Hard-Fought Game, Hope to Reach Finals, Says Kalinga Lancers Goalie Jed Snowden After Shootout Win

Ranchi: Kalinga Lancers goalkeeper Jed Snowden expressed satisfaction after his team’s hard-earned victory over the Hockey India League Governing Council (HIL GC) and said he is hopeful the side can go on to reach the men’s Hockey India League (HIL) final.

Snowden played a decisive role after being brought on for the shootout, guiding the Lancers to a 3-1 win following a 1-1 draw at the end of regulation time in their third match of the tournament on Sunday.

HIL GC had taken the lead through Ajeet Yadav in the 19th minute, before Alexander Hendrickx equalised for the Lancers in the 23rd minute, setting up a tense finish. With neither side able to find a winner in regulation time, the match went into a shootout where Snowden’s composure proved crucial.

Reflecting on the contest, Snowden highlighted the tough conditions and strong competition. “It was a very hard-fought game. It’s a different turf compared to Chennai, so some of the guys struggled a bit with their skills. But we stuck it out right to the very end, and obviously it ended in a draw,” he said.

He added that prior training on the pitch helped him during the shootout. “We trained on the pitch the day before, so coming on for the shootouts, the pitch wasn’t an issue for me. Getting the extra point puts us in a very good position. Hopefully, we can make the finals. We’re on top of the ladder now, so everyone’s very happy.”

After both teams initially missed their first attempts, Snowden and HIL GC goalkeeper James Mazarelo denied the next two shooters. Arthur Van Doren then converted for the Lancers, while Ajeet Yadav missed his attempt, allowing Dilpreet Singh to seal the victory.

Despite the strong start to the campaign, Snowden stressed the importance of staying focused. “It feels good, but we still have a long way to go. There are a lot of good teams left to play, and we want to win as much as we can. Being in this position gives us confidence because we’re playing very well, and we don’t see any reason why we can’t finish on top,” he said.

Snowden also credited the strong team spirit within the Lancers squad. “On and off the field, everyone’s getting along very well, and that’s really important. Understanding each other as players and as people makes it easier to talk about hockey and improve together.”

Commenting on the league as a whole, he said the strength of teams lay in collective performance rather than individual names. “Every team has a lot of high-quality international and Indian players, but what matters more is how well the team plays together, not just who looks better on paper.”

The tournament has also been a unique personal experience for Snowden. “It’s my first time in India and my first time playing with Indian players, which has been amazing. Learning from them and from the Belgian players with their vast experience helps us grow both as a team and individually,” he said.

With the shootout win, Kalinga Lancers moved to the top of the table and remain unbeaten in the tournament. They will face Hyderabad Toofans in their next match on Wednesday.

With inputs from IANS