Strathmore University coach Meshack Senge has attributed the students' current form in the Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) league to fitness and a change of tact.
Both Gladiators (men) and Scorpions (women) have won all their matches thus far with the latter being fronted as front runners for the title. Scorpions managed 3-0 win over Sliders, edged out Wolverines 1-0 and beat Blazers 2-0 last weekend.
Gladiators, on the other hand, blitzed Greensharks 3-0 on Sunday to mark a flying start to their season.
Scorpions top the women's standings with nine points from three matches and are yet to concede a goal. Gladiators are third in the men's division after one match.
While teams look to be struggling in the early part of the season largely because of inadequate preparations, varsity teams have been busy playing in Kenya University Sports Association (KUSA) games.
"KUSA games are part of the reason why these new-look teams are in good shape. They have played in games even when the league had not started so I am not surprised with the meteoric rise."
He added: "The desire to improve in training makes them the best athletes to work with."
Save for Gilly Okumu, who has been a regular since 2016, 90 percent of the players in the girls team are playing in the top tier for the first time.
Brian Ogenche, Joel Oburu and captain Kim Sitati are the only senior members of the men's squad. Okumu has already scored twice and provided one assist for Scorpions to underline her importance to the side.
In his assessment of the teams, Senge said the players are a work in progress that can only become better by being decisive in the nine-yard area.
He added defensive improvement notwithstanding, teamwork will also make the sides hard to beat should players embrace selflessness.
"The extra work we put in training can be seen but there's a lot to be done. Finishing needs to be worked on because there's no point of creating many opportunities if the forwards cannot finish them off," Senge observed.
"Players should not go for self glory at the expense of the team. Hockey is about teamwork and there is no other route to success," he noted. Strathmore head to Voi for the University Games this weekend.
