deflected by TP Maria Chia's (#17) stick and almost went into the goal.

NYP continued on the offensive with an unmarked Nurashyqah (#23) receiving a pass inside TP's slot area but her shot was off-target.

Siti Melissa (NYP, #19) also had her chance when TP's defense left her unmarked. TP's Nurliyana Salleh (#8) scrambled to cover her shot just in the nick of time before the whistle blew to end the second period.

Third period saw counter attack after counter attack from both teams. NP's Nurasyqah passed to Sri Syafizah (#11) at TP's blind side, but she missed the ball and could not convert it to an equalizer.

TP's counter attack saw #11 Sarah Atan shooting from the left sideboard but NYP's keeper Syamimi jumped to prevent the ball from sailing through the top of the goal.

A moment that got everyone's hearts pounding was during an NYP attack. Siti Melissa got possession of the ball and spun around for a shot. It deflected off TP's keeper Madura Asmawiya McCormack's (#2) body and Sri Syafiza went in for a rebound that was off-target. NP regained possession in TP's corner but Nurasyqah's shot was high and out.

IN reply, TP launched their heart-pounding offense when Jowie's shot hit the right post of NYP's goal. The rebound fell to TP's Khairunnisa Anuar (#29) but it was high and out.

The end of the last period signaled desperate measures. A TP blunder in defense allowed NP's Sri Syafizah a one-on-one with TP's keeper Madura who stepped up, and Syafizah lost the ball.

NYP had one last chance to equalise when the ball spilled in front of TP's goalpost, causing one huge scramble. However, NYP could not convert to give the game 2-1 to TP.