Gilly Okumu of Scorpion team of Strathmore University at Citypark. ON 30/07/14 PHOTO: JENIPHER WACHIE

Strathmore University Scorpions thrashed Sharkia Ladies of Egypt 5-0 in their opening match of the Africa Hockey Cup championships here at the Khumalo Stadium in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

The students' side, who are eyeing their first-ever continental title, dominated the entire match and could have scored more goals, but became complacent in the final delivery to miss several chances.

Head coach Meshack Senge told Feverpitch the girls deserved the win as they had worked very hard to earn it.

"The pitch was new to them but they played well. We will up our game for a more convincing victory in our next encounter," he said.

Strathmore will play Ghana Revenue Authority tomorrow.

Scorpions started the match in high spirits, attacking and pinning the Egyptians in their own half. Gilly Okumu put Sharkia goalkeeper Elshahat Aya to the test in the ninth minute but she was a up to the task. The Kenyan girls continued with the attacks but failed to break the Egyptian defence for the better part of the match.

Pauline Amutebi came close to giving the students their first goal in the 13th minute but the shot went wide.

Luck still favoured the Egyptians as Scorpions' Laura Gichau beat the entire Sharkia defence but shot straight to Aya, who cleared it easily in the 17th minute.

However, there was no stopping last tournaments' top scorer Yvonne Wanjiku, who broke the deadlock in the 28th minute to give the students the lead. Okumu added a second in the 35th minute to give Scorpions a 2-0 advantage by the breather.

Doreen Barasa put her name on the score sheet in the 41st minute, making it three for the students. Caroline Njuguna (63rd minute) and Lucy Wanjiku (69th minute) also scored.


 

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