SA v AC 2 sabrina SA GK (1)

Goalkeeper Sabrina Jaya of SAJC makes a save. (Photo © Muhd Shafeeq Sharif)

PESEB, Thursday, April 30, 2015 – Lightning may have delayed their start time by three hours, but Saint Andrew’s Junior College (SAJC) will claim the final score was worth the wait.

The unseeded Saints booked their place in the National A Division Hockey Championship final after overcoming Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC) 3-2 on penalties.

Goalkeeper Sabrina Jaya was the hero after she saved thrice in the shoot out to help SA win a semi-final for the first time since 2009. The custodian however, was quick to deflect praise on to her teammates.

“Every player did their part and we all fought very hard,” Sabrina said.

Indeed, both sides could not be separated as 70 minutes of regulation and extra time produced a 1-1 draw. The Saints were also keen to ensure lightning did not strike twice after their male counterparts had lost to the same opponents 5-2 the previous day.

Although, there must have been a sense of déjà vu after AC scored a penalty corner to leave the Saints trailing at half time. But SA refused to yield with Claramae Koh deflecting in Ng Chengmun’s goal bound shot to level the scores just three minutes after the break.

With neither side able to make a further breakthrough for the next 37 minutes, the stage was set for Sabrina to be the star as penalty flicks beckoned. And cometh the hour, cometh the man as the number 20 held firm to save AC’s last penalty and set up a showdown with reigning champions Victoria Junior College on May 7.

Despite the win, SA’s Amanda Ng is fully aware of the enormity of the task ahead if she and her team mates are to end VJC’s 12-year stranglehold on the trophy. “It will be a tough fight,” the Vice Captain said. “But we will give it our all to ensure we end our season on a high.”