Smith leads way in rout of LSE

University of East London’s Netball first team powered past the London School of Economics third team at the SportsDock on Wednesday.

UEL started off slowly and made some errant passes, but began to find their rhythm a few minutes into the match.

“I think we had a target [score] in our heads, so we came out all guns blazing,” team captain Shauna Williams-Young said.

“But I don’t think we got it together until the last ten minutes of the first quarter.”

Goal scorer Jaspreet Sagoo and goal attack Stacie Smith divided the offensive workload early on and UEL led 16-0 at the end of the first.

Smith scored just moments into the second quarter to set the tone for an offensive explosion from UEL.

The East Londoners utilized overhead passes to stay a step ahead of a slower LSE squad. By the 19th minute UEL led 27-0, and LSE were struggling to get into their attacking third.

Williams-Young said. “Joyce [Mlambo] is pretty much an all-round player. Our defence is pretty hungry for the ball. We like to hunt down for the ball. We’re hunters.”

The scoring was dominated by Smith for the next five minutes, and then LSE’s goal scorer finally scored a point for the visitors.

But UEL had already built up an insurmountable lead, and when the halftime whistle blew they were up 44-1.

LSE changed their goal scorer in the second half, but UEL continued to have their way in the game, although their scoring slowed slightly.

UEL increased their total to 57 by the end of the third quarter, whilst their opponents added just two more scores to their tally.

LSE also had one score called back because of a three-second shooting violation.

UEL reached 60 points in the 51st minute, and seven minutes later Sagoo hit UEL’s 70th point.

LSE had some of their best chances in the fourth quarter, but only added one point as their goal attack and goal shooter struggled to put the ball in the net.

UEL’s scoring duo had no such difficulties. Smith and Sagoo combined for 73 points, with Smith shooting over 40 goals.

With a final score of 73-4, UEL moved to 5-0 on the season with a goal differential of 192.

Williams-Young attributed UEL’s dominance to experience, and added that she expected the team to stay unbeaten.

“Of course, undefeated all year round,” She said. “Last year we were quite disappointed we didn’t get to go up, so this year we know we need to [win promotion].

“We’ve played teams that are in Division Four and we’ve beaten them. So onwards and upwards.”

UEL will play Imperial College London’s fifth team next Wednesday at 4 pm at the SportsDock. In their first meeting, UEL defeated ICL 41-23 at ICL’s Heston Sports Hall.