06:04:2015, Bilthoven: The fairtytale ending that the hosts had dreamed of since the day they offered to host the EuroHockey Club Champions Cup came to fruition as Maike STÖCKEL slotted home her second shoot out in sudden death and SCHC keeper Floortje ENGELS kept Vera VORSTENBOSCH out to claim the title of EuroHockey Club Champions 2015.
The Final – ‘sHertogenbocsh v SCHC
Escorted by the kids from their respective clubs the players were led out onto the field for one last time this weekend, this time for the Final. The electric feeling of something special in the air reverberated around a completely packed out Bilthoven ground.
The game opened in high tempo mode as the two best teams at the Tournament battled it out for the Cup. Lidewij WELTEN for Den Bosch was the first forward to penetrate the opposition circle and her strike in the 3rd minute was just wide of the post.
Roos Drost for SCHC forced a corner for the home side in the §th minute and with her first attempt of the day Caia van Massakkker was on target, a ripping bottom left drag flick, putting the home side ahead 1-0 6th. She followed up 2 minutes later with an unbelievable strike again from a PC, this time into the top left corner, the hosts were ahead 0-2. The hosts continued to dominate the first quarter with Den Bosch uncharacteristically losing possession in the midfield. The score remained 0-2 at the end of the quarter.
Den Bosch began their fight back immediately into the second quarter and earned a PC, with Paumen on strike. But an believable stick save from SCHC’s keeper Floortje ENGELS , the score remained 0-2 in favour of the hosts. Den Bosch determined to get on the scoresheet before halftime pilled on the pressure and again won a PC in the 20th minute, this time a variation which fell to Maartje Krekelaar to slot home.
Both teams exchanged further PC’s just before the half, neither converting, Paumen saving Den Bosch from going 1-3 down as she batted the ball away off the line and Engels matching her earlier save to ensure Den Bosch didn’t equalise.
The third quarter saw little action as both teams slowed the game down, held more midfield possession and didn’t create any real scoring chances.
The final quarter was the best of the game and as both teams saw glory before them, the pace was simply stunning. Each player matched her opponent for skill, pace and determination. Roos Drost was causing havoc with the Den Bosch defense, weaving in and out and trying to push through to at least force another PC. As the clock ticked down, Den Bosch went on the hunt for the equaliser, for the final 4 minutes the hosts were forced to defend, their sublime skill holding off wave after wave of the classy ladies from Den Bosch. Chances were exchanged, but ultimately it fell to the majestic Maartje to convert a PC for Den Bosch with just over one minute on the clock.
The game finished 2-2 and ultimately to shootout.
SCHC looked more confident going into the shootout and in the end a 2-3 finish over Den Bosch with Maike STÖCKEL converting her first round and sudden death shoot out and Roos DROST converting hers, they overcame Den Bosch and became EuroHockey Champions for the first time in the history of the Club.
Final Score 2-2 2-3 ASO
‘6 SCHC 13 van MAASAKKER Caia PC
‘9 SCHC 13 van MAASAKKER Caia PC
’21 ‘s Hertogenbosch 22 KREKELAAR Maartje PC
’69 ‘s Hertogenbosch 9 PAUMEN Maartje (C) PC
3rd/4th playoff – earlier in the day Club de Campo produced their best performance of the Tournament to beat Rot Weiss Koln 4-0 and claim the Bronze Medal.
Final Ranking:
1. SCHC (NED) – Champions
2. ‘s Hertogenbosch (NED)
3. Club de Campo de Madrid (ESP)
4. Rot Weiss Koln (GER)
5. Surbiton (ENG)
6. UCD (IRL)
7. Canterbury (ENG)
8. CSP Izmailovo (RUS)
Individual Awards:
Top Goalscorer – Maartje Paumen, Den Bosch
Fair Play – Surbiton
Top Player – Lidewij WELTEN, Den Bosch
Top Goalkeeper – Maria Angeles RUIZ CASTILLO, Club de Campo
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Live Streaming
Semi-Finals and Final Day – http://ehccc2015.com
Live from the table :
http://eurohockey.altiusrt.com
Main photograph: The Champions, SCHC (EHF/Ady Kerry (c))
All photographs: EHF/Ady Kerry (c) – full gallery go to Facebook