3 days ago
Momona in day of upsets
It was a day of upsets in the premier women's competition on Saturday, with Momona leading the charge, surprising the previously unbeaten Kings United Royals 3-2, to take the Challenge Shield off their hands.
From the word go, the game was back and forth, Momona intent on walking away with the shield.
Their early pressure went unrewarded though, Kings then able to grow into the game.
The league leaders provided the first real moment of quality, Nina Murphy able to glide through the midfield, before slipping a ball in behind to Sarah Jennings, who tucked it away from close range.
It could have been a killer for Momona, but they responded by going straight back, where Sorrell Shand dropped deep, before driving across three defenders, allowing her to unleash a worldie of a reverse to level things up on quarter time.
Nothing of note happened through the second quarter, the game becoming increasingly cagey.
There was the odd missed chance in the third, but nothing ultimately happened until Millie Calder snuck one into the back of the net, giving Momona a priceless lead.
Things became desperate for Kings, but they duly responded, as McKaela Woodward responded with a goal inside a minute after the restart.
It was short-lived relief though, as with Kings down a player, Louisa Kotkamp was able to bury what ultimately proved to be the winner for Momona with ten minutes to play.
It was a masterclass in game management from the ladies in red, who have once again blown the grade wide open.
The upsets didn't stop there either, as the in-form University Huskies stunned the City Highlanders 2-1.
It was not all pretty for the students, but a penalty corner goal in the second and third quarters gave them enough of a buffer, as they defended stoutly to get over the line to what is a huge victory for their season.
In the day's other game, the Taieri Tigers routed the University Stingrays 4-0, Katie Garrett bagging a well-taken brace.
The Tigers will be hoping this can kick-start a revival to their stumbling season.
In the men's side of things, it was again the James Nicolson show for the Taieri Tuataras, as they escaped with a 3-1 win over the Kings United Cobras.
A scrappy Charles Darling drag flick was enough to fool the Taieri defence early on, and with Taieri struggling, it looked like they would slip to defeat, but a drag flick from Nicolson was followed by a belting strike at the near post, breaking Kings hearts.
With the keeper off, Oliver Battrick completed the comeback by popping it into an empty net.
Elsewhere, a resolute effort from the University Whales was not enough, as they fell 4-2 to the Albany Alligators.
The Gators again just had too much fire power, with usual suspects Jack Cotton and Nic Finlayson doing the damage at the start of the fourth quarter.
The Southland Barbarians won 3-2 in the bottom of the table clash with the University Stingrays.
By Nicholas Friedlander
