Pro-League: The Danas Narrowly Lose 4-3 to Athletic England Women

FIH Pro League Women: Germany vs. England 3:4 (2:1)

In the FIH Pro League, the Danas met the English selection today, May 4th. In the first of two games at SparkassenPark Mönchengladbach, coach Valentin Altenburg’s team had to admit defeat 3:4 after 60 minutes. The goals for Germany were scored by Hannah Gablac, Nike Lorenz and Sonja Zimmermann. Tessa Howard, Grace Balsdon and twice Darcy Bourne scored for the England.

Already at the beginning of the first quarter there was quickly the first goal chance for Germany. In the third minute, Hannah Gablac played the ball into the circle from the right and found an English foot there. Sonja Zimmermann took the penalty corner for the Danas, but was denied by an Englishwoman who scraped the ball out of the left corner. Germany was the better team in the first half of the first quarter and was always able to earn a place in the district. In the seventh minute, Katharina Kiefer had a great chance, who was only able to steer the ball just over the goal after a Jette Fleschütz cross. It took ten minutes until the Englishwomen fought their way into the first circle. From here on the game tilted a little in favor of the English women. But there were no goals in the first quarter. 

The second quarter was very even with many scoring chances on both sides. In the 19th minute there was the first penalty corner for the English women. But your variant ended up in goal. In the 24th minute there was a curious sequence. Charlotte Stapenhorst got the ball from the left touchline and put it in the circle with an Argentinian backhand. The Englishwomen stopped playing for a short time, convinced that the ball was out. This gave an advantage to Hannah Gablac, who gave the Danas a 1-0 lead. Protest and video evidence from the English could not avert the goal. The next action, however, was a penalty corner for the women from the island. The ball was brought hard towards the goal, where Hanna Granitzki unluckily deflected the ball. 1:1 after 25 minutes. But that should not remain the result of the first half. After a penalty corner by the English women, Jette Fleschütz carried the ball over half the field and found Katharina Kiefer, who was completely free, in the opponent’s circle of shots. With a chance to put the Danas back in the lead, she was fouled and awarded a 7-yard kick for Germany. In the 29th minute, Nike Lorenz routinely converted Germany into a 2:1 half-time lead. 

The second half started without further sampling. England came back from the dressing room wide awake and in the 32nd minute they managed to launch an attack down the right flank. The ball came into the circle and Darcy Bourne was spot on for the 2:2 equaliser. Neither of the two teams was able to pull away clearly as the season progressed. The spectators in the SparkassenPark Mönchengladbach saw goal opportunities on both sides. In the 38th and 40th minute, Laura Saenger had the opportunity to add two penalty corners for the Danas, but was denied both times by the English keeper Miriam Pritchard. At the end of the third quarter there was still a green card for Selin Oruz. However, the Danas didn’t let anything burn when outnumbered and with a 2:2 it went into the last quarter break. 

In the last 15 minutes of play, it took just 34 seconds for England to earn the fifth penalty corner. But Noelle Rother only had to raise her hand and was able to fend it off with ease. But England remained snappy and let the ball run fast. In the 47th minute, Tessa Howard tumbled with Argentina’s backhand and secured England’s first lead of the game – 2-3 to England. Valentin Altenburg’s team was now back to duty and happily played forward. In the 51st minute, Nike Lorenz played off two English players and then took the penalty corner for Danas. Sonja Zimmermann placed the ball hard in the lower left corner. The third equalizer in SparkassenPark Mönchengladbach that day. And the German women also wanted to equalize when comparing the penalty corners. Charlotte Stapenhorst won the fifth penalty corner in the 53rd minute, but the English team defended it. The next four minutes of the game gave both teams the opportunity to breathe a little. However, four minutes from time Darcy Bourne struck again to give England the lead just before the final whistle. The Danas then took goalkeeper Noelle Rother off the field. Despite one field player more, Germany couldn’t create any more chances to score and lost 3:4 to the English team. However, four minutes from time Darcy Bourne struck again to give England the lead just before the final whistle. The Danas then took goalkeeper Noelle Rother off the field. Despite one field player more, Germany couldn’t create any more chances to score and lost 3:4 to the English team. However, four minutes from time Darcy Bourne struck again to give England the lead just before the final whistle. The Danas then took goalkeeper Noelle Rother off the field. Despite one field player more, Germany couldn’t create any more chances to score and lost 3:4 to the English team. 

Comments on the game:

Valentin Altenburg, national coach women:

“We are critical of ourselves because, despite a good improvement in performance in the game, we always made it too easy for England to come into our circle and score goals. Four goals are too many in the course of the game and therefore a deserved defeat. We got better access and control as the game progressed. Also, we played better together. We were able to build up more pressure when the English had possession, but we kept making individual mistakes that cost us the game in the end. The bottom line is we’re unhappy with the performance in the first half and unhappy with the result after 60 minutes.”

Emma Davidsmeyer:

“We are not happy with the game and conceded unnecessary goals. Things looked better in the second half. Still, we need to tick off the game and look to what’s to come.”

Sonja Zimmerman:

“We are definitely not satisfied with the result. We have to get used to it again quickly – from Bundesliga hockey to international hockey. We were too friendly in the duels and didn’t do our job on the defensive. Of course we want to take our revenge in tomorrow’s game.”