UCLan Ladies 2nd hockey team earned a hard fought and well deserved 5-2 victory against Cardiff University in the BUSA Championship final to become British University champions.
The win capped off a great season for the team and left their unbeaten record untarnished. Captain, Alison Shepherd spoke after the match: “The formation today worked really well, we won through brilliant determination and great friendship and I’m really going to miss being part of the team.”
The win has also placed them as the best team in the BUSA rankings, the first of four hockey teams to make it in to the top 10.
The first goal fell to Emma Nokes who hit the ball with a reverse stick from the top of the D to put the Northern 4A winners ahead. However, the joy was short lived when Cardiff quickly equalised. Both teams had some good chances with Karen Harvey missing a shot just wide of the post.
Natalie Dodson soon put UCLan ahead after slipping the ball just past the keeper. UCLan took the impetus in the second half putting immediate pressure on the Welsh university. The pressure soon paid off when a great solo run from Nokes ended up with a goal from Nicola Laga.
Cardiff seemed to be unable to stem the flow from UCLan and soon let in a fourth goal after a pass from Karen Harvey was finished off by Shepherd, making the victory seem inevitable.
The Welsh side managed to regroup to push forward and put some pressure on to UCLan but were caught by surprise on the counter attack. A short corner was awarded to the northern university after Harvey was tripped in the D. A well worked attacked lead to a goal from player of the match Nokes.
A defensive short corner lead to a consolation goal for Cardiff after the ball was taken on the rebound and put in to the back of the goal.
There was a worry in the final moments for UCLan when defender Hannah Trainor had to go off the pitch after she was hit above the eye with a stick. The pain however was soon replaced with joy after the whistle went and UCLan became British champions.
Shepherd said after the match: “As a whole team we work so well because we’re such good friends and the freshers that have joined have been so supportive.”
