Women’s HIL 2025-26: Soorma Hockey Club secures first win of season against Ranchi Royals

Jude Menezes, if he were watching Monday’s Women’s Hockey India League game, would be left scratching his head over what Rani Rampal did differently. For the former India captain, having replaced him as interim coach only a day ago, has managed to accomplish what had seemed impossible thus far—getting JSW Soorma Hockey Club its first points on the board in the 2025-26 season with a 2-1 win over Ranchi Royals at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Stadium here.

It took Penny Squibb merely 42 seconds to squeeze the ball between the Royals’ custodian, Bichu Devi Kharibam, and Sabine Plonissen from a short corner. Perhaps a two-minute suspension of Lucina von der Heyde, who would have otherwise been on the defensive battery, helped the already-eliminated team’s cause.

Things went from bad to worse for the Royals, who lost a review in their efforts to check a goal-line save from Squibb.

ALSO READ | Meet Jacob Draper — British hockey star balancing Olympic dreams and a finance career across Amsterdam and London

The fanatic cheering from the stands in the second period seemed to have woken up the home side, lagging 10-2 behind in circle penetrations in the first 15 minutes, from its slumber. The reward eventually came post the half-time break through Agostina Alonso, who rifled a cannonball into the net. A lot of the credit should go to Hannah Cotter, who cut through heavy traffic on the right before linking up with the  Las Leonas midfielder.

The Royals, however, ended up dropping the ball soon when Soorma got awarded a penalty stroke for an unwarranted push inside the circle. Olivia Shannon made no mistake, forcing Bichu Devi the other way.

Soorma threw bodies on the line in the final quarter to ensure the scoreboard wasn’t disturbed further. Its victory may have gotten a party started in the hotel of the SG Pipers, which has now assured itself a berth in Saturday’s grand finale.

Published on Jan 05, 2026