NTU overcome SIM 15-7 in NUS-GE Water Polo Challenge

Story by REDintern Ng Enna. Photos by Yvonne Yap/Red Sports.

National University Singapore Sports and Recreation Complex, Tuesday, January 12, 2010 - Nanyang Technological University (NTU) registered their third win of the NUS-Great Eastern Water Polo Challenge after overcoming Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) 15-7.

SIM scored the opening goal in an intense first quarter when Kah Heng (#2) sent the ball into the back of the net barely 30 seconds into the game. NTU equalized when Song Loo (#13) tried to score but the ball brushed past Dale’s (#8) hand, and he eventually tapped the ball into the net. Both teams were neck-and-neck at this stage but the quarter ended with NTU leading by a single goal.

NTU stepped up their defence and starting pulling away in the second quarter while SIM seemed to have no reply. NTU broke down SIM's defence with ease and captain Lin Yi Min (#6) scored twice in succession for his team.

Yao Xiang (#5), a key player for NTU who also doubled up as their coach, scored the period’s third goal and his team led 7-3 at the half.

NTU went on another scoring spree in the third quarter as Song Loo scored the first two goals. He then relayed the ball to Dale, who was unable to make a pass due to SIM's tight defence, but instead drove the ball across and into goal before SIM's goalkeeper had a chance to react.

SIM's only goal in the quarter came from Kah Heng, but the good chemistry and calculated passes displayed by NTU allowed them to out-score their opponents 5-1 in the third quarter.

SIM managed a better performance in the final period with Ivan (#5) scoring the opening goal. Tighter defence by SIM saw NTU struggling to score in the opening stages of the quarter. Bud (#3) scored the first point for NTU only three minutes later but Damien (#11) from SIM replied with another goal shortly after.

NTU scored a dramatic final goal when Yao Xiang passed the ball to Desmond (#12) who attempted to score. The ball hit Willy (SIM #3)’s hand but the ball still found its way into the back of SIM's net for a 15-7 NTU victory.

"The game was okay and we're quite happy with our results. We didn't have a good start. They (SIM) scored first but we slowly regained composure and won the game eventually," observed Yi Min, NTU's captain.

When asked whether they felt the pressure of the up-coming matchup against NUS, Yi Min commented, "We don't feel the pressure. The pressure is on them because they are obviously the stronger team and they are supposed to beat us. Of course we're not going into the match thinking we're going to lose. We have a decent chance of beating them."

Quarter by Quarter Scores
NTU vs SIM
1st Q: 4-3
2nd Q: 3-0
3rd Q: 5-1
4th Q: 3-3
Final score: 15-7