Story by REDintern Iman Hashim. Photos by Chua Kai Yun/Red Sports.

Nureen Farishah (BMSS #11) dribbles the ball on offence. She was the top scorer of the game, bagging 3 points. (Photo 1 © Chua Kai Yun/Red Sports)

Nureen Farishah (BMSS #11) dribbles the ball on offence. She was the top scorer of the game, bagging 3 points. (Photo 1 © Chua Kai Yun/Red Sports)

Hougang Sports Hall, Wednesday, February 17, 2016 — Powerhouses Bukit Merah Secondary (BMSS) proved too good for Holy Innocents’ High School (HIHS) as they triumphed 9–0 in the National B Division Girls Floorball Championships preliminary round.

Bukit Merah, who were 2015’s National 2nd runners-up, have started this season strongly as this was their third straight victory after 8–4 and 12–1 wins over St. Margaret’s Secondary and River Valley High respectively. They have one more preliminary game left but their progress to the second round of the competition is all but assured.

For HIHS, they have concluded all their preliminary round games and have failed to make it to Round 2. They had lost 3–4 and 4–10 to River Valley High and St. Margarets’ respectively, but had a consolatory 13–0 victory over Bishan Park Secondary.

Bukit Merah controlled the game from start to finish, with evidently better passing movement of the ball around court and more polished finishing touches.

Nureen Farishah (BMSS #11) led the scoring with three goals, while Agnes Loh (BMSS #12), Edelyn Grace Embile (BMSS #20) and Tan Wan Ni (BMSS #10) all chipped in with two goals each.

A strong start by Bukit Merah saw them race to a two-goal lead in the first 5 minutes of the game, with Agnes and Wan Ni the scorers. Eight minutes in, Holy Innocents’ Valerie Peh (#5) incurred a two-minute penalty for a foul and Bukit Merah took advantage of the power-play situation by adding another goal half a minute later, through Edelyn.

After Wan Ni had made it 4–0 five minutes into Period 2, Nureen began opening her scoring account with a smashing rebound after the HIHS goalkeeper had saved an earlier effort. She added another with a long-range drag shot before Agnes made it 7–0 with a shot that went through the goalkeeper’s legs.

The third period was more conservative with the goals drying up a little, until Nureen finally completed her hat-trick five minutes from time with a cool finish after receiving a cross from the left.

With nine seconds left on the clock, Edelyn compounded HIHS’ misery further by burying Bukit Merah’s ninth goal of the game after a scramble in the D.

While HIHS have ended their season, Bukit Merah will aim to complete their preliminary round with a 100 percent win record as they meet Bishan Park Secondary on Monday, February 22 at Hougang Sports Hall.

Score By Period
BMSS vs HIHS
1st Period: 3–0
2nd Period: 4–0 (7–0)
3rd Period: 2–0 (9–0)

Top Scorer
BMSS
Nureen Farishah (#11) — 3 goals

BMSS Roster
Abygael Attirmidzi Koh (#7), Agnes Loh (#12), Angel Thong (#3), Berdan Jerylou Concepcion (#21), Cheryl Tan (#28), Edelyn Grace Embile (#20), Fatin Athirah (#5), Jessica Chua (#16), Lim Hui Min (#17), Nureen Farishah (#11), Nurul Shahirah (#6), Nurul Syafiqah (#24), Siti Mariam (#8), Tan Wan Ni (#10)

HIHS Roster
Charmane Ang (#9), Eunice Neo (#83), Jenna Lau (#4), Kellyann Tan (#23), Lau Jia Xuan (#7), Liauw Yue Ting (#88), Cheryl Low (#37), Nahda Bte Mohd Said (#24), Ng Jia Yi (#16), Sammi Tay (#99), Jolynn Seah (#1), Kelly Sum (#17), Tang Hwee Ling (#2), Jermaine Tay (#11), Valerie Peh (#5), Yasmeen Nawwarah (#15)

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