NTU dispatch NUS 7-1 in Women's IVP Floorball final to emerge champions

Story by REDintern Noor Farhan. Pictures by Yvonne Yap/Red Sports.

Republic Polytechnic Sports Complex, Monday, January 25, 2010 - It was a jubilant night for the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) as they stormed past the National University of Singapore (NUS) with a brazen 7-1 victory to clinch the 2010 Institute-Varsity-Polytechnic (IVP) floorball title.

The NTU women's team maintained their good form throughout the tournament to bring home the silverware.

NTU drew first blood when Lai Soak Kuan (NTU #11), continuing her rampant form from the previous match, sent a homing cutback from the left to Liu Xin Lin (NTU #17), who tapped in from close range to open the scoring. The ease of the first goal spoke volumes of the defensive jitters for NUS.

NUS got the ball rolling when Stella Tan (NUS #47) found space to send a shot in the direction of the NTU goal at 2:20. However her look of disbelief showed it all when it blazed wide.

Soon after breaking up NTU's attacks, Koh Yun Jia (NUS #3) gained possession in NTU's half but her effort was blocked by the NTU defence, who were alert to the cause at 4:49.

It threatened to look like a tactical stalemate with 10 minutes to go, with both sides refusing to come out of their shells.

However, Serena Tiong (NTU #27) popped up at half-court to let fly a slient-killer into the top-corner of the net to make it 2-0 to NTU, leaving NUS goaltender Widyawillis (NUS #15) stunned in her goalmouth. A timeout was soon called at 6:52 by NUS to address their defensive concerns.

NUS fought back at the restart, with Marianne Lee (NUS #13) sending a slap shot inches too high from the crossbar at 7:01. The NUS goalie had to be alert to palm away Nurul Ain's (NTU #10) effort, but no one could see through the rebound and NUS fans heaved a sigh of relief.

With 7 minutes to the end of the first period, Wynne Tang (NUS #42) received a ball from her teammates after some slick passing, but could not apply the scoring touch. NTU seemed to have some nerves when they got penalised at 9:54 for incorrect substitution, which had Veronica Soh (NTU #7) sent out for two minutes.

NUS however could not capitalise as the period ended, with misses by Nur Fariza (NUS #4) at 10:55 and again by Tabitha Carthigasu (NUS #25) at 13:23 as NTU's defence had their doors firmly shut.

The second period became a shooting gallery for NTU courtesy of Lai Soak Kuan (NTU #11) who scored at 2:50 to make it 3-0 to NTU.

Receiving the ball from her astute defence, Soak Kuan strode menacingly towards the NUS box. Showing good close control, she continued her foray, slaloming past NUS defenders along the way as if they were not there.

She then applied the coup de grace from close-range past NUS goalie Widyawillis (#15), rolling to the ground from her forward momentum to celebrate the goal.

NUS were clearly incensed as they went forward in search of goals to get themselves back in the game, with Teh Yi Lin (NUS #28) gaining ground going past Serena Tiong (NTU #27), only to see her effort go off target at 5:48.

NTU kept their cool on the counter with a Nurul Ain (NTU #10) effort from the right saved at 7:20, even as NUS increased their tempo.

The tournament dark horses tightened their stranglehold on the game, with Mei Yin (NTU #6) seeing her drag shot from a free hit trickling into the NUS goal at 8:28 to make it 4-0 to NTU.

NUS were fast losing options in attack, even as Wynne Tang (NUS #42) cut in from their right flank to unleash a shot towards goalie Bin Bin (NTU #8), who made a comfortable catch.

Lai Soak Kuan (NTU #11) shredded the NUS defence, this time providing the through ball to Veronica Soh (NTU #7) who finished with glee nearing the end of the second period to bring the score line to 5-0.

There was no way through for NUS, even as the clock on the second period ran down. Well-worked efforts from Wong Ai Wen (NUS #5) and Teh Yi Lin (NUS #28) got shepherded away, with the NTU defence running a tight ship at the back.

NTU were still not done with the game as they went 6-0 up at the start of the third period.

The goal came courtesy of a low finish by Soak Kuan (NTU #11) from Serena's (NTU #27) incisive cross-court pass at 1:20, leaving the NUS defence in sixes and sevens, to the roaring approval of the crowded stands.

The fans at this point were clearly making an intense final atmosphere with their passionate ruckus.

NUS still managed to grab a consolation goal amidst the hullabaloo when an initial shot by the forwards got blocked by the NTU defence, who were running helter-skelter tracking back.

They were however unable to get back in time to prevent NUS from scoring, making it 1-6 at 14:59.

NTU sealed NUS's fate, with Soak Kuan (NTU #11) running amok in the NUS area with an unstoppable drive at 7:42 to bring the score line to 7-1.

NUS then tried to pour forward as they mounted a final assault in the closing stages, as Siti Aisyah (NUS #8) sent an effort just wide, testing the NTU goalkeeper with just 3 minutes 28 seconds remaining.

Yi Lin (NUS #28) kept the opposing goalie on her toes, with a similar effort going off-tangent soon after. However there was no way through for NUS, even as they rallied in numbers in their comeback attempt.

Koh Yun Jia (NUS #3) had a wrist shot going over the crossbar, as the crowd counted down the seconds to the final buzzer.

The end of the match saw an elated NTU women's team in a frenzy, running towards the centre court as they celebrated their triumphant 7-1 victory over NUS to clinch the title.

"NUS started well, giving us a scare in the early stages of the game. However my team responded very well, to bring the game to them with our attacks," said NTU coach Alvin Tay.

"We worked very hard in the match. We played like champions and won like one," quipped NTU captain Serena Tiong (#27).

"It was a hard fought game, but I'm very proud of my team reaching this far," said NUS captain Teh Yi Lin (#28).

"She just dribbled from the centre and shot into the top corner of the net!" NTU's Chew Shi Jun (#3) with the last word, speaking on behalf of the talismanic Lai Soak Kuan (#11).

The NTU #11 was apparently too ecstatic at this point to recall how she scored the last goal for her team.

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(Capt) (#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)

NUS Lineup
Sarah Low (#1), Ho Hui Jun (#2), Koh Yun Jia (#3), Nur Fariza Ahmad Razif (#4), Wong Ai Wen (#5), Kam Kai Qi (#7), Siti Aisyah Muhd Fuad (#8), Marianne Lee (#13), Maznah Mah (#14), Widyawilis Selamat (#15), Monica Huang (#18), Denise Khoo (#21), Farah Mohd Faudzi (#22), Tabitha Carthigasu (#25), Prisca Lim(#26), Ng Jean Ting (#27), Teh Yi Lin (Capt) (#28), Suhaidah Yusoff (#31), Wynne Tang (#42), Stella Tan (#47), Jenelle Loo (#48), Daphne Lim (#89), Eleanor Pang (#99)

N.B. If you recognise the players in the photos, please let us know in the comments section and we’ll update the captions. Thanks.

More at SCHOOLS FIXTURES & RESULTS page.