After a hard-fought defeat against SG Pipers in the opening fixture, Ranchi Royals secured a dominant comeback against Shrachi Bengal Tigers in the second match of the Women’s Hero Hockey India League (HIL) 2025-26 held at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Astro Turf Stadium in Ranchi. On Tuesday, December 30, Royals defeated Tigers by a convincing win by 5-0. Lucina von der Heyde scored two goals for the Royal, while Sangita Kumari, Hannah Cotter, and Beauty Dungdung added one each.
Royals took control of the game early and kept the pressure on the opponent side with 17 entries into their circle. With that they got a penalty corner and in the 10th minute Hannah Cotter took an attempt on the left flank securing the first for the team. The lead was doubled some minutes later from a corner by Beauty Dungdung who took the rebound from Lucina von der Heyde and Royals were leading by 2-0.
The Tigers, however, struggled to keep up with the opponent attack but its goalkeeper Jennifer Rizzo made some important saves late in the second quarter that prevented any more goals secured by the Royals. After the half-time, the pressure again built up as Lucina made the third goal from close range. In the 44th minute, Sangita Kumari added the fourth after getting assists into the circle.
The Tigers tried their best to find a goal in the last quarter but Royals were dominant and solid in their counter attacks. The Royals then went on to secure the fifth goal in the 57th minute through a penalty corner from Lucina and ended up in a convincing victory of 5-0.
Royals attack and defense was the highlight of the match, while Tigers underwent the difficulty to score a goal and lost the game in the process.
Ranchi Royals Women’s Squad
Madhuri Kindo, Bichu Devi, Lalthantluangi, Nikki Pradhan, Ishika Chaudhary, Neha Goyal, Nandini, Albela Toppo, Beauty Dung Dung, Sakshi Rana, Deepika Soreng, Sangita Kumari, Rutuja Pisal, Maria Elias (Argentina), Lucina Heyde (Argenrina), Sabine Plonissen (Netherlands), Paula Ortiz (Argentina), Agostina Alonso (Argentina), Agustina Albertario (Argentina), Hannah Corter (New Zealand)
Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers Women’s Squad
Aditi Maheshwari, Gurjit Kaur, Puja Sahoo, Mahima Choudhary, Monika, Manisha Chauhan, Sushila Chanu, Purnima Yadav, Sukhveer Kaur, Anjali Gautam, Lalrinpuii, Lalremsiami, Vandana Katariya, Jennifer Rizzo (USA), Agustina Gorzelany (Argentina), Valentina Raposo (Argentina), Noor de Baat (Netherlands), Emma Findlay (New Zealand), Victoria Manuele (Argentina), Sosha Benninga (Netherlands)
