Women vs UCL - 13/01/2020

BLWP 13 - 11 UCL

First match of 2020 started with a strong team of 12 queens. UCL have never been an easy opponent but we were ready and up for the fight!

This was a game where we were all in sync, and putting our formations to use! The first quarter started strong, maybe a little too strong with three of our players getting fouls… and not the usual suspects! We used the adrenaline streaming through our veins to make a nice strong arc and score 2 goals from pit by our pit beasts Chloe and Leah. This is the first time we’ve managed to get both of these women together in one match this year – and boy was it exciting! No nonsense in pit.
Olivia made easy work of the game, always finding clear spaces and breaking free from her defender and scoring in the first quarter.

UCL fought back hard making us work for every goal, and scoring 2 them selves – we ended the first quarter 4-2 to Barts.

Coach James gave us a great pep talk in the break and with our new found BBE (Big Barts Energy) we stormed into the next quarter. We were neck and neck with UCL, but with a man up we got into a stunning 4 2 formation (we are just as surprised as you), and Leah scored a beauty. Our polish pocket rocket moved into pit during this quarter, showing UCL what she’s made of and scoring whilst under great pressure. Their goalie even tried to help us out by taking the ball into the goal themselves, thanks UCL- we owe you one.
UCL had some big shots and break throughs and despite best efforts to defend we ended that quarter Barts 7- 5 UCL.

We had to get serious now, we felt like we could take the win but needed to nail the next two quarters. We felt some of our organisation get looser during the previous quarter so tried to reset and slow down the game so we can work together effectively.

Next quarter emma and charis on the wings made it easy to get the ball up the pool so Annie and ania could work together as well as the Chuckle brothers “from me to you from me to you” until the shot was clear – Annie scored 1 and Ania scored 2 this quarter. Team work really is the dream work.
We ended third quarter with Barts 10 – 9 UCL, we absolutely did not like how close the score was.

It was go time, now or never. Olivia won a brutal toss up (and possible a black eye), giving us the advantage we needed for Grace to set up a beautiful goal, executed by Ania
UCL matched us scored a goal on a counter attack that we weren’t ready for, but we weren’t giving up that easy! The girls worked well together and supporte one another allowing me to be free to take a shot at goal. After another frustrating UCL goal, Olivia made another stunning swim and popped in another goal!

After a strong, and very tense game – we won with a final score of 13-11.
Top points to take away from the match:
1. VAR-Ivan made a great debut to water polo, and was fair to both sides
2. Toss vs UCL are an indication for CT head
3. Shadwell needs to invest in heating it’s shower water

Goals:
​Imogen de Trafford - 2
Annie Mae Wright - 1
Ania Wosniak - 4
Chloe Warrener - 1
Olivia Knowles - 2
Leah Bekedam - 3