A NEW chapter was etched into the history of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge at Durban Girls’ College on Sunday, March 9, when Maris Stella School hoisted the Durban Central Regional trophy for the first time since the tournament’s inception in 2011.

Stella toppled the reigning champions, Durban Girls’ College in a riveting regional final, disturbing their 100% record at the grand finals since 2011. The College is the only name to appear on the trophy prior to this. “This year was our year!” said Maris Stella director of sports Leanne Miskey. “The game was intense! At full-time, the score sat at 0-0 with our Maris Stella girls having held onto 60% possession throughout the game. This meant a shootout to determine the winner. This is the first time in history that MS has won the regional trophy.”

To achieve this record-breaking historical win, Stella put up a good fight in the final, completely surprising the young college team. The visitors pierced the College circle, showing their intentions with less than a minute on the clock. The College retaliated 80 seconds later with their first attack. They followed up with a ripper of a shot that soared over the crossbar 50 seconds later.

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Stella stood firm, unwavering under the various College surges. College crafted three fantastic short corners but keeper for Maris Stella, Owethu Kunene, commanded her troops superbly, not allowing the ball into the danger zone. During the 25-minute final, play rolled end-to-end with Maris Stella not allowing College their usual flair of aerial dominance and quick-fire passes. At the final whistle, the score was locked in a goalless draw.

“We have made the final before, as some may recall this last year when we made the final and lost 1-0 to Durban Girls College,” said Miskey.

The regional decider moved to the penalty spot with three players from each side having a chance to net victory. Stella was first to go with Rachel McDonald charging into the field and drifting right, drawing Gemma Ropertz out of the College goal, before tapping the ball beyond the looming keeper.

The College’s first chance by Mikeal Russell was stubbed out by a fearless Kunene who went diving into the advances, charging down Russell’s three valiant attempts. Feisty Zezethu Kunene for Maris Stella rolled in, veering right and did not waste any time slotting in her shot beyond Ropertz who was bravely manoeuvring to block the attempt.

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A determined Asanele Zuma charged forward for College, striding towards the keeper, but on the ball umpire, Sonika Buys, blasted the whistle for a retake as Stella snuffed the ball, jamming up the College attack. In her take two, Zuma easily drove the ball around a diving Kunene before neatly slotting in College’s first goal. Last up for Stella, Emily Simpkins charged into the College circle, dragging the ball right and slotting it beyond Ropertz’s gallant swat, netting the third goal for the visitors, to College’s single goal, dethroning the remarkable run of Durban Girls’ College.

Maris Stella School is the second team to earn a place at the grand finals that will take place at St Mary’s D.S.G. in July. The newcomers will meet nine other teams representing schools from around KZN at the conclusion to the challenge. St Mary’s DSG were the first team to secure a spot. All games in the remaining tournaments are live streamed on the SuperSport Schools app.

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