By Rebekah Yew (27S05A) and Victoria Khoo Miin-Hsuen (27A01A)
All photos courtesy of Radhakrishnan Sujitha (27S03E) and Tang Lishan (27A01A) from the Raffles Art and Photographic Society (RAPS)
After a fiercely contested match against Victoria Junior College (VJC), RI emerged victorious in a dramatic shootout, reclaiming the national title for the first time in over a decade.
Just weeks earlier, the same team had suffered a 3-0 defeat to VJC during the round robin stage. For many, the result reinforced VJC’s reputation as one of the strongest teams in the A Division competition. For RI, however, this temporary loss offered direction.
Traditionally, RI’s Hockey (Girls) team does not often find itself competing in the NSG final. But rather than discouraging the team, this reality became a source of determination.
“We knew there was a lot of potential for us to go somewhere,” reflected Hockey Captain Danica Goh Le En (26S03A). “Our coach and our teachers had been telling us that, and I think we could see it [for] ourselves too.”
As a developmental sport, hockey is relatively new to many Rafflesian players, with the exception being Direct School Admission (DSA) students. In fact, for most players, this year’s NSG was their first season. With every round robin match, however, the team grew in confidence and cohesion, building the dynamic that would later define their victory.
One match in particular stood out.
Against Eunoia Junior College (EJC), the team displayed a level of synergy and discipline that left many players feeling deeply fulfilled. The 2-1 result of the tough fight provided them with a crucial confidence boost, proving without a doubt that their game plans could be executed well against strong opposition. Most importantly, the players had already exceeded their own expectations.
Originally, the team’s goal for this season had simply been to secure a podium finish. By the time RI had won its place in the final, the team had already achieved a significant win.
“There was nothing to lose,” commented Vice-Captain Kristie Lim Xin Yan (26S06A). “I just wanted to play my best and put on a good show for everyone who made the effort to come down and watch.”
With the knowledge that their efforts were paying off, preparations intensified. In the lead-up to the final stretch, training sessions became increasingly focused and tactical. Players worked through passing formations, set plays and defensive structures specifically designed for the rematch with VJC. Knowing that a closely contested game could potentially be decided beyond full time, the team also—very presciently—devoted significant time to practising shootouts.
“Our coach is kind of psychic,” Kristie joked. As it turned out, the thorough preparation would prove invaluable. Even the atmosphere of the final itself had been anticipated by their coach, Coach Priscilla. During one training session, speakers blasted at full volume across the pitch, preparing players for the pressure and excitement of competing in front of a large audience.
Guided by Coach Priscilla’s experience, adaptability became one of the team’s greatest strengths.
Troubled Waters
But for all they could prepare for, the weather remained the ultimate wildcard.
Inclement weather before the match had left the pitch partially flooded. Players from both sides slipped repeatedly throughout the game, and the wet pitch demanded tactical adjustments.
“When it rains, the pitch gets flooded, so the ball moves slower,” Kristie explained. “We needed to do more 3D skills and lift the ball.”
Instead of relying on a flatter style of play, the team adapted by playing a more dynamic and aerial game, demonstrating the flexibility they had developed throughout the season. One such example would be #6 Cara’s high, long-range shots, sending the ball towards RI’s goal, almost a full three quarters of the field away.
Despite their efforts, neither side was able to establish a decisive advantage early on.
First Half
The first quarter had begun. The left side of the court was marked by the signature bright yellow of VJC’s jerseys, while RI took their positions on the right side of the court—hawks proudly sprawled over the signature white of their jersey, complete with wings over their shoulder blades.
There, they stood, sticks and all sorts of guards at the ready as they began to hunt. Their prey? The title of champions for 2026 Hockey Girls’ A Division—the first in almost a decade for RI.
Yet, throughout the first 2 quarters, both teams found themselves neck and neck. While VJ had reportedly stronger offence and players, RI remained firm under pressure and held out with ironclad defence, pushing the game to a relentless back and forth.
One particularly difficult hurdle to overcome was the back-to-back penalty corners RI was delegated to block.
A penalty corner (also known as a short corner) is a significant set-piece advantage awarded to the attacking team in field hockey. The defending team has only 4 players to defend their goalpost, while the attacking team can have as many as they want.
Typically, just one penalty corner would already place a team at a marginal disadvantage, while RI was stacked with multiple penalty corners back to back. A four-man wall against a full-out attack, the former of which with no room for any weaknesses.
RI’s goalkeeper, #18 Tanya (26S05A), remarked that morale had definitely been shaken after “very strong and fast shots, which really tested [their] reaction time”.
However, it was soon made clear that this was not enough to sway RI’s resolve to win. Each shot had been successfully blocked, one after another, by the team.
“After stopping their first shot, there was nothing stopping us from doing it over and over again.”
Tanya
With that, the first 2 quarters had ended 0-0.
Third Quarter
With a switch of goalposts, and a beep of the referee’s whistle, the third quarter had begun. Much like the switch of playing sides, a possible turn of the tides was about to emerge as both sides began to pick up the tempo.
For VJC, this game was a chance for them to finally clinch the championship after 2 consecutive years as first runner-ups. But for RI, this game was much more than that: it was a rare occurrence that they were desperate to seize, to prove themselves after almost a decade without bringing home a gold.
Determination seeped into every hit of the ball, every swerve of the players’ sticks, and with every step they took on the field. Each powerful shot was intercepted by an equally formidable block.
By the time the whistle had blown once more, the score remained as stubborn as our players—stuck at 0-0.
Fourth Quarter
Then came the final quarter. With the championship hanging in the balance, both teams began pushing forward aggressively in search of a breakthrough.
With 11 minutes and 5 seconds left in the match, VJ’s #9 weaved past RI’s defenders with unbelievable finesse, a carefully curated skill that blew past all our defences. In a shot that could only be described as “incredible and hard to block” by RI’s goalkeeper, Tanya, VJC managed the first goal of the Hockey Girls’ A Division Final.
Nonetheless, the thunderous roars of VJC’s cheers did nothing to affect the mentality of our players. Continuing to stand strong, Tanya chose to trust in the ability of her teammates and refused to let the one goal affect the rest of her gameplay.
“In hockey, it’s not about preventing the mistakes, but more so how you get back from it.”
Tanya
Time was slipping through their fingers—and yet even with back-to-back penalty corners, and the scores tilted against their favour, RI refused to go down without a fight. Like a candle under a thunderstorm, their passion to win burned as bright as ever.
Each member of the audience watched the last few minutes of the match with bated breath. With the score set at 1-0, it seemed almost impossible for the team to catch up. In any other scenario, most would have given up. Most would have deemed it an impossible feat—meaningless to even try. And yet, our girls continued to hold their heads high. A slight glimpse into their psyche would have displayed their unwavering spirit, where each player was determined to keep going until the whistle finally blew.
“For Raffles Hockey, it’s really mentality over skill. If your mentality is that you really want the ball, or the win, then it will come to you no matter what.”
Sia
True enough, the golden opportunity soon came shining through. At that moment, the penalty corner had given the team a chance—a final ultimatum that would determine the fate of Raffles Hockey’s first finals in almost a decade.
With merely 8 seconds left on the clock, RI’s Center-forward #14 Sia Shetty (27S03I) had managed a pass to #09 Ge Hanyun (26S05B). The past 6 months—of training, of tears, of memories, of trust and bonds forged between teammates—had all led up to this moment. A single defining frame that would make or break it for the team. A pass of maximum precision, followed by a seamless slide of the ball past VJC’s goalkeeper and straight into the opponent’s goalpost, had sealed their fate.
The perfect shot.
In an absolutely surreal moment, the crowd erupted into cheers, roars and cries of elation coming from the stands where the colours of green, black and white were now standing with overwhelming pride.
The score had gone up to 1-1, evenly matched against VJC.
The whistle beeped soon after, signalling the end of the fourth quarter. Our players scrambled towards one another in celebration, with the realisation that their battle had not ended prematurely; that they would continue being able to fight to their right for First Place in a penalty shootout against VJC to conclude this entire season.
A Test of Resolve
When asked to describe this year’s NSG team in a single word, their coach replied without a moment of hesitation: “Resilience.” According to her, it was a quality that had defined the team throughout the season.
“To lose games and meet opponents who are definitely stronger than us—coming here to win was a tall order,” she reflected. “Our girls were able to match up today because they really wanted it.”
With only eight seconds left on the clock, many teams might have accepted defeat. RI did not. Instead, #09 Ge Hanyun (26S05B) scored an equalising buzzer beater that sent the game into shootouts.
“There were only a few seconds left, and they could have just given up. But they didn’t.”
Coach Priscilla
For her, that moment represented something much larger than the game.
The Final Showdown
With cheers roaring from all around the pitch, both teams stepped fully out onto the field. At the front of it all, five players were chosen from each team to put an end to this drawn-out battle.
From RI, players
#21 Clare Zhuang Yu Ming,
#14 Shetty Sia Sandeep,
#2 Kate Lee Ai Yun,
#3 Danica Goh Le En,
and #6 Cara Zhou Zhixuan
From VJC, players #8, #9, #14, #39 and #7.
In a one-on-one contest against the opposing team’s goalkeeper, each player had eight seconds to score. The team with the most goals would walk away with the title of 2026 A-Division Hockey Girls’ Champions.
More than Just a Match
If resilience had a face on finals day, it might well have been Danica’s.
Early in the season, the captain suffered an injury that prevented her from participating in many of the team’s matches. Yet despite being sidelined, she remained a constant presence throughout the season—from attending sessions without fail to helping to train the Year 5 players.
When teammates spoke about her leadership, they consistently pointed not to what she accomplished on the pitch, but to the support she offered off it. A living testament to the resilience espoused by their coach, the captain’s NSG journey mirrored that of the entire team’s. Through setbacks, uncertainty, and disappointment, they continued to show up for each other, working together towards the final match.
Then came the penalty shootout.
For the first time since her injury, Danica stepped onto the pitch in a competitive match.
“I couldn’t stop shaking,” she admitted. “I was really, really scared. If I could only do one thing on the pitch, I wanted it to be something that at least helps the team, you know?”
In many ways, this aptly reflects the uplifting team spirit that had defined the entire season: the commitment to a dream bigger than oneself.
“My coach told me: either I commit 200%, or I don’t commit at all.”
Tanya
During the shootout, RI fielded goal after goal with swift, vigorous shots. Defence-wise, RI goalkeeper Tanya Khandelwal (26S05A) was also a force to be reckoned with, blocking all VJC penalty takers who came her way.
With a final penalty shootout score of 2-0, RI finally secured the coveted NSG championship.
Throughout the countless training sessions and matches, support radiated from every corner of the CCA. Behind every player on the field stood coaches drawing up tactics, teachers offering encouragement, and athletes off the pitch who contributed in any way they could, be it through collecting balls or filling water bottles. Their contributions rarely appeared on the scoresheet, but they were no less important.
If the finals proved anything, it was that a championship is never won by eleven players alone.
Looking Ahead
Though this championship marks the end of an extraordinary season, its lessons will continue long after the celebrations fade.
For Kristie, her message to future batches is short and sweet.
“Trust the process,” she said. “Sometimes you can’t really see the progress you’re making and you can’t really feel it. But other people are noticing it, be it your teammates or your coach.”
“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because we did it.”
Vice-Captain Kristie
Danica offered similarly inspiring words: “It takes a lot to decide that you’re going to invest time and effort into something, especially during JC. But don’t be afraid to chase that dream. When you do something, do it with all your conviction.” This conviction, echoed earlier by Coach Priscilla, ultimately carried the team further than anyone had expected.
Congratulations once again to our Hockey girls on their historic NSG victory! Through teamwork, belief and sheer tenacity, they have not only brought home a title, but also laid the foundation for future batches of Raffles Hockey players to dream even bigger.
NSG SQUAD
#2 Kate Lee Ai Yun (26S03O) (Vice-Captain)
#3 Danica Goh Le En (26S03A) (Captain)
#4 Then Wan Yee (26S05B)
#5 Darshana Ganesan (26S03E)
#6 Cara Zhou Zhixuan (27S03O)
#7 Kristie Lim Xin Yan (26S06A) (Vice-Captain)
#8 Soh Kit-Ann (27S02A)
#9 Ge Hanyun (26S05B)
#10 Ramos, Frances Gabrielle Valencia (27S03O)
#11 Tan Shi Qi Jovie (Chen Shiqi) (26S06T)
#12 Shi Xuanyi, Claire (26S03M)
#13 Megan Heng (Wang Jiaxin) (27S05A)
#14 Shetty Sia Sandeep (27S03I)
#15 Amber Yao Xi Jie (26S06N)
#16 Phua Shi Qi, Shernise (27S06C)
#17 Shamita Balakrishnan (26S03D)
#18 Tanya Khandelwal (26S05A)
#21 Clare Zhuang Yu Ming (26S06F)
#22 Kaylan Lee Jiayi (26S03K)
#28 Tan Wen Ling (26S03Q)
#29 Akshara Suresh (26S03L)
