Riversdale scored two quick goals in the first 10 minutes against Southern Masters and held onto take the game 2-1.
The Hockey Southland division two game was played at the Gore turf on Saturday.
Coach Sarah Wiegersma said the team made a great start to the game by scoring in the first five minutes.
After a penalty corner was taken, Ruby Taylor (17), near the backline, deflected a pass into the goal.
‘‘They took the Southern girls off guard really ’cause I don’t think they would have been expecting that.’’
Masters fought back to draw even but then at the next penalty corner, Sophie Rutherford found the backboard with a thumping direct hit on goal that eluded defenders.
For the rest of the game Masters could not pull back the deficit.
It was a very pleasing performance against the Southern Masters, one of the top teams in the competition.
‘‘We are really stoked with that,’’ Wiegersma said.
Riversdale’s passing game was working well.
Wiegersma encouraged her players by telling them they were faster than the opposition and advised them to make the ball do the work.
The players also showed ‘‘a bit of confidence and belief in their own abilities’’ against players who were mostly older and more experienced, she said.
She could not single out a player who had played well as it had been a team effort, she said.
