Belfius EuroHockey Championships
Women’s Pool A: Netherlands 14 (C van Maasakker 2, K Jonker 2, E de Goede 2, L Welten 2, M Veen 2, L Stam, M Keetels, M van Geffen, F Matla) Russia 0
The Netherlands comfortably got the win they needed to cruise into the semi-finals with their first win in Pool A of the women’s competition.
It followed two draws but they never looked like losing this one, taking the lead just 19 seconds into the game and they went on to enjoy their evening in the Antwerp sun.
Eva de Goede was the player to set the ball rolling when she scored a penalty stroke after the first attack of the game hit a Russian body on the line.
Lauren Stam added the second on the quarter-time hooter from a penalty corner, ending a spell of healthy resistance, particularly from goalkeeper Victoriia Aleksandrina who made a glut of great stops.
De Goede extended the lead with a wonderful reverse-stick shot for 3-0 before Caia van Maasakker added a corner flick. Marloes Keetels netted a corner rebound in the 24th minute to complete the first half scoring at 5-0.
Three more came in the third quarter via van Maasakker, Marijn Veen and Kelly Jonker for an 8-0 lead. And the Dutch kept forcing the issue in the closing quarter with Lidewij Welten scoring twice in quick succession. Margot van Geffen scored one and set up three more for Jonker, Veen and Frederique Matla.
Player of the match Margot van Geffen was delighted her side found their scoring mojo after the two draws.
“The first two games were tight; we had a lot of opportunities to score and we didn’t but today we did so that’s a good feeling. We have just been trying to keep positive with each other. We know we can do it if we are positive.”
Umpires: A Keogh (IRL), C Wright (WAL)
Netherlands – Russia
1’ Eva de Goede (PS) 1-0
15’ Lauren Stam (PC) 2-0
17’ Eva de Goede (FG) 3-0
19’ Caia van Maasakker (PC) 4-0
24’ Marloes Keetels (PC) 5-0
34’ Caia van Maasakker (PC) 6-0
37’ Marijn Veen (FG) 7-0
43’ Kelly Jonker (FG) 8-0
47’ Lidewij Welten (FG) 9-0
49’ Lidewij Welten (FG) 10-0
51’ Margot van Geffen (FG) 11-0
52’ Kelly Jonker (FG) 12-0
54’ Marijn Veen (FG) 13-0
58’ Frederique Matla (FG) 14-0