In the first game of the EuroHockey Indoor Junior Championships Poland were the winners against Turkey, the 2-1 scoreline a fair reflection of a closely fought opening battle. However it is Belarus who top Pool A and Russia in pole position in Pool B after the morning session.
Poland v Turkey
In the first game of the EuroHockey Indoor Junior Championships Poland were the winners against Turkey, the 2-1 scoreline a fair reflection of a closely fought opening battle. Poland opened their scoring via their Captain SLAWINSKA from an excellent penalty corner, a drag flick high into the left corner. Turkey soaked up the pressure in the first half with OYMAK testing the Polish defense forcing a decent save in the 19th minute. Poland earned another corner in the last seconds of the first half, but KUCUKKOC was out fast and the block was sufficient to hold the scoreline to 1-0 at half time. In the second half Turkey had plenty of possession with GULTEKIN and AKIN building up the attack from the back, Poland happy to sit at half court and patiently wait any errors. Turkey won a PC as the ball was caught in the Polish keepers pads, KRUSZYNSKI took the ball off the line and Turkey were deemed to have fouled so the score remained 1-0. In the 37th minute Poland were caught flat footed and static as ÇINAR went on the attack and with a direct shot beat the keeper to bring the game to 1-1. The winner for Poland came in the 39th minute as Turkey were down to 4 with KÜÇÜKKOÇ off the court on a green card. An easy shot for SLAWINSKA in the 39th minute as Turkey had taken their keeper off for the last 2 minutes. This proved to be the winner and Poland take the full 3 points.
Poland v Turkey. Full time score 2-1
POL ‘6 15 SLAWINSKA Paula PC 1-0
TUR ’37 9 ÇINAR Nurhan FG 1-1
POL ’39 15 SLAWINSKA Paula FG 2-1
Belarus v Switzerland
The second game of the opening day was Belarus v Switzerland. Switzerland started the game stronger forcing a penalty corner in the 4th minute and after a second PC was awarded, the Belrussian defense stopped the ball on the line with a foot, earning SUI a stroke. A strike on target but easily saved and Belarus countered immediately and scored with their first attack via EFIMENKOVA. Switzerland equalised in the 10th minute as AEBI took a strike from just inside the circle beating the keeper. Belarus was awarded a stroke in the 18th minute but PAKHANAVA put it wide. 3 attacks and 3 goals just before and just after the half time pushed the scoreline to 4-1 in the 22nd minute and Belarus were really in control of the game. TRÖSCH scored in the 24th minute to reduce the deficit for Switzerland but Belarus were very
much in control of the game and SHTSIN scored here hatrick in the last minute, 6-2 scoreline for Belarus and they take 3 points and top Pool A after the morning session.
Belarus v Switzerland. Full time score 6-2
BLR ‘5 8 SHTSIN Natallia FG 1-0
SUI ’13 7 AEBI Jessica FG 1-1
BLR ’19 9 EFIMENKOVA Xenia FG 2-1
BLR ’20 8 SHTSIN Natallia FG 3-1
BLR ’22 9 EFIMENKOVA Xenia FG 4-1
SUI ’24 15 TRÖSCH Tamara FG 4-2
BLR ’33 6 PAKHANAVA Maryna FG 5-2
BLR ’39 8 SHTSIN Natallia FG 6-2
Czech Republic v Austria
The first game of Pool B and the hosts Czech Republic took on Austria. It was an even game to begin with, the Czech captain VORLOVA playing a strong attacking game out of defence. Czech scored first via KOSTALOVA. But it was Austria who took and sank their chances in the 12th, 15th and 19th minute. Czech with 2 great chances which the failed to convert through BUBELOVA just before the half. A slow start to the second half and neither side looking like scoring. In the 28th minute BUBELOVA had another chance but miraculously saved by the inside off the inside of the keepers foot! Once again VORLOVA attacked down the right and earned Czech a corner. The strike was on target from and the score was brought back to 2-3. The final 10 minutes saw Czech really pushing for the equaliser and earning a corner and then a stroke which VAN RAHDEN (AUT) calmly padded away. In the 36th minute Austria won a PC due to a raised ball in the circle, the clean strike from LAGINJA went high and wide. The score remained 2-3 into the final minutes and CZE took their keeper off, but to no avail as a reverse strike from made it just inside the left post and the final score as 2-4.
Czech Republic v Austria. Full time score 2-4
CZE ‘4 16 KOSTALOVA Monika FG 1-0
AUT ’12 19 PULTAR Marianne FG 1-1
AUT ’15 17 LAGINJA Marta PC 1-2
AUT ’19 24 RUBAS Rafaela FG 1-3
CZE ’29 15 KOLAROVA Anna PC 2-3
AUT ’39 10 LENZINGER Alexandra FG 2-4
Russia v Slovakia
The final game of the opening session was between Russia and Slovakia. Russia dominated the game from the start but it was Slovakia that had the first chance through a PC in the opening minutes but didn’t score. Russia were first on the score sheet in the 6th minute via EROSHINA. Russia doubled their lead in the 8th minute via BORISOVA a skillful dummy that beat the keeper and then she hit home on the reverse. EROSHINA scored again, again in the 8th minute, and with a further strike from BOROSOVA in the 14th minute and once again in the 16th mnute Russia were in command of the game leading 5-0 at half time. EROSHINA showed her class in the second half gliding through the Slovak defense her stick work sublime, this time with an assist to ZELENOVA. Slovakia’s PUCHEROVA broke through twice beating the strong Russian defense but the first time ran out of pitch but was successful in her second attempt pushing the ball easily past the keeper and putting Slovakia on the scoreboard for the first time. EROSHINA put Russia ahead to 7-1 but lack of concentration from the Russians and Slovakia scored again, 7-2 and into the last minutes of the game, when BORISOVA pushed home her 4th goal.
Russia v Slovakia. Full time score 8-2
RUS ‘6 7 EROSHINA Svetlana FG 1-0
RUS ‘8 13 BORISOVA Valeriia FG 2-0
RUS ‘8 7 EROSHINA Svetlana FG 3-0
RUS ’14 13 BORISOVA Valeriia FG 4-0
RUS ’16 13 BORISOVA Valeriia PC 5-0
RUS ’26 8 ZELENOVA Victoria FG 6-0
SVK ’30 8 PUCHEROVA Barbora FG 6-1
RUS ’36 7 EROSHINA Svetlana FG 7-1
SVK ’36 7 ADAMKOVA Katarina FG 7-2
RUS ’40 13 BORISOVA Valeriia FG 8-2
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Main photograph: Belarus number 8 Natallia SHTSIN takes a shot (Frank Uijlenbroek (c))