The Red Panthers opened their European Championship with a logical victory over Italy. The Belgians played a dominant hockey game, but only in the last quarter did it become a surprise. They didn’t give up chances themselves, and the Panthers scored 6 times. Good for a bit of confidence for tomorrow’s game against Holland.
Objectives:
12′ Michelle Strwick: 1-0
23′ Abe Ray: 2-0
49′ Charlotte Engelbert: 3-0 (SAB)
53′ Emma Bovrez: 4-0
57′ Charlotte Engelbert: 5-0
58′ Stephanie Vanden Bure: 6-0 (SC)
Number 5 versus number 17 in the world. In principle, the Red Panthers were not allowed to get into trouble against Italy.
It didn’t happen, because Italian women immediately crawled into hedgehog pose out of respect. And the Panthers pressed their opponent well, which also gave them the first goal after a good insistence from Michel Strwick.
Belgium dominated the match and chose their moments to save. Good high pressing from White resulted in possession. She handed it to Abe Ray, who scored the laying rest with an untenable streak.
Abe Ray scores 2-0 with power in the goal.
mission accomplished. At least, that’s how it looked in the lackluster third quarter of the Belgians. In it, the Italian women decorated their only chance for a match.
Raoul Ehren, the national team coach, didn’t like it happening and putting everyone on edge. And it paid off, because a penalty goal from Charlotte Engelbert opened the goal tap.
In the scorching end, the Panthers looked for a penalty goal for confidence in tomorrow. First, I worked through a rehearsed number, and finally also with a live blast from Vanden Borre.
Reassure the Belgians, who made an excellent start at the European Championships. Tomorrow the showdown against the big country and the Netherlands awaits you.
Convincing the Red Panthers against Italy.
Ehren: “We were disappointed in the end because we didn’t get to seventh place”
- National team coach Raul Ehren: “I was hoping for that score. After the third quarter it was only 3-0, and then I would hope for more. In the end I’m still disappointed we didn’t finish 7th. But I told the girls I was very satisfied after such a ‘dominant’ one game. I don’t think many teams will win this tournament – with the exception of the Netherlands – by six goals.”
- Stephanie Vandenbourg: “Goals can be decisive at the end of the group stage, so we’re very happy with the performance. We’re growing in the tournament. We know that from experience. So it’s good to start. Tomorrow we have to do everything we can against Holland, because every point counts.”
- Emma Povrez: “At the end it was a challenge. It was always looking up our game a bit. After the first quarter we started playing hockey. In the third quarter we made little mistakes, but that’s also because of the good pressure from Italy.”
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