While the City Highlanders came out on top in the Toast Cup, the rematch was a different story as Momona claimed victory in a shootout.
The game was scoreless until the final quarter with both sides having multiple opportunities to score but unable to capitalise.
The City Highlanders opened the scoring through Georgia Allardice when Momona got mixed up coming out of defence, leaving goalkeeper Danielle Stephenson to defend a two-on-one.
Momona quickly drew level with Ruby Pedersen finding herself in the right place at the right time to find the back of the net.
With the scores still level at fulltime, the game went to a shootout.
City attacked first through Hayley Cox, Billie Crowe and Tessa Jopp but were held scoreless by Momona goalkeeper Danielle Stephenson.
Momona’s first two attackers, Sorell Shand and Millie White, were unable to get past City goalkeeper Isabel Plummer, but Pedersen saved the day for Momona, scoring her shootout to win the game.
The Kings United women started their 2024 campaign on a high with a 3-0 win over the Taieri Tigers.
Kings were in fine form with the flow and structure of the game playing right into their hands.
Bronte Crowe opened the scoring. Madi Lobb and Hannah Cormack wanted in on the action and were also able to get past Taieri goalie Alisha Horne.
The final women’s game between two Otago University teams, the Huskies and the Stingrays, will be played tomorrow.
The Taieri Tuataras began their season on a high with a 1-0 win over the Albany Alligators in the men’s competition.
It was a fast-paced and end-to-end game with each team creating opportunities to score.
Manu Henderson was the only player able to the find the back of the net for the Tuataras, and despite the Alligators’ best efforts, they were unable to equalise.
The Kings United men also made a good start to their campaign with a 7-0 win over the Southland Barbarians.
Sam Gradwell and Daniel Torr each scored twice for Kings, while Nick Casey, James Nation and Ethan Green also grabbed goals.
The Southland Barbarians were unable to get settled into the game and did not have the start to their Otago campaign they anticipated.
The final men’s game between the University Whales and the University Panthers will be played tomorrow.
— Grace Milne
