Story by REDintern Siti Rohaniza Muhammad. Photos by Lim Yong Teck and Clara Yuan/Red Sports
Joscelin Kee (#13) of Singapore controls the ball against Hitomi Sugaya (#16) of Japan during the group stage match of the World University Floorball Championship at the OCBC Arena. (Photo 1 © Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports)
OCBC Arena, Wednesday, June 18, 2014 — Hosts Singapore (SIN) defeated Japan (JPN) 6–2 in their final group stage match to top their group at the 6th World University Floorball Championship.
Japan have two experienced national team members. Captain Yui Goto (#3) has been a member of the first lineup since 2011 and Hitomi Sugaya (#16) was a member of the second lineup at the last World Floorball Championship held in Czech Republic. Hitomi Sugaya (JPN #16) was also named the Most Valuable Player at the 2013 Japanese University Floorball Championship.
Both teams entered their last group stage match undefeated after defeating Malaysia in their previous matches.
The first period started off with both teams matching each other in terms of speed and skills. Both keepers made outstanding saves but Singaporean defender, Gracia Sengutuvan (SIN #93), managed to break the deadlock in the 10th minute with a low ground shot that went past the Japanese goalkeeper.
They soon doubled their lead when a free hit from Gracia (SIN #93) in the middle of the court allowed her teammate, Natalia Clara Wee (SIN #19), to score. The first period ended with Singapore leading 2–0.
In the second period, Japan were eager to find their first goal of the match and were more aggressive. Barely minutes into the second period, Japan found their opening goal through their captain, Yui Goto (JPN #3), who was assisted by her fellow national teammate, Hitomi Sugaya (JPN #16). This narrowed the deficit to a single goal.
Japan were hungry to find the equalizer but a momentary lapse in their defense allowed Singapore to capitalize on a free hit from mid-court. This time, a hit from Sharifah Badriyah (SIN #57) allowed Laura Tan (SIN #37) to put the ball confidently into the back of the net.
Singapore soon widened the goal margin through Ong Hui Hui (SIN #51), who scored off an assist from Sri Syafizah (SIN #11). Hui Hui’s goal gave Singapore a 4–1 lead to enter the final period.
The final period saw Japan having more possession of the ball and attempting more shots. Japan relentlessly took shots but most of their efforts were often wide off target. Eventually, Japan’s captain, Yui Goto (JPN #3), scored her team’s second goal from a tight angle.
However, Singapore responded minutes later, when Ong Hui Hui (SIN #51) caught the Japanese off guard and scored a stunner of a goal from almost half court. Her goal gave Singapore a 5–2 lead. With less than a minute on the clock, Ong Hui Hui (SIN #51) assisted Sri Syafizah (SIN #11) to get Singapore’s sixth and final goal.
Singapore’s top scorer, Ong Hui Hui (#51) felt that her team did an amazing job against Japan in their final group stage match. She commented, “The team did a good job especially when Japan fought hard during the last two periods. We fought back just as hard and managed to secure a comfortable win.”
With the win, Singapore topped group B after two wins and they now qualify for the next stage of the tournament and are facing powerhouse, Sweden, in the semi-finals.
Singapore vs Japan
Scoring by Period
1st Period: 2–0
2nd Period: 2–1 (4–1)
3rd Period: 2–1 (6–2)
Top Scorer
Singapore
Ong Hui Hui (#51) – 2 goals
Japan
Yui Goto (#3) – 2 goals
Singapore Roster
Evangeline Poon (#5), Alison Tan (#6), Wynne Tang (#10), Sri Syafizah (#11), Vanessa Lim (#12), Joscelin Kee (#13), Felicia Lim (#15), Natalia Clare Wee (#19), Siti Nur’aini (#24), Cally Lim (#29), Suhaidah Binte Mohd Yusof (#31), Nur Afiqah (#33), Laura Tan (#37), Sam Pei Li (#48), Ong Hui Hui (#51), Sharifah Badriyah (#57), Daphne Lim (#89), Heng Hui-Shan (#91), Gracia Sengutuvan (#93), Fariza Begum (#99)
Japan Roster
Anna Iwasaki (#1), Yui Goto (#3), Koharu Kuroda (#4), Miku Kato (#6), Eri Unosawa (#7), Michika Takahashi (#8), Minami Kikuchi (#9), Kaede Hiashi (#10), Shiori Sato (#11), Mami Sasaki (#12), Ayaka Takura (#13), Kimika Baba (#14), Natsumi Yokota (#15), Hitomi Sugaya (#16), Anna Kurata (#17)
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