Odisha Warriors wins first-ever Women’s Hockey India League title

The 5,000-seater Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Stadium here was packed to the rafters on Sunday to witness history unfold as Odisha Warriors took on JSW Soorma Hockey Club in the summit clash of the inaugural season of the only commercial women’s hockey league in the world.

The teams didn’t disappoint, trading blows in equal measure, but it was eventually Rutuja Pisal who ensured the Warriors got their name engraved on the glitzy Women’s Hockey India League trophy with a thrilling 2-1 win.

Neha Goyal, the winning captain, was the first to find an opening through the left, linking up with Freeke Moes at the baseline. However, the latter was denied by Soorma’s defence.

Soorma’s Charlotte Englebert spent five minutes of the first quarter on the naughty step after clattering into Victoria Sauze. Ishika Chaudhary, looking to take advantage, hovered atop the dotted line but wasn’t able to test Savita Punia.

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In the 13th minute, Neha was in the thick of things again, slithering into the circle before passing the baton to Rutuja Pisal. Maria Verschoor had to jump into action on that occasion to keep the ball out.

However, Rutuja couldn’t be warded off for long. Sauze’s lightning-quick swipe found a lucky deflection off Vaishnavi Phalke’s stick before the 22-year-old lobbed it over Savita.

As the trend this season, Soorma made a meal out of the first penalty corner, but when the second opportunity came about, Penny Squib stepped up to the plate with an angry drive.

Jude Menezes’ girls stepped on the gas in the second half, threatening to break the parity on a couple of occasions. But it was Rutuja who broke the deadlock instead with a brace when Englebert lost possession inside her circle.