USIU hit two past Sliders, underline title intentions

United States International University (USIU) women team had a perfect start to the hockey league edging out Sliders 2-0 in their first match of the season played Sunday at the City Park.

The visitors who started the game strongly were in front just after 17 minutes when Maua Veronica sounded the board before Sue Oketch made it 2-0 in the 49th minute.

Though USIU kept pressing for a third goal, the score line remained at 2-0 at the whistle.

USIU’s head coach Willis Okeyo said he was satisfied with the win.

“We did well but we should have had more goals. Sliders is a weak team and we should have done better than that,” said Okeyo, adding that his charges will be challenging for the title as they bid to snatch it from perennial winners Telkom who lead the park with four points having played one game more than USIU.

“We are determined to challenge for the title, Telkom is a good side but we can,” Okeyo told Citizen Digital after the match.

The students are now a point behind the champions and will go top should they win their game in hand, and Okeyo is expecting promising results against debutants Lakers whom they confront in their next assignment.

“This good start should give us the strength going forward, I hope to win the next game,” said Okeyo.

The coach was full of praise for his new signing Okech who scored the second goal and missed a few more chances.

“Sue is a great signing and you could see that in today’s match. She will be a great asset to our team as the season unfolds,” added the tactician.

USIU have been Telkom’s closest challengers in the recent past finishing second three times in the last four years.