Victoria JC win A Division Girls’ Floorball Championship with victory over Raffles Institution

Story by REDintern Noor Farhan. Photos by Tan Jon Han/Red Sports and REDintern Thomas Tan

Republic Polytechnic, Tuesday, May 18, 2010 – Victoria Junior College (VJC) were crowned 2010 A Division girls’ floorball champions after they beat Raffles Institution (RI) 5-3 in a close final.

In a hard-fought contest between the two elite tertiary institutions, it was Victoria Junior College (VJC) who edged past Raffles Institution (RI) in the A Division girls’ floorball final, winning 5-3 as the game intensified in the second period. Raffles Institution battled hard, but simply could not keep up the intensity of their attacks towards the end of the match.

Raffles Institution put their opponents to the sword in the first period, applying full-court pressure with their speedy counter-attacks and intelligent running into the VJC area.

However, VJC showed excellent shooting instincts as they took a lot of long shots from ¾ court. One of those missiles nearly hit the target, such as one by VJC’s Melissa Gan (#11) as she hit a superfly effort at 2:21 which was well-palmed by the RI goalie.

The electric energy served up by the partisan crowd fanned the passion in players of both sides as they hit top gear from very early on in the game, as they played a high tempo period with intense end-to-end action fitting for the final.

At 5:00 and 6:15 respectively, the VJC keeper had to make use of her cat-like reflexes to produce an excellent double save from Eunice Ching (RI #7), who was stamping her authority in the game.

It was her teammate Ong Ruici (RI #67) who began the goalfest, with an outward diagonal dribble from centre court which opened the VJC defence allowing her time and space with a low finish past the shell-shocked VJC custodian to make it 1-0 to RI.

VJC were clearly unrattled despite conceding first, as Melissa Gan (VJC #11) kept up the pressure on the opposing goalie by trying another trademark long range effort at 12:34 which was palmed away at first.

Seconds later after a rebound and goalmouth melee, she again received the ball at the ¾ court and made no mistake from the left flank to equalise for her team.

After some good passing from her teammates, Melissa Gan (VJC #11) again tried another long-range dragshot after some lacklustre marking from RI to end the first period at 2-1 in favour of VJC.

Both teams at this point had everything to fight for after RI’s positive play earlier in the period and VJC’s late comeback towards the end of the period.

The match did not disappoint in terms of entertainment as RI equalised 2 minutes after the restart through Eunice Ching (RI #7) after she showed some deft touches and intelligent running to dribble diagonally across to the left of the opposing defence, dragging along several VJC defenders before finishing low to bring the scoreline to 2-2.

If RI were displaying their excellent dribbling abilities, then VJC were clearly showing their good passing movement as they returned salvo soon after through Gracia (VJC #10) as she received a brilliant cutback from the right flank from her teammate and sent a slapshot past the RI keeper to make it 3-2 to VJC, much to the rapturous approval from the travelling VJC fans led by their boisterous red-clad and white-gloved cheerleaders.

The RI supporters were also out in full force, creating a carnival atmosphere with their vocal and enthusiastic fans waving flags and beating drums to spur on their schoolmates.

The RI crowd certaintly made up the 7th player for their team, as they inspired Julia Sng (RI #10) to chip the VJC keeper at 7:11 to equalise again for the team, making it 3-3. The voracious supporters threatened to bring down the roof of the sports complex, as they wildly celebrated the amazing floorball spectacle being served up by both teams.

The end-to-end action did not let up as Nur Shafika (VJC #31) missed a sitter at 13:50, sending her shot pinging against the wooden rafters instead.

However, VJC’s Nur Harilyn (#13) made amends for her teammate afterwards by capitalising on a defensive mix-up for an easy tap in from close-range to bring the score to 4-3 in VJC’s favour to end the 2nd period with both teams still in for a shot at the title.

The third period began with VJC being the more settled team, with VJC’s Gracia (#10) being an absolute rock in the defence with her timely challenges and good distribution of the ball from the back as they sought to repel the attacking waves from RI.

RI soon had a player down through injury as she fell awkwardly on her ankle after a 50-50 ball, ending her participation in the match.

A timeout was called at 10:08 for both teams to calm their nerves as they set out for a final assault to determine which team would walk away with the victory.

It was VJC’s Merilyn Loh (#7) who broke RI hearts as she applied a cool finish after exchanging passes with Gracia (VJC #10) to bring the final score to 5-3, much to the chagrin of the RI supporters in attendance as VJC walked away as A Division Champions in girls floorball.

“Well, my girls fought hard and they did their best and I’m very proud of the team (for doing that).” said RI coach Jill Quek.

“I’m very happy for the team for doing well throughout the tournament. I think that the 2 goal cushion gave them the confidence towards the end that they could win it” said an elated Mr Loke, VJC teacher-in-charge.

“Erm, I’m very glad that we won it in the end!” said Melissa, VJC’s captain, overjoyed and flustered, commenting on her team’s victory in the finals.

Team Line-up:

Victoria Junior College:
Gracia Sengutuvan (#10), Teo Kai En (#16), Melissa Gan (#11), Nur Harilyn (#13), Merilyn Loh (#7), Grace Tan (#5), Veronica Lim (#27), Denise Ng (#20), Melissa Phang (#17), Annabel Lim (#8), Vinodini (#4), Tan Bao Fang (#12), Leow Lin Kai (#19), Joanne Tay (#3), Jeannie Ong (#22), Ng Shi Yuan (#23), Mew Hui Ying (#1), Wan Nur Shafika (#31)

Raffles Institution:
Delise Yang (#27), Eunice Ching (#7), Lai Su Lyn (#74), Ong Ruici (#67), Tan Juanmin (#17), Vimilyn Wijedasa (#26), Vanessa Lim (#12), Yeo Yun Hui (#9), Shaina Neo (#1), Rebecca Tan (#11), Jolene Sum (#47), Zann Tay (#25), Koh Qi Ying (#5), Julia Sng (#10), Emily Loh (#13), Nishishanti Wijedasa (#31), Julia G Andres (#37), Nicole Nee (#21)

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