Strathmore give defending champions Blazers a hiding

Strathmore University's Gily Okumu (left) collide with DFH Woverines's Goalkeeper Shanice Ayuma during Premier league match at City Park Hockey Stadium on Saturday, March 19, 2022. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Strathmore University Scorpions maintained their perfect start to the season after defeating defending champions Blazers 2-0 in yesterday’s Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) Women’s Premier League match at City Park.

National women’s hockey team forward Gilly Okumu and Maurine Ongoche were on target as the students inflicted the first defeat on the experienced Blazers.

Okumu was also on target last weekend when Strathmore narrowly saw off Dutch Flower Group (DFG) Wolverines 1-0.

The victory, a third for Meshack Senge’s charges, saw Strathmore open a four-point gap at the top of the log.

Strathmore are top with nine points, followed by Blazers and United States International University of Africa (USIU-A) women who have four points each.

Speaking after the match, Strathmore captain Lynne Tamunai said they were not intimidated by the experience of their opponents and believed in themselves and their talent in the win.

“I am a very happy captain. To lead such a wonderful team is a pleasure and honor and this is a result of team work, hard work and unity,” Tamunai told Standard Sports.

“We believed before the match and we did it after the match. Nothing is impossible. How we handle the match from the start was just perfect. This team is talented and will go far.”

Strathmore started the match on the front foot after Ongoche gave them  an early 1-0 lead in the first quarter with a wonderful field goal inside the opening two minutes.

In the second quarter, veteran striker Okumu doubled the lead making matters hard for Blazers. The third and final quarters witnessed no goals as the students held on to register an important win.

“We have started the season well. Three wins in a row is no small feat but we still have a long way to go. Team chemistry is almost perfect and now what we need to do is maintain consistency,” Tamunai added.

Strathmore have now defeated Blazers (2-0), Wolverines (1-0) and Sliders (3-0).

Reigning champions Blazers headed into the match after being held to a 1-1 draw by USIU-A Spartans women’s team.

Meanwhile, bottom placed Sliders will be hoping to turn around their poor start to the new campaign when they take on Amira Sailors.

Sliders are winless in their last three matches. Sliders have lost against Blazers (3-0), USIU-A (2-0) and Strathmore (3-0).

In the men’s league, wounded Greensharks will also be out to redeem themselves when they host Strathmore University men. Greensharks have lost 3-0 consecutively to champions Butali Warriors and Kenya Police.