It was a competitive final at the Eastgate Memorial Hockey Tournament in Suva on Sunday, as Marist Women successfully defended their title, narrowly defeating Stingers 1-0 in an intense final match.
At halftime, both teams were deadlocked at 0-0, but Marist managed to break the stalemate and score a crucial goal in the second half, which they held on to until the final whistle.
Captain Mona Biukoto acknowledged the pressure of entering the tournament as defending champions and praised her team’s preparation and determination to retain their title.
“The team have been preparing really well, and facing tough competition from teams like Stingers motivated us to push ourselves and defend our title this year,” said Biukoto.
“The three days of competition were tough, but I’m proud of how our team pulled together and fought for the win. It was not easy, but our hard work paid off.”
Despite fielding a younger and less experienced squad, Biukoto expressed pride in their performance and teamwork, giving credit to the coaching staff for their support.
“We had a young team this year, and their hard work and dedication were instrumental in securing the victory.
“I also want to thank our supporters, families, and friends for their unwavering support throughout the tournament.”
In the Men’s grade, Mavericks emerged victorious with a narrow 2-1 win over Stingers.
