NTU trounce Temasek Poly 4-1 to make women's IVP floorball final

Story by REDintern Noor Farhan. Pictures by REDintern Tan Jon Han

Republic Polytechnic Sports Complex, Friday, January 22, 2010 - The Nanyang Technological University (NTU) handed a comprehensive 4-1 semi-final defeat to Temasek Polytechnic (TP) in the Institute-Varsity-Polytechnic (IVP) Floorball Championship to set up a titanic clash against the National University of Singapore (NUS) in the final.

NTU displayed their resolve from the starting whistle, with Liu Xin Lin (NTU #17) missing a shot at 2:53. TP tried their very best when they countered with an audacious chip by Nury Idzaty (TP #13) that was kept out by the NTU goalie.

There was however, no stopping Nurul Ain (NTU #10) at 13:28, as her effort trickled in after she found an opening down the right. The TP goalie could do nothing about it as NTU went 1-0 up.

TP's #4 Carole Ogawa found space for a ½ court shot at 3:59, but the NTU goalie was equal to the task as she kept it out of goal with a fine save.

The rest of the period was cagey affair, with both sides missing golden opportunities. NTU's Veronica Soh (#7) flashed a drag shot just wide off the right sidebar at 5:25 while on the other end Liew Liting (TP #24) had an effort foiled by the keeper at 8:50.

TP were making plenty of attacking attempts but were let down by their final ball in their attacking third of the court.

NTU went 2-0 up at the start of the second period after TP conceded an own goal through Maisurah (#14) after Lai Soak Kuan's (NTU #11)'s shot took a wicked deflection off her stick at around 2:00. With TP's attacks lacking the cutting edge, NTU seized on their chance by continuing to pour forward in search of goals.

They were nearly rewarded when Gabriella Lee (NTU #18) saw her shot blocked by the TP goalie at 6:50. The plucky goaltender's luck soon ran out however when an initial shot by the NTU attack was palmed away, only for Soak Kuan (NTU #11) to accurately follow-up on the rebound at 8:25 to make it 3-0 to NTU.

An effort by Jowie Tan (TP #16) was saved by the goalie at 11:00 after some quick work by the NTU defence in closing down her angles. A free hit by the TP captain Carole Ogawa (#4) got deflected off-course courtesy of the resolute NTU wall and NTU walked off leading 2-0 at the break.

There was still no way through for TP in the third period, even as Heng Hui Shan (TP #67) got impeded at 3:40. However, the resulting free hit did not go into the net after some good work by the NTU goalie.

The entire TP defence could not cope with the next goal by Veronica Soh (NTU #7), after an excellent through ball on the right. Her no-nonsense shooting saw the ball sail past the despairing dive of the keeper to give the tournament dark horses a 4-0 lead.

TP finally managed to grab a consolation goal through Jowie Tan (TP #16) when she pounced on a mis-hit clearance by the NTU defence with 37.1 seconds to go.

Right at the split second before the final buzzer, NTU's Cheryl Leong (#38) got at the end of a precise pass to send the ball into the back of the net but it was not counted.

With this 4-1 victory, NTU will now meet NUS in the title-deciding match on Monday, January 25th, at the Republic Polytechnic Sports Complex.

NTU Lineup
Chew Shi Jun (#3), Lai Soak Kuan (#11), Lim Mei Yin (#6), Liu Xin Lin (#17), Ye Yi Ping (#4), Stephanie Fong (#5), Cheryl Leong (#38), Sheryl Seow (#9), Veronica Soh (#7), Gabriella Lee (#18), Serena Tiong (#27), Ong Shee Yin (#16), Nurul Ain (#10), Khairyn Adriana (#19), Afiqah (#33), Joreen Lee (#21), Lim Bin Bin (#8), Nanthini (#15), Eunice Yeo (#77)

TP Lineup
Carole Ogawa (#4), Tania Chen (#12), Priscilla Chia Si Wai (#77), Maisurah (#14), Sarah (#11), Madura Asmawiya McCormack (#2), 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)