University White started the new premier women's club season off on the right foot with a tough 1-0 win over Momona A on Saturday.
The teams started off evenly matched, each spending an equal amount of time in the other's half.
University's Tori Vao was on form and consistently used her strength to power the ball out of the students' half, while defenders on both sides kept the ball from reaching the circle.
A convenient penalty corner for University allowed Kelly Dempster to score the first goal of the season on her second shot, after the first was deflected.
Forward Courtney Ross supplemented the Momona front line well but Momona was unsuccessful in its attempt to score an equaliser.
In the minutes before halftime, Erana Tamati was given a green card, which is new this season, leaving the University team a player short.
The back and forth from both teams resumed after halftime. Both earned penalty corners, and neither managed to convert.
University's defence took a hit after the students were handed a second green card, which left them without Vao for two minutes.
It was still not enough to help Momona, which failed to find the goal it needed.
In the other premier women's matches, City Highlanders (against University Blue) and Taieri A (against St Hilda's) each had 4-0 wins.
By James Hall.
