Hockey India League 2025-26 Points Table: Updated Women's HIL standings on January 2

Ranchi Royals won their second successive match of the Hockey India League while engaging in an intense tactical battle against Soorma Hockey Club to emerge winners with a 2-0 scoreline on Friday (December 2). Rutuja Pisal, who thrilled fans with her scintillating performance last season, continued to excel for the Hockey India League debutants.

Sakshi Rana set the galleries alight with a spectacular effort from open play late in the game, even as Madhuri Kindo and Bichu Devi stood tall in goal.

Penny Squibb failed to convert from the spot after Soorma HC earned a penalty stroke in the second quarter. Jude Menezes' team remain winless in the ongoing edition of the Hockey India League.

In search of their opening goal of the competition, Soorma HC went on the offensive in the opening minute. Agustina Albertario's entry into the Soorma circle, however, looked a lot more threatening and purposeful.

Olivia Shannon was unable to find Baljeet Kaur in the vicinity of the Royals' goal in the third minute. At the other end, Maria Jose-Granatto picked out Mumtaz Khan in the seventh minute but the Indian striker was well-marked.

Soorma HC earned a penalty corner for interference in play in the 11th minute, but Penny Squibb's drag flick was run down by Lucina van der Heyde.

Soorma HC ended up with 10 circle penetrations at the end of the opening quarter as opposed to the Royals, who managed just half that number.

Mumtaz Khan managed to direct a deft deflection goalwards off a pass from Jimena Cedres, but Madhuri Kindo in goal pulled off a great save in the 18th minute.

Ishika Chaudhary indulged in a clumsy infringement, having pushed Maria-Jose Granatto in the attacking circle. Although the video umpire awarded a penalty corner for the offence in the 24th minute, on-field umpire Rachel Williams advised her Indian counterpart on the pitch, Rama Potnis, to upgrade the corner to a penalty stroke.

Penny Squibb, however, failed to beat Madhuri Kindo from the spot, much to the dismay of the Soorma camp.

A penalty corner awarded to Soorma HC for a Royals' defender continuing to wear a mask after a short corner routine also did not materialise, with Madhuri Kindo stopping Penny Squibbs' drag flick in the 26th minute.

Rutuja Pisal scored a spectacular diving goal from open play off a cross from Agostino Alonso in the 30th minute, deflecting the ball into the back of the net with an outstretched stick.

Olivia Shannon's tomahawk from a narrow angle was stopped by Bichu Devi in goal, who used her kickers to good effect in the 33rd minute.

Maria Ortiz struck the post with the Soorma HC goalkeeper Savita Punia in no position to stop the shot after Neha Goyal had set up a great move in the 37th minute.

Sakshi Rana then manufactured a stunning, powerful drag-flick-style lofted snapshot from open play to double the lead for Ranchi Royals in the 54th minute.

Soorma HC took Savita Punia off immediately after, but failed to make the most of a penalty corner at the death, thus continuing to languish at the bottom of the Hockey India League points table.

Hockey India League: Updated Points Table Women's League Phase (Friday, January 2)

Hockey India League 2024-25: Women's League Fixtures (Saturday, January 3)

SG Pipers vs Soorma Hockey Club, 5:00 pm IST (Jaipal Singh Stadium, Ranchi)

Edited by Subhashish Majumdar