Pegasus stretched their lead at the head of the women’s EY Hockey League to four points as they struck three times in the second half to beat Old Alex.
In a great contest between former internationals Alex Speers and Lisa Jacob, Alex had the first major chance but missed a stroke.
As such, it remained scoreless until Shirley McCay whizzed in a corner in the second half and the game was made safe when Taite Doherty and Speers struck late on.
Chasers Loreto lost more ground when Rachel Johnston scored twice in the closing stage to earn Belfast Harlequins a 3-3 draw at Deramore Park.
Loreto looked to be in great shape when they led 3-1 courtesy of two Sarah Torrans goals and one from Sarah Clarke before Johnston guided home a couple of corner goals.
At the bottom, there was also a big shake-up as Ards won their first game of the women’s EYHL season, Harriet Platt striking twice to overturn Aisling Naughton’s sixth minute opening goal. The 2-1 success sees Ards move four points clear of Muckross in the automatic relegation spot.
Muckross, for their part, succumbed to the in-form Cork Harlequins who landed their fifth away win of the season so far. They left it late with Rebecca Barry making it 2-1 in the last 10 minutes from Yvonne O’Byrne’s cross.
It was a reverse of their roles in the opening goal which Rachel Cuddy countered almost immediately to make it 1-1 at half-time. The win gives Cork Harlequins an extra buffer to Pembroke in fifth, four points now the gap for the last Champions Trophy place.
Bethany Barr’s first official goal for UCD saw them win 2-1 at Railway Union. The win means they can draw level with Loreto in second should they win on Thursday against the Beaufort side.
Pegasus, meanwhile, face Belfast Harlequins on Wednesday in another back match that could see the former go seven points clear.
In EYHL2, Trinity and Queen’s confirmed their place in the final four of the competition with wins over UCC (3-0) and Corinthian (2-1), respectively.
The hotly anticipated meeting of Catholic Institute and Monkstown fell foul of a water-logged pitch in Limerick while Lurgan beat Dungannon 5-2.
Women’s EY Hockey League: Belfast Harlequins 3 (R Johnston 2, Z Wilson) Loreto 3 (S Torrans 2, S Clarke); Muckross 1 (R Cuddy) Cork Harlequins 2 (Y O’Byrne, R Barry); Old Alexandra 0 Pegasus 3 (S McCay, T Doherty, A Speers); Pembroke Wanderers 1 (A Naughton) Ards 2 (H Platt 2); Railway Union 1 (K Lloyd) UCD 2 (A Russell, B Barr)
EYHL 2, Pool 1: Queens University 2 (J McMaster 2) Corinthian 1 (N Torrans); UCC 0 Trinity 3 (A Long 2, E Markey)
Pool 2: Lurgan 5 (J-A Reid 2, O Gibson 2, L Wright) Dungannon 2 (K Elliott, E Greenway)
Postponed: Catholic Institute v Monkstown – waterlogged pitch
