In a nail-biting finale that went down to the wire, SG Pipers were crowned the champions of the second edition of the Women's Hockey India League on Saturday. The title was decided in a dramatic penalty shoot-out at the packed Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astro Turf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi, where the Pipers triumphed 3-2 over the Bengal Tigers after the match ended 1-1 in regulation time.
Solanki's Shoot-Out Heroics Seal the Title
The match, like the two previous encounters between these sides in the league, was destined for a shoot-out. This time, however, the script had a different ending. Indian goalkeeper Bansari Solanki became the unlikely hero for SG Pipers, putting on a stellar performance during the tie-breaker. Solanki, who was brought on specifically for the shoot-outs, made three crucial saves, including denying a penalty stroke from the Tigers' Agustina Gorzelany.
Speaking after being named the Player of the Match, an emotional Solanki credited her team's collective spirit. "It could have been only possible because of the team and the belief that we had in each other," she said. The young goalkeeper revealed she was mentally prepared for the high-pressure situation. "I was mentally prepared because it was pre-planned that I would be going in if the match went into the shoot-outs. I learnt from my past mistakes, and I just tried focussing on what my job is," Solanki added.
A Tense Battle in Regulation Time
The path to the shoot-out was fraught with tension and missed opportunities. The Bengal Tigers drew first blood just one minute into the first quarter. A move initiated by Sushila Chanu was brilliantly finished by Lalremsiami, who evaded a defender and slotted the ball past Pipers' goalkeeper Cristina Cosentino.
Buoyed by the early goal, the Tigers dominated proceedings, creating a wave of attacks and earning penalty corners. However, they failed to extend their lead. Cosentino, the Pipers' first-choice keeper, was formidable during regulation time, making a series of outstanding saves. She denied Gorzelany twice from penalty corners and later pulled off three successive blocks against Vandana Katariya, Noor de Baat, and Victoria Manuele.
The Dramatic Equalizer and Final Triumph
The Pipers' persistence finally paid off in the fourth quarter. With just seven minutes and twenty seconds left on the clock, Preeti Dubey scored the crucial equalizer. Her shot took a massive deflection off Jennifer Rizzo's stick and looped into the net, setting the stage for a grandstand finish.
In the shoot-out, Solanki's heroics were complemented by successful conversions from Navneet Kaur, Juana Castellaro, and Lola Riera for the Pipers. This victory was particularly sweet for SG Pipers, who had lost the two previous league shoot-outs against the same opponents. On the night that mattered most, they held their nerve to lift the coveted Women's Hockey India League trophy, sparking wild celebrations in Ranchi.
