IKSU will play in the Women´s Final

IKSU´s skilful players did not let the Tigers surprise them in the Women´s morning semi-final and they won the match with impressive numbers 11-2. IKSU will play in tomorrow´s final starting at 12:00 CET. The final can be followed on Web-TV on sverigewebben.se.

IKSU played with a larger roster than the Tigers as they played with three lines whereas the Tigers played with only two lines for over two periods. Like in the previous matches IKSU had the ball and created good opportunities from the corners in the Tigers defensive zone with accurate passing play.

The Tigers were however not completely without scoring chances as their counter attacks resulted in a couple of scoring opportunities and they could score one goal in the first period, with Ilona Novotná´s goal. 4-1 was the score after 20 minutes.

The Tigers had trouble in keeping up with IKSU´s speed in the second period. Both Martina Söderqvist and Therese Andersson scored already their third goals when IKSU continued to play their convincing game. Anna Wijk was however the player that collected most points with 2+3.

Wijk and Novotna were elected as best players.

The Tigers will play for the bronze at 10:00 CET tomorrow.

Red Ants Rychenberg placed 5th

Rubene could challenge the Red Ants for the first 20 minutes and the Swiss team was only leading with one goal scored by Julia Suter. The Red Ants were far more effective in the latter half of the match and as Fabienne Christina Hofer did not let any ball passed her back the Red Ants could win the match with 7-0.

Suter (0+2), Alexandra Frick (2+0) and Silvana Nötzli (0+2) were the most effective Red Ants players.

Nötzli and Baiba Jurusa were elected as best players.

UHC Dietlikon in the Women´s final

The Swiss champion UHC Dietlikon crushed the Finnish team SC Classic in the Women´s 2nd semi-final. The final score was 12-3 and there was no doubt about the better team. Dietlikon will meet IKSU in the Women´s final tomorrow at 12:00 CET and will get a rematch of last year´s semi-final loss.

UHC Dietlikon played more aggressively throughout the match and was able to obtain the ball control. The Swiss team was also the one setting the tempo in the match, they pressed hard when Classic defenders had the ball and won the ball back many times.

In the first period the numbers were kept equal, Dietlikon had a 2-1 lead in the intermission. The breaking point of the match was however seen in the beginning of the second period, when Dietlikon scored three goals in three minutes and increased the lead to 5-2.

Natalie Stadelmann was the most effective player with 2+2 and also Eliisa Alanko, Cornelia Scott, Violetta Vögeli and Daniela Morf scored two goals. Katriina Saarinen (2+0) and Alanko were awarded as best players of the match.

The Classic coach, Irina Peltola, gave credits to their opponents in Salibandyliiga´s interview:
– Our opponents were ahead of us both in the ball handling skills and in the movement without the ball as their players were not standing still at all. We were waiting and not moving enough when having ball possession, so the match was a good lesson for us.

Men´s 7th place to Jögeva SK Tähe

Estonian Jögeva SK Tähe controlled the match the first two periods and had the lead 2-0 into the second intermission. In the third period Sparkasse increased the tempo and were able to challenge Jögeva better. They managed to reduce Jögeva lead to 4-3 in the last two minutes, but the attempt to tie the match without goalie resulted only in an empty net goal for Jögeva and Jögeva took the 7th place on the Men´s tournament with the result 5-3.

The best players of the match were Martin Karis (1+1) and Thomas Händler (2+0).

Toivoniemi secured SSV´s place in the Men´s Final

The Men´s semi-final was as even and entertaining as expected. SSV had a two goal lead when going into the third period and the Finnish team could hold on to their lead, winning with 5-1, after a brilliant game by Henri Toivoniemi.

Wiler started with three lines, and also SSV started with three offensive lines, but four defenders. Mikael Lax usually playing as defender, played as forward the whole match.

The only goal in the period was scored by SSV´s Saku Lehti, who sneaked from the defenders position to the best scoring sector, and put a one timer in the net. Also Roger Gerber had a great scoring chance as it looked as the net was empty in front of him, but Henri Toivoniemi somehow managed to get the shot.

When SSV was able to open the game  past Wiler´s man cover, this resulted in good scoring opportunities. In the 2nd period Rein Kivi broke loose from the Wiler defence, which resulted in a penalty shot for SSV and Kari-Matti Ratsula did not miss.

Then Santtu Manner increased the lead after a fast counter attack to 3-0.

Wiler – Ersigen did not lack scoring opportunities in the 2nd period, but Toivoniemi remained the last wall. Before the intermission, Patrick Mendelin forced Gerber´s rebound behind Toivoniemi and reduced the SSV lead to 1-3.

Wiler played with two lines the 3rd period, trying to catch SSV, but it was SSV´s Juho Järvinen who somehow could get a ball, bouncing back from the rink, behind Daniel Streit. The last goal was scored into the empty net by Harri Forsten, who collected most points today with 1+2.

Toivoniemi, who made important saves in the match, was elected as SSV´s best player and Gerber was the best player in Wiler-Ersigen.

SSV will play in tomorrow´s final starting at 15:00 CET.

Home team Bulldogs 7th in the Women´s EFC

The Norwegian team Målløs Hurricanes and the Danish Frederikshavn Bulldogs met in the match for 7th place. Neither of the teams had won any match yet in the tournament. The match was very tight from start to finish as the teams were leading in turns in the final period.

Camilla Sorig scored the winning 5-4 goal for the Bulldogs in 57.10.

After this Målløs took a 2 and 5 minutes penalty and the Bulldogs could keep their lead easily.

Mette Fourholt and Elisabeth Torp were elected as best players.

Two finnish teams in the Men´s Final

Tapanilan Erä won against the Latvian Lekrings 9-4  in the Men´s semi-final and secured their first EFC Final place. Erä will meet another Finnish team in the Final, when they will challenge the Finnish champion SSV starting at 15:00 CET.

Tapanilan Erä was the favourite team in the semi-final against Lekrings, but the match did not start easily for them. Lekrings dropped their defence really low and although Erä had the ball possession, they had troubles to pass the tight defence into good scoring sectors.

Jani Helenius scored the first goal to Erä, but in the last minute of the first period Lekrings tied the match with an own goal to 1-1.

The match was decided in the second period, when Erä started to succeed in the scoring. They played sharply the first minutes of the period and scored twice and then Lekrings took two penalties and Erä punished during both of them.

In the third period the game was really physical and five penalties were given. Both teams scored three goals and therefore the final result was 9-4 to Erä.

The most effective player for Erä was Sami Lehtinen, who assisted four goals. Andris Malkavs scored two goals to Lekrings. Jussi Kosola and Lekrings goalkeeper Guntis Budzenieks were awarded as best players of the match.

Men´s 5th place to Vitkovice

Home team Rodovre FC and Czech Vitkovice played for the 5th place in the Men´s tournament.

Vitkovice was the more skilful team on the field and was able to win the match with the result 5-0. The Danish goalkeeper Mike Trolle (in the picture) and Pavel Brus were the best players of the match.