HIL: SG Pipers come from behind to beat JSW Soorma Hockey Club 3-1 in Women’s Hockey India League

The first quarter saw an intense end-to-end battle, with the teams trading early attacks and testing each other in a fast-paced start. Soorma struck first when Squibb – who missed a penalty stroke in the defeat to Ranchi Royals on Friday – converted a penalty corner to give her team the lead. SG Pipers responded immediately, maintaining attacking pressure and earning consecutive penalty corners. Their persistence finally paid off on the fifth try, with Riera converting it to restore parity, as the first quarter ended level at 1–1.

In the second quarter, Pipers pushed Soorma onto the back foot with sustained attacking pressure, earning an early penalty corner that was not converted. The breakthrough soon followed, however, as junior India captain Jyoti positioned herself perfectly in the circle to slot the ball home from close range, finding a steal forced by her Indian teammate Ishika to put the Pipers ahead.

The remainder of the quarter was played at a brisk pace, with both teams creating chances. Soorma came close to restoring parity through a penalty corner and a one-on-one chance for Sonam, but on both occasions Pipers’ goalkeeper Cristina Cosentino produced excellent saves to maintain her side’s 2-1 half-time lead.

Pipers started the third quarter aggressively and created a number of promising chances, but failed to convert. Determined to maintain their slim lead, Pipers started the fourth and final quarter in impressive fashion, repeatedly testing Soorma’s defense and applying sustained pressure to deny them an equalizer. With ten minutes remaining, Soorma opted to replace the goalkeeper with an extra outfield player in search of a breakthrough, but the move backfired as Sunelita produced a brilliant solo run before firing into the empty net to seal a 3–1 win for the Pipers.