Scorpions sting KU in varsities tie

Strathmore floor fellow students to rise to a point from leaders Telkom as USIU-A shoot down Vikings

It was goals galore when Strathmore University and the United States International University-Africa (USIU-A) crushed their opponents as the women’s hockey league entered the second leg on Saturday at the City Park Stadium.

What was expected to be a tight varsity derby turned out to be a one-sided affair when Lilian Aura and Rachel Ousa scored a brace each to spur Strathmore’s Scorpions to an emphatic 6-0 victory over Kenyatta University (KU).

Under-21 international Pauline Naise also run rings around Vikings defenders for a double that saw USIU-A triumph 3-1.

Scorpions’ victory saw them rise to within a point off leaders Telkom Orange with a total 20 points drawn from six wins, two draws and a loss. It was USIU-A’s third win of the season which lifted them three places up to fourth with 10 points.

With all the pistons pumping, Scorpions tore into KU’s systems from the word go, winning a penalty corner that Angela Mayaka floated into KU’s goalmouth.

Aura then calmly stopped the ball for Eva Nkatha to draw the first blood in the fifth minute. Kenyatta weathered the storm but not for long as Scorpions won another penalty corner that Mayaka floated in for Lucy Wanjiku to convert for their second goal in the 14th minute.

Four minutes later, Scorpions staged a lovely build-up from their backline and Nancy Wanjue weaved through to field Aura, who rifled in only for KU’s custodian Marron Chebet to spill the ball back to play. Aura met the loose ball with a fine strike for the first of her brace for a 3-0 lead at intervals.

Ousa would net her brace in the 61st and 67th minutes after cashing on rebounds from long and penalty corners respectively. The unrelenting Scorpion got another penalty corner which Aura placed home to wrap up things. “All our departments clicked besides utilising our penalty corners well,” Aura said.

“We wanted to put the match away and focus on how to toppled Telkom since its possible.”

Anne Webusyi put through Naise, who dribbled past two defenders to score with a back hand in the third minute.

Naise would go for her double another scintillating back hand in the eighth minute after being fielded by Lorraine Nondi, who sliced through from their defence.