IVP Floorball (Women): NTU beat NUS 3-2 in overtime to clinch championship

Story by Amir Yusof/Red Sports

Singapore Institute of Management, Saturday, February 4, 2012 — Nanyang Technological University (NTU) defeated National University of Singapore (NUS) 3-2 to clinch the Institute-Varsity-Polytechnic (IVP) Women’s Floorball Championship in dramatic fashion.

With the game tied 2-2 at the end of regulation time, NTU’s Wee Jing Feng stepped up to score the winner in the second period of extra time to win the championship for her team.

The match started out tight and physical with both teams struggling to find any sort of rhythm to their play.

With eight minutes to go before the end of the first period, a long and hopeful strike from an NTU player was parried by the NUS goalkeeper only for the ball to fall nicely onto the stick of NTU’s Nursaliza. The forward made no mistake and calmly put NTU in front with a cool finish.

With the first period ending with NTU 1-0 up, NUS came out in the second period intent on finding the equalizer. They did so early on with Farah slicing the ball in after clever play in front of the NUS goal.

The second period was a lot livelier with chances falling to both sides. The NUS #81 had an easy chance to put her team into the lead but her wrist shot in front of goal was palmed away by NTU’s goalkeeper.

With the two sides going into the second break level, the third and final period of regulation time promised to be entertaining.

NUS laid siege on the NTU goal with passes from the wings. However, NTU successfully absorbed the pressure and the long shots by NUS forwards were easily saved and cleared.

Then, from a set piece play, NTU regained the lead. From a free hit 20 metres out, Stephanie Fong smashed the ball accurately into the top corner, to the delight of the NTU bench. As Stephanie celebrated the goal with her teammates and coach, a product of what must be countless repetitions in training, she must have thought it was the winner.

NUS, however, had other ideas. Buoyed by cheerleaders on the sidelines, NUS clinched a dramatic equalizer. Five seconds from the end of regulation time, a shot from an NUS player from the left wing ricocheted off the NTU keeper and was duly tapped in by Nurharilyn.

NUS supporters roared with delight. The score was once again level and without further scoring, it was on to extra time to decide the winner.

The first half of extra time saw both teams reluctant to commit too many players forward. NTU’s Jing Feng, though, continued to look menacing, playing just in front of the NUS goal and causing havoc.

Her persistence finally paid off with the game seemingly headed for a penalty shootout. The accumulating pressure saw the NUS defence crumble and Jing Feng tapped home the championship-winning goal to the delight of her teammates and NTU supporters.

“I was obviously ecstatic to have scored the winner in a tough and balanced game. It was certainly an intense final with the game possibly going either way. I am pleased to have made the difference for my team,” said Jing Feng.

Her coach Alvin Tay was equally happy as he looked back on what has been a tough campaign.

“Despite the disagreements and hiccups we have faced along the way in this season, we thoroughly deserved to win the championship. Despite that, the final was really 50-50 with both sides capable of winning it,” said Mr Tay.

Ms Seah Joo Yee, the coach of NUS, maintained a positive outlook on her team’s overall performance in the season.

“My team are already champions in my eyes. We targeted a semi-final place and playing in the final is an added bonus,” said Ms Seah.

In the match to determine the third/fourth placings, Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) beat the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) 4-3 in an equally tight and dramatic fixture. NYP’s #11 scored the winner in extra time to ensure last year’s runners-up secured a podium finish.

Ed’s note: If you know the names of the players mentioned by their jersey numbers, please do share with us in the comments section and we’ll update the post. Thanks.

IVP Floorball Women’s Championship — fixtures and results