Women's HIL: Pipers top table with win; Soorma knocked out

After failing to score in their first three games, Soorma Hockey Club eventually found the net in their fourth match of the Women’s Hockey League when Penny Squibb converted a penalty corner against SG Pipers in Ranchi on Saturday.Despite that Soorma went on to lose 1-3 and were knocked out of the tournament after their fourth consecutive loss of the tournament. It was quite a tame end to the Soorma campaign after they finished on top of the table in the last edition of the tournament.Meanwhile, the Pipers are on top of the table with three wins in four matches and are well placed to play the final. And on Saturday, they did incredibly well to come from behind and earn the win thanks to the goals from Jyoti Singh, Lola Riera and Sunelita Toppo.Toppo not only scored her second of the tournament but also showed sublime skills against much-experienced players. And she gave credit for that to her captain Nanveet Kaur. “Navneet di knows I have speed, so she always tells me where and how to use my speed, and I just did that,” said the youngster.She also gave credit to coach Sophie Gierts for the way the team has played so far. “When she came initially, she tried to know about the team, how everyone is and made us come together. She spoke about it in the team meetings too,” said Toppo.Earlier, after Squibb put Soorma ahead in the 12th minute, almost immediately Pipers grabbed their first PC of the match. They failed to convert the first few but finally Riera found the target with a thunderous shot into the top of the net in the 13th minute.They didn’t have to wait too long for the second as Jyoti Singh made it 2-1 for the Pipers three minutes into the second quarter.Udita played it to Navneet Kaur on the right and, after a small run down the flanks, she played it into the D towards the goal. It was well blocked by Shihori Oikawa, but she failed to clear it and Jyoti scored from point-blank range.Soorma upped the ante after that and kept creating chances but Pipers goalkeeper Cristina Cosentino, who got the player of the match award, was on the money each time. Of the many saves that she made, the one that stood out was when she denied Sonam from scoring from near the goalmouth.With the goals not coming, Soorma finally pulled away their goalkeeper in the last 10 minutes but still couldn’t get the equaliser and it was Toppo who made a lovely run before scoring the third for the Pipers.