UHC Hamburg are Champions of Europe!

25th February 2018: UHC Hamburg are crowned European Champions as a strong performance against Spain’s Club de Campo de Madrid earned then the Title and a 27th title for a German Club side. Impressive when you consider that the tournament is in it’s 28th year!

Final: Club Campo De Madrid v UHC Hamburg

These were the top two sides in Pool A with Hamburg coming out winners 3-1 in the pool match. Could they repeat this or would Madrid reverse the result? Hamburg swept into the Madrid D right from the hooter and Iglesias Marcos scored within the first 30 seconds. It was end to end for the next 5 minutes with Kloevekorn making several fine saves but it was Janne Mueller-Wieland of Hamburg who struck next to make it 2-0 for UHC. Hamburg then began to take control and notched up two more goals before half time. Janne Mueller -Wieland  in the 12^th minute and again in the 13^th minute for her hat trick. Rebecca Grote gave Madrid hope when she converted a penalty corner in the 16 minute. Half-time score – Club Campo De Madrid 1 UHC Hamburg 4.  It was an intensely fought half as Madrid strove to get back in the match and overcome a 3 goal deficit as they had in the semi final v Sumchanka. It wasn’t to be this time as Hamburg score their 5^th in the 35 th minute through Van Bodegom. However Madrid weren’t finished and Perez Lagunas grabbed  their second just a minute later. It was all over though when Micheel’s field goal with just 2 minutes left on the clock made the score 6-2 to Madrid.

Final Score: Club Campo De Madrid 2 UHC Hamburg 6

 

 

3/4^th Play off: MSC Sumchanka v AH&BC Amsterdam

Both sides began playing the same half court system and cancelled each other out for the first 11 minutes and if anything Amsterdam had the better of the play but it was Sumchanka through the prolific Shevchenko who opened the scoring. Amsterdam continued to have more possession and more chances but Stepanchenko in the Sumchanka goal pulled off some great saves. Half time score:  MSC Sumchanka 1 AH&BC Amsterdam 0.  Amsterdam came out with all guns firing for the second half  and struck almost immediately in the 22^nd minute with a Veen penalty corner goal. They  totally dominated Sumchanka  from then on .Sumchanka  defended superbly, Stepanchenko was outstanding with a series of amazing saves. The relentless attacks failed to pay off and Amsterdam took the bold move of bringing on the kicking back in the 38^th minute.Sumchanka were strong and held out. A penalty shoot out featuring Amsterdam for the second time in two days.

Shootout: 

Sumchanka -Shokalenko-Lijding saved 0-0

Amsterdam- Albers – Stepanchenko saved 0-0

Sumchanka -Honcharenko – Lijding saved 0-0

Amsterdam-Vega scored 1-0 Amsterdam

Sumchanka – this is vital for Sumchanka -Kurovska scored – 1-1

Geerlings for Amsterdam had this to win the bronze. She beat the keeper but the ball strikes the post.She collects the rebound and scores!

Amsterdam win 2-1 and take the bronze medal

Final Score: MSC Sumchanka 1 AH&BC Amsterdam 1  2-1(SO) 

Pool C Games:

HC Rotweiss Wettingen v Dundee Wanderers

Wanderers began this game on fire playing a high press game putting the game favourites under pressure. Walti in the Rotweiss goal pulled off a smart early save to thwart Wanderers. However Rotweiss weathered the storm to take the lead through Stephanie Walti in the 10^th minute. This began a steam of goal chances and goals for the Swiss side and just 3 minutes later Bugmann made it 2-0 . Aebi and Triebold scored two more in the 14^th and 15^th minutes. The second half began just the first with furious Wanderers attacks. The question was whther it could be sustained against this excellent Rotweiss team. The answer was yes as the crowd were treated to a display of fast attacking hockey by both sides. There were no goals despite this until the final minute when Aebi got her second, this time from a penalty corner.

Final Score:  HC Rotweiss Wettingen 6 Dundee Wanderers 0

SV Arminen v GHC Ritm Grodno

This was a vital game for Arminen who had to win by an avalanche of goals to stave off relegation. They began by using a half court defence.Grodno on the other hand immediately went to a full court press. Arminen showed their intent by swift attacks and this paid off in the 9^th minute with a Zagajska field goal. Their joy was short lived when Shyntar equalised just 60 seconds later. Arminen then took the bold move of taking off their keeper and playing a kicking back and switching to a full press. However this backfired when Shyntar got her second in the 15^th minute with a top corner flick from a penalty corner. The second half followed exactly the same pattern of Arminen pressing and Grodno defending well and playing on the break. Despite end to end action there were no further goals until 6 minutes from time when Shyntar got her hat trick goal with another superb penalty corner flick. Arminen never gave up the fight but wen the final hooter blew they were relegated along with hosts Dundee Wanderers

Final Score: SV Arminem 3 GHC Ritm Grodno 0

Individual Awards: 

Best Player: Yuliia SHEVCHENKO (Sumchanka)

Best Keeper: Maria RUIZ CASTILLO (Club de Campo de Madrid)

Top Scorers: Katharina OTTE (UHC Hamburg) and Yuliia SHEVCHENKO (Sumchanka) both scored 8 goals.

Final Rankings: 

1. UHC Hamburg (GER) – Champions 
2. Club de Campo de Madrid (ESP)
3. AH&BC Amsterdam (NED)
4. Sumchanka (UKR)
5. GHC Ritm Grodno (BLR)
6. HC Rotweiss Wettingen (SUI)
7. SV Armenin (AUT) Relegated to Club Trophy in 2019
8. Dundee Wanderers (SCO) Relegated to Club Trophy in 2019

All photographs are courtesy of World Sport Pics (c)