Scorpions hold hockey champs Orange

Strathmore Regina Mwangi (l) guards the ball as Vickings Sarah Bonareri when they played at City Park. Strathmore scored 2-0. ON 10/01/16 PHOTO: JENIPHER WACHIE

Champions Telkom Orange rallied from behind to share spoils with rivals Strathmore University Scorpions. Eighteen-time league champions Orange were forced to sweat as they fought from two goals down to salvage a point in their 2-2 stalemate against the students.

Yvonne Karanja ensured her elavated status as Scorpions captain did not go unnoticed as she led her charges from the front scoring a brace to give her side a 2-0 advantage at halftime. Orange scored through Barbara Simiyu and Flavian Situma in the second half.

"I am proud of my girls because their performance today was top-notch. I'm a bit disappointed because we dropped two points. This is a match we should have won,’’ Strathmore coach Meshack Senge said after the match.

Karanja put the Scorpions in the lead seven minutes into play with a converted penalty corner. The goal roused the champions in their hunt for an equaliser. Veteran Jackline Mwangi could have levelled for Orange, but her shot went wide minutes later.

Scorpions will have their goalkeeper Natasha Maria to thank for brilliant saves from goal hungry Orange attackers.

Karanja made it two in the 19th minute as the Scorpions settled in the match.

Orange were not ready to go down easily coming in stronger in the second half with Simiyu pulling a goal back for the champions in the 40th minute. Situma restored parity in the 56th minute.

Maureen Okumu thought she had scored a third goal for Orange but was disallowed.

Orange tactician Josephine Ataro admitted her charges were slow in the first half but blamed their woes on poor officiating.