Pegasus flounder as run of wins comes to halt
PEGASUS have relinquished their position at the top of the EY Irish Hockey League table after Loreto ended their four-match winning streak with a 2-0 victory at the Dub yesterday.
Goals from Ireland World Cup silver medallists Hannah Matthews and Ali Meeke helped them take over at the summit on goal difference.
Matthews broke the deadlock in the ninth minute from her team’s first penalty corner, firing home from close range after being left unmarked from a switch.
Pegasus ’keeper Megan Todd was forced into a trio of saves from Sarah Clarke, Matthews and Meeke and at the other end Stephanie Thompson’s shot was well saved by Liz Murphy and then the Loreto goalkeeper made a brilliant point-blank stop from Lucy McKee in the 62nd minute.
But then Meeke drove in Loreto’s second goal from a direct shot three minutes later to seal the deal.
Elsewhere, Belfast Harlequins picked up a valuable point in their quest for a top four place as they fought out a 1-1 draw with UCD in Dublin.
Irish international Zoe Wilson scored the opener from the penalty spot and then was unlucky to see her shot crash off the woodwork late in the game after Ellen Curran’s equaliser.
Ards remain in relegation trouble after falling to a 2-1 defeat against Old Alex at Londonderry Park, leaving them with a solitary point from their five matches.
The Leinster side led 2-0 after the first quarter before Caroline Adams pulled one back with her side’s first goal of the season.
In the second-tier all-Ireland competition, Queen’s were made to work hard for their third successive win as they defeated Trinity 3-2 yesterday at the Dub.
They trailed to a first half penalty stroke but then hit a purple patch as they moved 3-1 up after goals from Emily McStea, Beth Ravey and Tori Hastings.
But the Dublin students pulled a goal back through a brilliantly struck Erica Markey penalty corner nine minutes from the end.
At domestic level Ulster Premier champions Lurgan made it four wins from four to move to within three points of leaders Lisnagarvey after a 5-0 win over Ballymena on Saturday.
The champions also have the benefit of two games in hand over the Hillsborough side, who had a day off.
Emma Lindsay hit two of the goals with the others coming from Sarah McClure, Olivia Gibson and Charlene Stewart.
Ballymoney are a point ahead of Lurgan but have played two games more as they chalked up a 2-0 away win over Randalstown with goals from Katharine Minihan and Lucy Millar.
Mossley secured their first win with a 2-1 victory over Rainey, with goals from Karen Dixon and then Kathryn Lorimer.
In the only other top-flight game, Ulster Elks continued their revival with a 2-1 win over Banbridge, with goals from Judithe Allen and Bronwyn Kretzmann and Paula Haugh replying. EY Irish Hockey League: Ards 1 ( C Adams) Old Alex 2 (H McDermott, A Connery); Pegasus 0 Loreto 2 (H Matthews, A Meeke); Railway Union 1 Cork Harlequins 3; Pembroke 2 Muckross 1; UCD 1 (E Curran) Belfast Harlequins 1( Z Wilson)
IHL 2: Dungannon 1 (K Elliott) Monkstown 5;
Queen’s 3 (E McStea, B Ravey, T Hastings) Trinity 2 (S Campbell, E Markey); UCC 4 Greenfields 1
Ulster Premier League: Banbridge 1 (P Haugh) Ulster Elks 2 (J Allen, B Kretzmann); Lurgan 5 (O Gibson, E Lindsay 2, S McClure, C Stewart); Mossley 2 (K Dixon, K Lorimer) Rainey 1(B Scott); Randalstown 0 Ballymoney 2 (K Minihan, L Millar)
Senior One: Armagh 1 (E Mackey) CI (L Mercer, S Houston); Club KV 4 (J Orr 2, L Kelly, L McClay) Portadown 0; Omagh 4 (E Shortt 3, L Long) North Down 2 (L Brown 2); Raphoe 6 (W Patterson 3, L Smyth, V Wray, S Barnett) Coleraine 2 (H Tweedie, C McNickle); Priorians 2 (S Cole, E Allen) Castle (K Luney).