SOLIHULL Vixens claimed their first victory of the new season with a 3-2 win over Kingston Diamonds.
The game started with frenetic end-to-end play and opportunities being denied by two well set up defensive systems.
At 6.06, Vixens captain Saffron Allen turned the puck over from an attacking Kingston and cut through the opponents to open the home team’s account, a goal which started to finally settle the Vixens who have many new faces.
The lead remained for a little over six minutes when Madison Wright for Kingston made a lovely pass to Clara Ashton who tricked the Vixens netminder Michelle Franklin and levelled the score.
A further eight minutes of close and even battle then took place without score and the first period ended level at 1-1.
The second period started as the first had ended with end-to-end exchanges and penalties starting to be given.
Then at the very end of the period, with Solihull on a powerplay after Beatrice Lester took two minutes for interference, Kingston’s Shannon Jones broke free with the puck and sunk an unassisted lead for the visitors.
The third period seemed to have renewed energy from both sides with Kingston determined to hold their lead and the Solihull ladies desperate to retrieve some points from the game.
This continued for 18 of the 20 minutes left and just as team seemed to be running out for the home side, Allen fed the puck back to Paige Dance on the hashes and she fired an absolute bullet to level the score and put the game on a knife edge.
At 57.32 when the puck was dropped to recommence action, it was clear both sides were looking for the win.
At 58.13, 6ft 4ins GB international and new signing to Solihull, Sarah Hutchinson slid a lovely pass to alternate captain Katie Henry who pulled a magnificent move to feed Allen who planted the puck into the net and secure the first win of the season for the Solihull Vixens.
