PRESSURE made champions out of Marist Women and the Stingers men’s hockey teams as the 30th Anniversary Marist Eastgate Memorial Tournament ended in dramatic fashion at the National Hockey Centre in Suva yesterday.
Marist Women survived a tense 2-1 battle against Ventures to claim a 10th consecutive title, while Stingers kept their composure when it mattered most, beating Ventures 4-3 on penalties after the men’s final ended 2-2 in regulation time.
18 teams, including 10 men’s and eight women’s sides, battled across three days for Eastgate honours, but the final day belonged to two teams that refused to buckle under the weight of expectation.
For Marist vice-captain Mona Biukoto, the pressure was unavoidable.
“We had a nine-year legacy going into this game and that’s sort of the pressure that we put on to the girls,” she said.
That legacy was on the line as Marist were pushed all the way by Ventures in a final decided by fine margins.
The drama intensified with an eight-second challenge involving Taila Ah Yuk and Litia Vueta, adding another twist to a final where every moment carried weight.
Marist eventually held their nerve to secure a 10th straight championship, with the emotional release coming immediately after the final whistle as several players broke down in tears.
The men’s final was just as unforgiving.
Stingers had earned their place in the decider by defeating Marist Whites in the semi-final, while Ventures ended defending champions Mavericks’ title defence with their semi-final victory.
Stingers and Ventures then produced a tense final, battling to a 2-2 draw after regulation time and forcing the championship to be decided from the penalty spot.
There, the pressure reached its peak.
Stingers kept their composure to prevail 2-1 in the shootout, sealing a 4-3 overall victory and a championship earned from the penalty spot.
Stingers coach Shaun Corrie said the value of the tournament went beyond the result.
“Success is introducing our developing players to a better standard of playing, educating them and elevating their skills,” he said.
After three days of competition, the anniversary tournament ended with two very different celebrations.
Marist protected a decade of dominance, while Stingers survived the ultimate test of nerve to emerge when the men’s title came down to penalties.
Marist Women mark their victory after securing a 2–1 win over Ventures 2 in the women’s final of the 30th Anniversary Marist Eastgate Memorial Tournament. Picture: ALANA ELBOURNE
