Women’s HIL 2025-26: Shrachi Bengal Tigers Defeat SG Pipers 4-3 in Shootout After 3-3 Draw

Ranchi, Jan 2: Shrachi Bengal Tigers held their nerve to beat SG Pipers 4-3 in a dramatic sudden-death shootout in the Women’s Hockey India League (HIL) 2025-26 after regulation time ended 3-3 at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda International Hockey Stadium on Thursday. Lalremsiami’s decisive conversion in sudden death earned the Tigers the crucial bonus point.

Agustina Gorzelany (6’, 18’) and Lalremsiami (11’) scored for the Tigers in regular time, while Lola Riera (10’, 60’) and Sunelita Toppo (59’) found the net for SG Pipers.

The Tigers started aggressively, earning back-to-back penalty corners, with Gorzelany converting the second in the 6th minute. SG Pipers responded quickly, leveling through Riera (10’), only for Lalremsiami (11’) to restore the lead. Gorzelany’s second penalty corner strike in the 18th minute extended the Tigers’ advantage to 3-1 at half-time, despite repeated attacks from the Pipers thwarted by goalkeeper Jennifer Rizzo’s heroics.

The second half saw SG Pipers dominate possession, pressuring the Tigers’ defense relentlessly. Their efforts paid off in the final minutes when Sunelita Toppo (59’) and Lola Riera (60’) scored, completing a remarkable comeback to make it 3-3 and push the contest into a shootout.

The shootout was equally tense, with both teams converting three attempts each, leading to sudden death. Lalremsiami held her composure to score the winning goal, while SG Pipers failed to convert two successive attempts, handing Shrachi Bengal Tigers the thrilling victory.

The win underlined the Tigers’ resilience and highlighted Lalremsiami’s composure under pressure in one of the season’s most exciting encounters.