Storm fights hard in 42 loss to Capital

A DRAW eluded the Southern Storm in the final minutes of its match against Capital last night.

With the score at 22, Jess Chisholm struck in the 57th and 59th minutes to help Capital to a 42 win, keeping the Storm winless at the National Hockey League in Wellington.

It is a scoreline that possibly flatters Capital though, as Southern took off its goalkeeper in order to chase a win after falling behind 32.

Storm coach Tina BellKake was pleased with the performance.

‘‘The girls fought really hard. It was a good contest,’’ BellKake said.

‘‘Capital had 17 penalty corners in the game, so our girls defended really well from their PCs.’’

After Lydia Velzian put Capital up 10 in the ninth minute, Maddi McLean struck back in the 11th for the Storm.

She received the ball at the top of the circle after some good passing through the midfield, finishing with a reverse shot into the top of the net.

Amy Lawton put Capital up 21 two minutes before the end of the second quarter, before Tessa Jopp hit back early in the third with a welltaken penalty corner.

It was tight from that point onwards and Southern withstood a period with 10 players after goalkeeper Ginny Wilson had been yellow carded.

However, Chisholm struck for Capital not long after the Storm was returned to full strength.

Wilson had been one of the outstanding performers for the Storm, as had dominant midfielder Maddi McLean and captain Tessa Jopp.

The defensive duo of Helaina Snell and Aoife Smyth also played well.

The Storm now plays Northern at 1pm tomorrow in its quarterfinal.