Story by Alyssa Almas/Red Sports. Photos by REDintern Clara Lau.
Phylicia Tanandika (EJC #8) drives the ball towards goal. (Photo 1 © Clara Lau/REDintern)
Sengkang Hockey Pitch, Monday, 29 April, 2019 — Eunoia Junior College (EJC) head to their second consecutive final of the National A Division Girls’ Hockey Championship after a 4-0 win over Raffles Institution (RI) in the semi-finals. Heading into the final, EJC are looking to snatch the championship title that they narrowly lost to Victoria Junior College (VJC) last year.
Speaking after the match, EJC team captain Valerie Koh (EJC #17) said: “Although we didn’t start off the way we wanted to, we picked ourselves up and ended off the match really well.”
The match started off strong, with EJC setting the pace, dominating most of possession and attacking well. EJC had a few chances to take the lead in the first quarter, but none of the chances were able to be converted.
In the the 11th minute of the first quarter, Christine Teo (EJC #4) almost helped her side take the lead with a strong shot taken inside the D. However, her shot hit the crossbar, ensuring the score still stood at 0-0.
The score in the second quarter went up to 1-0, with a goal from EJC by Phylicia Tanandika (EJC #8) in the second minute of the second quarter.
Dribbling through the middle under pressure from the RI defense, Phylicia still managed to get a shot away, sending her effort into the bottom right corner of goal.
Just six minutes later, EJC doubled the score with a goal by Yeo Ker Yi (EJC #1). With the RI defense beaten, the ball rolled under the RI keeper, Sammi Lim (RI #1). Running forward, Christine Teo (EJC #4) hit the ball towards the goal, with Ker Yi hitting the ball in front of goal to ensure it went in.
Just a minute before half-time, EJC scored their third goal of the match via Toh Shihui (EJC #14).
Intercepting a pass by the RI defense, Shihui demonstrated skill and control as she beat past the RI keeper to slot the ball into goal.
At this point, RI had adopted a more defensive position, staying in their own half.
Just 10 minutes into the third quarter, the lightning alert came on — sending the players packing, as the game was to be postponed to the next day.
With time to make a comeback, RI team captain Natalie Law (RI #31) said: “We were already down 3-0 but I told my team that if they already thought that we had lost the game even with 20 mins left, we will no doubt lose the next day. I wanted them to play with a fresh mindset and to believe, never give up and really focus. Because no matter the result, if we have given our all, that’s really all that matters.”
The next day, with the rest of the game played out, the final score stood at 4-0, with a goal coming from Chan Wei Lin (EJC #6).
Thankful to be able to head to the final, Valerie (EJC #17) said: “I’m really proud of what we’ve achieved so far, it wasn’t always easy, but now we’ve got one final game to go. I have so much faith in this team — we can do this. Let’s enjoy our last match together and make ourselves and everyone proud!”
Going into the 3rd/4th placing match, Natalie (RI #31) said: “We have trained hard and it’s been unfortunate that we were up against a really strong team in the semis, but the match on Thursday is our very last game and our very last chance to give it our all. Focus, fight hard and most importantly, have fun. I truly believe that we can do this. Let’s end on a high note!”
With this year marking only their third year of conception as a school, the EJC team make it two finals appearances in a row. They are set to face VJC again on Friday in a rematch of last year’s final. RI will now face St. Andrew’s Junior College in the 3rd/4th placing match on Thursday, with both games held at 3pm at Sengkang Hockey Pitch.
Score by quarter
EJC vs RI
1st quarter: 0-0
2nd quarter: 3-0 (3-0)
3rd quarter: 0-0 (3-0)
4th quarter: 1-0 (4-0)
Scorers
EJC
Yeo Ker Yi (#1) — 1 goal
Chan Wei Lin (#6) — 1 goal
Phylicia Tanandika (#8) — 1 goal
Toh Shihui (#14) — 1 goal
EJC roster
Yeo Ker Yi (#1), Haajar B Arman (#2), Deborah Lee (#3), Christine Teo (#4), Chan Wei Lin (#6), Maria Oshige Aska (#7), Phylicia Tanandika (#8), Cindy Liow (#10), Tan Guan Fong (#12), Toh Shihui (#14), Nadia Kuan (#15), Valerie Koh (#17), Alisha Natasha B Hanafi (#18), Audrey Soh (#19), Lee Yan Faye (#20), Shannon Woo (#21), Ong Liyi (#22), Nicol Low (#23), Ng Yan Qing (#28), Sonia Tan (#38)
RI roster
Sammi Lim (#1), Andrea Suki (#4), Charmaine Lee (#5), Clarice Chen (#6), Huang Ming Lei (#7), Tessa Tan (#8), Cathy Yi (#9), Tammy Tan (#10), Lauren Loy (#11), Sarah Tan (#12), Sneha Murali (#14), Zhou Zihan (#16), Joellene Yap (#17), Saravanabavan Varsha (#18), Sharifah Nadia (#24), Hazel Wong (#27), Phua Hui Fen (#28), Natalie Law (#31), Nurul Hasha (#76), Evadne Tanandika (#88)
More photos on next page
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