Hampstead & Westminster were crowned EuroHockey Club Trophy I Women champions for the second successive year as they edged out Ukraine’s MSC Sumchanka 3-2 in the decider in Vienna.
Saint Germain, meanwhile, produced France’s best finish in a European women’s competition since 2003 when they took bronze with a 1-0 win over hosts AHTC Wien.
For AHTC, they recorded a best finish for an Austrian club since 1996, making it a breakthrough year for them too.
In the group stages, MSC Sumchanka laid down an immediate marker in Pool A with a commanding 4–0 win over SG Amsicora. Goals from Sofiia Basanets, Karyna Leonova, and a brace from Veronika Movchan demonstrated the Ukrainian side’s attacking depth and ruthless finishing.
Saint Ger opened their tournament with a controlled 2–0 win against French rivals Lille, striking early through Gabrielle Verrier and Yohanna L’Hopital, the latter going on to be the event’s top scorer.
Pictures: Edith Fuehring
Sumchanka then delivered one of the pool stage’s key matches, overturning a 2–0 deficit against Saint Germain to win 4–2, powered by a dramatic four-goal penalty-corner surge led by Leonova and Olha Honcharenko, underlining their tournament credentials.
And they duly confirmed their place in Monday’s final when they – once again – had to come back from a goal down to defeat Lille 2-1.
This time, they trailed to a penalty stroke from Maria-Agustina Fernandez-Merlo going into the last 20 minutes before Honcharenko and Valeriia Tyschenko turned things around.
In Pool B, Hampstead & Westminster were imperious. Their opening 4–0 victory over Plzeň-Litice featured goals from Rachel Greenwood, Lauren Hunt, Joie Leigh and Catherine Ledesma.
Hampstead followed up with a clinical 2–0 win over Loreto, converting two penalty strokes via Holly Hunt and captain Esme Burge, before edging hosts AHTC Wien 2–1 thanks to another pair of calmly executed strokes from Hunt and Burge.
For AHTC, Laura Kern – from yet another stroke – against H&W was the vital moment for them as it got them just ahead of Loreto into second place in the group on goals scored, setting up their bronze medal chance.
The Austrian side had earlier drawn with Loreto and defeated TJ Plzeň-Litice to continue their ascent on the European stage.
Runners-up MSC Sumchanka
The final day opened with the 7th/8th playoff, where SG Amsicora edged Plzeň 3–2, with Eleonora Di Mauro and Agustina Raineri on the scoresheet before a late Plzeň comeback fell just short.
Lille claimed fifth place by defeating Loreto 2–1, with penalty-corner goals from Garance Dewerdt and Eloïse Watine proving decisive in a closely fought encounter.
Saint Germain secured bronze with a narrow 1–0 win over AHTC Wien, courtesy of a decisive ninth-minute field goal from tournament top scorer Yohanna Lhopital, her fourth of the event.
The final lived up to expectations as Hampstead & Westminster defeated MSC Sumchanka 3–2 in a game of momentum swings
Hampstead struck first through Olivia Hamilton, converting a sixth-minute penalty corner. Sumchanka responded immediately as Veronika Korobkina finished a swift move in the eighth minute to level the score.
The English side regained control in the third quarter with goals from Tyler Lench and Lauren Hunt (36’), stretching the lead to 3–1.
Sumchanka pushed relentlessly and pulled one back via a late penalty stroke from Olha Honcharenko (39’), but Hampstead’s game management in the closing stages ensured the trophy stayed in London hands.
“We had an incredible weekend hosted by AHTC in Vienna bringing home the Eurohockey Club Trophy yet again!” player of the tournament Holly Hunt said afterwards.
“It was amazing to have so many friends and family members out there watching, and we are all super grateful for the support of the club.”
Player of the tournament: Holly Hunt (Hampstead & Westminster)
Top goalscorer: Yohanna Lhopital (Saint Germain) – 4 goals
Goalkeeper of the tournament: Nadin Lacas (Lille MHC)
Women’s EuroHockey Club Trophy I (Vienna, Austria) – final standings
- Hampstead & Westminster
- MSC Sumchanka
- Saint Germain HC
- AHTC Wien
- Lille MHC
- Loreto HC
- SG Amsicora ASD
- TJ Plzeň Litice
