Hockey India League 2025-26 Points Table: Updated Women's HIL standings on December 29

The second match of the ongoing Hockey India League witnessed a close and absorbing contest with the Shrachi Bengal Tigers edging Soorma Hockey Club 1-0 in Ranchi on Monday (December 29). Agustina Gorzelany fired the Bengal Tigers into the lead with a powerful drag flick midway through the opening quarter on a nippy evening at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Stadium.

Soorma Hockey Club failed to execute the many penalty corners that came their way, opting for elaborate routines which failed to come off, while Lalremsiami took a barrage of body blows to run down the direct drag-flicks.

Gorzelany and fellow Argentinian Valentina Raposo also thwarted a barrage of attacks from Soorma HC, even as Jennifer Rizzo in goal was solid as ever on the day.

The Bengal Tigers had the better of the early exchanges in their opening Hockey India League game.

Sosha Benninga manufactured a penalty corner following a sizzling attack in the 11th minute. Agustina Gorzelany opened the scoring with a lethal low drag flick directed to the left of the goalkeeper.

Shihori Oikawa tried an indirect when Soorma earned a penalty corner in the 14th minute, but was unable to find Maria Jose-Granatto, who was lurking near the goalpost.

The Bengal Tigers kept their feet on the pedal early in the second quarter, but it was Sooma HC who were awarded a penalty corner in the 19th minute.

Manuela Vilar's drag flick and ensuing re-award were run down by Lalremsiami while goalkeeper Jennifer Rizzo stopped the third follow-up corner.

Vaishnavi Phalke had a golden chance to surge ahead in the 27th minute with the Bengal defence caught napping in the attacking third. An overlapping Maria Jose-Granatto did well to sprint with the ball into the circle but was forced sideways by Lalremsiami, who defended stoutly with a grounded stick.

The ball struck Gorzelany's foot in the circle in the 32nd minute, which was confirmed by the video umpire. Soorma went for a variation via the resultant penalty corner, with the ball played back to Salima Tete, who had taken the push. The Soorma skipper, though, was unable to make contact.

Soorma HC earned another penalty corner for a stick tackle in the 36th minute. Lalremsiami copped a blow yet again, stopping Penny Squibb's drag-flick before Jude Menezes' team opted to go in for an indirect without success.

Sosha Benninga was in the thick of things again with a lightning counterattack in the 38th minute, but Valentina Raposo's drag flick was run down. Agustina Gorzelany's monster drag flick off the re-award missed the target by a whisker.

Noor de Baat's thundering shot from close range was padded away by Savita Punia in the 39th minute. The Indian veteran, who is making a comeback in the Hockey India League after a six-month injury-induced hiatus, was sharp as ever under the bar.

Maria Granatto showed off her 3D skills while also racing past two Tigers' defenders, but Baljeet Kaur was unable to pick up the cross in the 57th minute which pretty much summed up the night for Soorma HC.

Delhi SG Pipers continue to lead the Hockey India League points table owing to a better goal difference.

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Hockey India League: Updated Points Table Women's League Phase (Monday, December 29)

Hockey India League 2024-25: Women's League Fixtures (Tuesday, December 30)

Ranchi Royals vs Shrachi Bengal Tigers, 7:30 pm IST (Jaipal Singh Stadium, Ranchi)

Edited by Subhashish Majumdar