Kovsies surge into women’s hockey final
The University of the Free State (Kovsies) continued their dream run in Varsity Sports events when they sealed a home final in the Varsity Hockey competition with a 3-1 win over University of Stellenbosch (Maties) on Monday night.
PHOTO: AFP
Kovsies will face the University of Johannesburg, who easily beat the University of Pretoria (Pukke) 2-0, in the final on May 18.
Maties made a fast start to the match and kept the pressure on Kovsies, with skipper Erin Hunter taking control. With three minutes left in the first quarter, Kovsies had finally fought back. Ayanda Gans slapped home from close range after a fantastic initial save by Maties’ Nicole Le Fleur. The second quarter started much like the first, but Maties simply could not break through and it was Line Malan who smashed home a short corner to double Kovsies’ lead.
Elsewhere, UJ were in firm control right from the start and were in the lead early on after captain Kaila Flemming slotted home a penalty. Tuks managed to maintain possession but struggled in the final third. The Joburg side nabbed their second goal with just over a minute to go to half-time with a fantastic low backhand shot from striker Lilian du Plessis.
UP-Tuks were given a massive advantage in the fifth minute of the fourth chukka after UJ had two players sent off after green and yellow card offences. With the Pretoria ladies exerting more pressure with their extra players, another UJ player was yellow carded in the eighth minute giving UP-Tuks a golden chance to turn the game on its head. They could not break their opponents defence however, and UJ closed out the game comfortably in the end for the win.
