Story by Teo Yun Teng/Red Sports. Photos by Chua Kai Yun/Red Sports.

Nicole Tan (#5) of Hwa Chong Institution scores a goal for her team. (Photo © Chua Kai Yun/Red Sports)

Nicole Tan (#5) of HCI scores a goal for her team. (Photo 1 © Chua Kai Yun/Red Sports)

OCBC Aquatic Centre, Thursday, April 7, 2016 – Hwa Chong Instituition overcame Anglo Chinese School (Independent) 3-2 in a penalty shootout to finish third in the National A Division Water Polo Championship, after the game was tied 3-3 at full time.

Celine Mark (HCI #9) and Sharon Tay Hui Shan (ACS(I) #5) were the top scorers of the game with two goals each.

The aquatic centre was packed with a large pool of ACS(I) supporters whose voices boomed across the place as they cheered loudly for their team.

Hwa Chong took a 1-0 lead in the first quarter through Celine Mark (HCI #9) after just two minutes into the game.

The second quarter turned out scoreless. There were numerous attempts by both teams but the shots were off target or hit the frame of the goal.

A minute into the third quarter, Sharon Tay (ACS (I) #5) managed to even the score at 1-1 as Hwa Chong could not find a goal in reply in the quarter.

There was no scoring for a long stretch in the final quarter until, with a minute left on the clock, Nicole Tan (HCI #5) managed to thrust the ball into the goal, making it 2-1.

When the situation seemed bleak for ACS(I), Lim Jia Hui (ACS(I) #2) stepped up to score with 27 seconds left to tie it 2-2, sending the ACS(I) supporters wild with excitement.

However, it was HCI that held their nerve to win the penalty shootout 3-2 to secure third place.

Scoring by Quarter
HCI VS ACS (I)
1st Q: 0-1
2nd Q: 0-0 (0-1)
3rd Q: 1-0 (1-1)
4th Q: 1-1 (2-2)
Penalty Shootout: 3-2 (5-4)

Scorers
HCI
Celine Mark (#9) – 1 point
Nicole Tan (#5) – 1 point

Penalty Shootout
Gillian Tan (#4) – 1 point
Beatrice Tan (#8) – 1 point
Celine Mark (#9) – 1 point

ACS(I)
Sharon Tay Hui Shan (#5) – 1 point
Lim Jia Hui (#2) – 1 point

Penalty Shootout
Chow Ee Ning (#4) – 1 point
Sharon Tay Hui Shan (#5) – 1 point

HCI Roster
Victoria Fam (#1), Kimberly Chun (#2), Chew Yuening (#3), Gillian Tan (#4), Nicole Tan (#5), Kho Ying Suen (#6), Wong Yu Kee (#7), Beatrice Tan (#8), Celine Mark (#9), Goh Jia Yi (#10), Yong Li Xuan (#11)

ACS(I) Roster
Er Yue Wen (#1), Lim Jia Hui (#2), Chloe Wong Sixuan (#3), Chow Ee Ning (#4), Sharon Tay Hui Shan (#5), Paige Wei Tong Jia (#6), Sabrina (#7), Nicole (#8), Alicia Loo Yi Hui (#9), Claire Cheong Zha Yi (#10), Hannah Chua (#11), Luo Hee Wen (#12), Chan Wen Shuen (#13)

More photos next page