After a couple of weeks of outdoor training, we finally got to play our first match on the new hockeyfield. With a complete team, Marcel as our coach and nice weather, we prepared ourselves to play against Luzern. We knew it was going to be a tough game, as we met them for the first round of the Schweizer Cup last year.
We started the match eager to score some goals, but Luzern had a strong start and after 2 minutes it was 0:1 for them. It made us realize how difficult this challenge was going to be. In the first quarter we suffered from their speed which turned into 0:2 after the 13th minute. During the first break we had a quick prep talk and discussed how to organize ourselves better in the field. Though in the second quarter, we more or less struggled with the same. By minute 25 it was 0:3, but Julia got a couple of chances for GC and she converted the first goal. Then just before the half break time we were sanctioned with a penalty. Our goalie, Tilia Schneider who has her first outdoor season as a goalie and has already made big progress, unfortunately couldn't stop the ball. Just afterwards Luzern was able to score again, so we went into break time with 1:5 in favor of Luzern.
During the half break time, we decided to adopt a defensive strategy that could give us some chance of counter attacks while trying to keep a low difference in goals. We started the third quarter with the new strategy in mind and though it definitely is not our favorite strategy to play, it did give us more ball possession and better passes, so that we were able to keep the score. During the last quarter we managed to sneak into Luzern's part of the field a couple of times, but they quickly reacted and counter attacked which let to 3 more goals against us.
The match was over and we were defeated 1:8. In spite of our loss, we would like to thank the great support from Marcel, Josie (goalie) that in spite of being sick did her best to be available for the team and also to the many supporters who came to cheer for us: Hopp GC!!!
After showering we enjoyed a nice pick-nick with some of the players from Luzern and the GC ladies that were not playing but came to support the team. We watched the first men's team almost keeping up with RWW.
The sun, the GC family, nice food and of course the beers helped to leave behind our loss and enjoy this nice environment in which our passion of hockey is the main driver.
Players GC:
Tilia Schneider (GK), Josefine Quack (GK), Nina von Berger, Vanesa Rocha Martin, Anna Denkeler, Tettje Halbertsma, Isabelle Nijman, Mieke Franken,
Luntu Ntloko, Laura Ferster, Mathilde Dupin (C), Nina Van der Veen, Nicole Arlt, Julia Fröschner, Viola Trippe, Charlotte Dahmen, Tanja Melle
Coach: Marcel