IVP Floorball (Men): ITE defeat Temasek Poly 3-2 on penalties to emerge champions

Story by Ethan Lou/Red Sports

Republic Polytechnic Sports Complex, Monday, January 24, 2011 — Institute of Technical Education (ITE) won the Institute-Varsity-Polytechnic (IVP) Men’s Floorball Championship after beating Temasek Polytechnic 3-2 on penalties. The game played out to a 1-1 draw at full time.

Game play in the first period was rough as both teams wrestled for dominance. The period was dogged by crashes and falls, but despite the aggressive stance adopted by both teams, none were able to score until well into the second period when Lim Jin Quan (TP #7) gave the match its first goal with an assist from Lin Hejun (TP #21).

However, TP could not keep their lead for long and Rashid (ITE #16) quickly shot in an equalizing goal minutes later. The second period concluded with the score tied at 1-1.

Despite the tough skirmishes and several near-misses in the third period, no goal was let in by either side. The score stagnated at 1-1 and the game soon moved into overtime.

With no scoring in overtime, the game went into penalties. Both teams were even in points until TP captain Faris Rusli (#89) lobbed the ball just a hair’s breath higher than the ITE goal post. That ended up costing TP the match when ITE’s next penalty taker, vice-captain and also national team player, Syazni (#7), sent the ball sailing past TP’s keeper Mohamed Azmeer (#91) and into the net.

Attaining that tough victory, ITE captain Zulkifli Donny was overjoyed, exclaiming: “Just one word – ecstatic. I feel great. I am just so excited. I am so happy for the team. Patience is the key to the game. So when opportunity came, we nailed it and we actually did it, throughout the whole game as a team. No matter what, win or lose, we weren’t expecting anything. We just played as a team.”

ITE coach Jill Quek attributed her team’s victory to their teamwork and control of their emotions during the game.

“It is not so much about winning, but mainly because they were one as a team. Including those that did not get to play … I’m just really amazed that these boys demonstrated self control and sportsmanship. I am just really proud of them, knowing that they are actually really hot tempered.”

She was also quick to give praise to their opponents TP.

“It was an open game, I would say. TP is a strong team, they are very hungry, we played them once and we beat them the first time and they definitely wanted to come back again. They did a good game and that’s why we went all the way for a draw. And then during the extra time, we managed to draw again. But I guess the boys, they are skilled also. So we managed to convert and they were calm enough to do so.”

Reflecting on his winning penalty, Syazni commented: “I felt tense because I missed my penalty against NYP the last game. I made a mistake and I lost the ball. Because of that, we lost that game, but it wakes us up during the semi-final. In the final, I was the last taker, so really, I was under a lot of pressure, so in my mind, I just did it simple, I just went all in.”