17th May 2018: In the opening day of the EHCC after 4 KO games here in sunny Surbiton the semi-final line up is known.
Not unsurprisingly both Dutch teams have qualified for Saturday’s semis, along with UHC Hamburg who made it by the narrowest of margins (1-0) against their fellow Germans, Mannheimer. The final game of the day the hosts Surbiton fell 2-0 to Club de Campo de Madrid.
Game 1: Mannheimer HC 0 UHC Hamburg 1
The EHCC began under sunny skies in Surbiton with German rivals Mannheimer and Hamburg battling for a semi-final place. In front of a crowd containing several enthusiastic schoolchildren, Hamburg took the honours, Eileen Hoffmann scoring the winner in the twelfth minute with a shot from the right of the circle. Mannheimer had three penalty corner opportunities, but Hamburg defended well, Mannheimer fielding a kicking back with just under six minutes to go in a last ditch attempt to force a shootout.
Mannheimers Florencia Habif challenges with Hamburgs Eileen Hoffmann during their opening game in the Pure StorageEuroHockey Club Cup at Surbiton HC, west London, UK, 17th May 2018Game 2: AH&BC Amsterdam 8 – University College Dublin 0
AH&BC Amsterdam 8 – University College Dublin 0 – A matchup with AH&BC Amsterdam was always going to be a tough test for UCD and so it proved after Kelly Jonker opened the scoring from close range from Amsterdam’s first attack in the first minute. Further goals from Julia Müller, Charlotte Vega and Maria Verschoor gave Amsterdam a 4-0 half time lead. In spite of a battling performance from the Irish side, Vega completed her hat-trick, and Jonker and Verschoor scored their second goals of the match in the second half to set up a semi-final meeting with UHC Hamburg.
Amsterdams Kimberley Thompson challenges with UCDs Lena Tice during their opening game in the Pure StorageEuroHockey Club Cup at Surbiton HC, west London, UK, 17th May 2018Game 3: Den Bosch 5 Victorya Smolevichi 0
Den Bosch 5 Victorya Smolevichi 0 – Victorya, representing Belarus at the EHCC, put together an excellent defensive performance in the first quarter, keeping reigning champions, Den Bosch scoreless. Den Bosch found their form in the second quarter, scoring four goals in eight minutes. Ireen van den Assem broke the deadlock in the 21st minute with Marloes Keetels, Maartje Krekelaar and Margot van Geffen putting Den Bosch in a commanding position at half time. Victorya’s goalkeeper Tatsiana Charei saved a penalty stroke from Sian Keil in the 34th minute with Lieke Hulsen scoring the only goal of the second half.
Den Boschs Frederique Matla challenges with Smolevichis Ryta Batura and Khrystsina Mitskevich during their opening game in the Pure StorageEuroHockey Club Cup at Surbiton HC, west London, UK, 17th May 2018Game 4: Club de Campo de Madrid Surbiton HC
Club De Campo Madrid 2 Surbiton 0 – Hosts Surbiton, hoping to reach the EHCC semi-finals for the second year running were thwarted by Club De Campo Madrid in the last quarter-final of the day. Surbiton fell behind in the tenth minute, Lucia Abajo Saenz De Tejada’s stunning finish entertaining a large crowd. Still trailing at half time, Surbiton had two chances to pull back goals through penalty corners, Maria Ruiz Castillo saving to her right to deny Giselle Ansley from the first. With two minutes remaining, Rebecca Grote showed how to convert a penalty corner to earn Madrid a semi-final showdown with Den Bosch.
Surbiton captain, Sarah Haycroft said, “Campo were clinical and it’s disappointing that we dominated possession but couldn’t finish.” She added, “It’s very special to play in front of our home crowd and it’s amazing that so many people turned up.”
Tomorrow’s EHCC games:
18 May 16:45 UCD v MANNHEIMER
19:00 SMOLEVICHI v SURBITON
19th May – EHCC Semi-Finals:
12:00 AMSTERDAM – UHC HAMBURG
14:15 ‘s HERTOGENBOSCH v CLUB DE CAMPO DE MADRID
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