Youthwave Floorball Tournament 2008

It was a memorable weekend for Frontliners Floorball Club as the ladies defended their title succesfully, and the men achieved a high of fourth place overall in the annual Youthwave Floorball Tournament.

There was no special preparation for this tournament, no target set, as participation here was solely to have fun. Anything else would be a bonus.

Frontliners Revolution

Khor Kuan Yang (c)

Steven Tay

SanJeevan

Por Kai Yann

Joshua Lam

Mekanath Selvaraj

The Revolutionaries, led by Captain Kuan Yang, had been drawn in the so-called 'Group of Death' containing Penang's top teams, Ztec U-18, Innebandy! North and Unihawks Titanium, but started off remarkably with a thrilling 1-0 win over the MetalMen. They went on to lose their second match 1-3 to InneNorth, but bounced back with a close-fought win over Ztec, 1-0, thus finishing runners-up in their group.

In the quarterfinals, they faced Underdawgs Zirconium, champions of their group, and in a heart-stopping encounter won on penalties after it was all square after eight minutes. It was looking unstoppable for them until they bumped into Salibandy in the semifinals, losing narrowly, and lost again in the 3rd-4th placing match to Innebandy.

Frontliners Renegades

Jason Chan (c)

Goekula Kannan

Nareenthiran

Loganathan

The Renegades were forced to play with no substitutes after a late pullout, but managed to defy expectations and reach the quarterfinals. They battled and fought for the entire eight minutes, but Torch Bearers from PCC triumphed 1-0 in their first match. However, they found themselves right back in contention after a convincing 3-0 win over Ztec Rockets, then managed to hold on to a goalless draw against Innebandy! South to enter the quarters.

Their valiant run finally came to an end against Salibandy, but the players were happy enough to just have gone past the group stage.

Frontliners Inferno

Tania Loke (c)

Sonia Frances Gopal

Eunice Tay

Marlina bt. Mat Yusof

Frontliners Inferno, against all odds, and two players short, came to within one point from qualifying for the semifinals. Nothing was expected of this second string side, and when their first game ended in a 1-4 loss to Underdawgs Hailstorm, it was all taken in stride. (The solitary goal was a very nice consolation, scored by Tania past ex-Frontliner Sarah Ng.) They shocked everyone, even themselves, when they beat Ztecaholics by a clear two goals in the next match with goals from Tania (penalty) after some good goalkeeping by Ztecaholic Kao Cui Lin, and Marlina, her first goal ever of her career.

Unlucky to have lost their third match to MGS Violets 0-1, the fatigued and exhausted ladies fought to the end against MGS Edna Modes, the third-placed team overall, and did themselves proud with a one-all draw after tremendous last-gasp defending by Sonia and a stab-in by Marlina.

Frontliners Fury

Kew Pei Li (c)
Sharron Tan
Serene Tan
Koay Yi Lin
Roselyn Ewe
Lavinia Ann Lam

The defending champions (who went by the name Roses last time around) established themselves as the top ladies team this year with four new faces and a new captain. Drawn in the tougher group of the two, the Furies were probably still the favorites to win, and started well with a 2-1 win over MGS Dashes, with goals from Yi Lin and Pei Li (penalty). The next game against Unihawks Thunderstorm was messy and disorganized, as the need for revenge took over for some, remembering the 3v3 challenge earlier this year. The loss of Yi Lin to cramps (what else?) meant the loss of the team's focal point, and they went a goal down soon. They rallied back, and Roselyn scored a neat goal to make it 1-1.

Against Contact Puffs, the Furies came back from one goal down to one-up after Yi Lin and Roselyn combined to score two. And in their final game against Salichicks, they controlled possession and play but did not seem to have that finishing touch, still, 1-0 at the end after great team play by Serene and Yi Lin. A defeat for Unihawks by the Dashes helped the Furies to top spot in their group, with the Dashes going through agonisingly on goal difference.

Up against MGS Edna Modes in the semifinals, they ran riot and came out 3-0 winners, playing one of their best matches so far, with captain Pei Li scoring the first goal solo. Sharron rounded up the game with a thunderbolt from the other end. In the other game, MGS Dashes overcame a weary Hailstorm, and set it up perfectly for a rematch in the final.

"We've played well, but I know we can do better. We've come too far to lose here, so let's go out there and win this for the club."

It was an evenly contested game, but after an unfortunate own-goal gifted the Furies the lead, they never looked back. Another goal by Roselyn meant that it was all over. The final whistle went, and it meant that Frontliners Fury were the champions, once again.

Men:
1st- Torch Bearers
2nd-Salibandy
3rd-Innebandy

Ladies:
1st- Frontliners Fury
2nd-MGS Dashes
3rd-MGS Edna Modes

Congratulations.