Women’s EuroHockey Indoor Club Cup (Swarzędz, Poland)
Waterloo Ducks and Mannheimer HC have already pinned down semi-final spots from the EuroHockey Indoor Club Cup in Swarzędz.
In Pool B, Den Bosch are in pole position but there are plenty of permutations that can play out on day two of the competition.
** Each game is available to watch live and on demand on www.eurohockeytv.org
Morning session
Pool A
France De Mot’s hat trick helped Waterloo Ducks defeat reigning champions MSC Sumchanka 4-2 and get their bid for a first ever semi-final up and running in the best possible style.
A close first half ended 1-1 before De Mo’s double put the Belgians ahead 3-1 in Q3; Daphné Gose made it 4-1 before Karyna Leonova got her second of the game, getting the Ukraine side a losing bonus point.
Mannahimer HC shook off the challenge of host club UKS Swarek Swarzędz 6-2 with an impressive showing, neatly winning each half 3-1. Hannah Reichert, Jette Bantow and Clara Roth built a three-goal lead before Maria Drozda got a historic first European indoor goal for the Polish side before half-time, finishing off at the back post.
Zuzanna Rubacha’s superb high corner second phase shot cut the gap to 4-2 for a time but Roth’s second and one from Anna Wellhöfer gave MHC a strong win.
Pool B
Den Bosch got the ball rolling with a 5-2 win over Slavia Prague as they won a tactical battle. Captain Imme van der Hoek got the Dutch side the lead with the only goal of the first half after her side missed out from a string of corners.
Natálie Hájková, meanwhile, nailed a low set piece shot for 1-1 in Q3 but the Den Bosch response was immediate with Elke Brinkman slotting in and then Mila Pol made it 3-1.
A missed Slavia stroke was compounded by Brinkman scoring her second from a corner; Hájokva pulled one back but they missed out on a losing bonus point when Teuntje de Wit smartly finished from the right boards into an open net.
Begoña Garcia’s 37th minute earned Club de Campo a 2-1 victory over East Grinstead on their return to the Club Cup after six years away.
After a scoreless first half, Lucia Abajo gave the Spanish champions the lead but Julia Balcerzak snapped up a corner chance from the injector’s spot to level the game.
Evening session
Pool A
Mannheimer HC fought back from 3-1 down to land an important 4-3 win over MSC Sumchanka, making it two wins for the Germans and two defeats for the Ukranians.
Karyna Leonova’s first half trick had Sumchanka in great shape but quickfire third quarter goals from Clara Roth, Hannah Godenschwege and Anissa Korth quickly turned the complexion of the game in Mannheim’s favour.
Waterloo Ducks finished the day with a second successive victory as they defeated UKS Swarek Szwarzędz 9-3, a result which confirmed the Belgian club go through alongside Mannheim.
Daphné Gose scored four in the first three quarters to put them well on their way and while the Polish side delighted their home crowd with a couple of late goals, the Ducks already have a semi-final spot to their name.
Pool B
Biba Mills showed her immense goalscoring talent to a new audience as she struck five times for East Grinstead in their 5-3 win over Slavia Prague. She got the first three strikes with a corner, a stroke – which she was fouled for – and from free play for a 3-0 lead.
Matilda Woodhead of East Grinstead makes a save. Picture: Frank Uijlenbroek/World Sport Pics
The Czechs fought back to make it 3-3 but Mills made it 4-3 with just over a minute to go. Slavia had a stroke to level it but missed out on the chance and Mills rubbed salt in the wound with hers and EG’s fifth in the dying seconds.
Elke Brinkman’s single goal in the 34th minute earned Den Bosch their second victory of the day as they beat Club de Campo 1-0. It moves the Dutch to the brink of the semi-finals, needing a draw to assure their passage to the final four.
