4 goals for Norway´s Holm & victories for Switzerland and Russia
It could have been expected that the match between the 6th and 7th ranked teams would have been a tight one, but that was not the case as Norway won the match against Latvia with 8-1. Also Switzerland in the A-division and Russia in the B-division started the tournament with victories.
The first goal scorer in these Championships was Norway´s Susann Biseth, who utilised the space when both teams were equally shorthanded and dribbled through the whole field.
Norway was clearly the stronger team in today´s match and the Latvians had to stop their opponent with wrong methods, which led to penalties and more trouble.
Four goals for Hildegunn Holm
There was no doubt of who the player of the match was. The 17 year old Hildegunn Holm bravely challenged the Latvian defenders and forced herself to the best scoring sector. Holm´s three goals in a row in the 2nd period settled the match for Norway and her 4th she scored in the 3rd period.
The nicest goal of the match was however the last goal scored by Camilla Bergsmark who´s zorro goal was scored from behind the goal. Latvia´s only goal was Indra Bekere´s successful penalty shot and Bekere was awarded as best player for Latvia.
The player of the match, Hildegunn Holm, was happy after the victory. 
– It was a surprise for us that we won with so clear numbers. We expected a tight match like two years ago in Poland. We were able to follow our tactics successfully and that helped us to the victory.
Norway seem to have improved their performance compared to the last Championships and tomorrow they will take on one of the favourites, Finland, in the late evening match. Hildegunn Holm is expecting a tough game.
– Finland will be a tough opponent. We will watch today the match between Sweden and Finland and then decide the tactic for tomorrow, which hopefully will take us to the victory.
Convincing victories for the Reigning Champions and Russia
Switzerland got a good start to the tournament when they defeated Poland with 9-1 . Flurina Marti was the most effecive player and scored 2+2. The Polish goal scorer Anna Kubowicz and the Swiss goalkeeper Jenny Zing were awarded as the best players.
The newcomer in the U19 category, team Austria, got a lesson from Russia in the opening match of the B-division. The more experienced Russians had better passing as well as shooting skills and they dominated the match.
The Austrian team fought hard in the defence, but was not able to block all Russian shots. Russia produced goals with a steady pace in every period and in the end they won match with 13-0. The best players of the match were Elena Shuvalova who scored 2+2 to Russia and the Austrian goalkeeper Veronika Dworzak.
Strong Czech 3rd period settled the match against Slovakia
742 spectators were gathered to watch the home team´s first performance in the World Championships. The Czechs opened the tournament against the Slovakia that was promoted to the A-division for 2010.
The underdog gave the favourite quite a tough match for over two periods, but then Czech Republic proved to be stronger and won the match with 6-2.
There were close to zero scoring chances in the start of the match as both teams played tight defensive play. A couple of dark seconds in the 12th minute for the Slovakian defence led to goals scored by Dagmar Sura and Romana Polzerova, but otherwise the Slovakian´s were able to stay in the favourite´s tempo.
Then it was the Czech defence that struggled and Veronika Izraelova scored the 1-2 goal for Slovakia.
The low 2-1-2 fore checking of the Slovakian´s continued to keep the Czech´s from the best scoring sectors but that did not keep Simona Kabeláková´s long distance shot from finding the net in 28.57. The Czech lead increased to 3-1.
A power play goal by Katarina Klapitova took Slovakia one goal away from the Czech´s again in the beginning of the third period.
Then the Slovakian´s lifted their fore checking, but that created more open opportunities for the Czechs, who settled the match by scoring three goals in a row. Dagmar Sura 2+0 and Petra Nemecková 1+1 were the most effective players and Nemecková and Klapitova were awarded as best players.
The Czech captain Dagmar Sura was relieved and happy after the match.
– This was the hottest U19 match I have ever played even though these are my 3rd championships. I am glad we were able to score in the beginning, because that gave us confidence what was needed to turn the match in 3rd period. In the beginning we were nervous, but were able to lose the nervousness and got better into the match.
There were a lot of noisy spectators in the arena and Sura felt that was great.
– The spectators ceated a good athmosphere and we wanted to play well for them. It is always great to play in front of a noisy audience. I hope there will be lots of people also in the rest of the matches.
The Czechs will meet Poland tomorrow and the home team captain is looking forward to that match.
– We know it is the most important match for us. Last year we lost against Poland in the same situation, but now we will be ready and want a revenge. It will be hard and tough match, so we need to be concentrated to be able take the victory.
Hungary defeated Germany in the B-division
Larissa Engel´s goal kept Gemany in a 1-0 lead for over 37 minutes but then the player of the match Boglárka Bartók scored two goals in a row and took Hungary into the lead. Hungary´s lead kept until the end as they won the match with 4-2.
Women´s U19 WFC 2010 on Czech TV
Floorball is among the traditional sports that appear on the sports channel of Czech TV and this year´s U19 Women´s World Championship will not be an exception. If you are in Czech Republic you can look forward to daily summaries of all games and all interesting moments you should not miss. You can watch a rich summary on the ČT4 Sport TV channel, including comments and remarks of the players themselves. So that you do not miss anything, below you can find the complete broadcasting plan, which also includes several repeats:
Tuesday 4. 5. – 21:50
Wednesday 5. 5. – 23:25; repeat 6. 5. – 07:20
Thursday 6. 5. – 20:40, repeat 7. 5. – 07:25
Saturday 8. 5. – 01:00, repeat 8. 5. – 08:25
Sunday 9. 5. – 12:40
Finland and Sweden evened the score
The top match in group B was played between Finland and Sweden. Finland was stronger in the beginning but as the match progressed Sweden took more control and was able to tie the match to 4-4.
Almost 650 spectators had gathered to University Arena in Olomouc to see the battle of the Scandinavian countries.
In the beginning of the match both teams were able to create good scoring chances. Sweden had an open goal when 15 minutes was played, but Anna Torstensson´s shot hit the post.
Shortly after, Finland had a good momentum and was able to score twice. The goals were fought to the net, first by Kristiina Kauppila and then only 13 seconds later by Annamari Lehto (pictured).
In the 2nd period Sweden took the control of the match. They forced the Finnish defence to take risks on their own zone and Sweden was able to win the balls. Iza Rydfjäll scored the first goal for Sweden in front of the crowded Finnish goal. Hanna-Mari Uimonen increased the Finnish lead again after a counter attack, but right after this Anna Torstensson reduced the lead with a hard and accurate shot to the left upper corner. The score before 3rd period was 3-2 for Finland.
The start of the 3rd period was good for Finland when Lehto scored her second of the match after a long pass from Matilda Nikander. After this Sweden played more aggressively and put lot of pressure to the Finnish goal.
Sweden totally controlled the match, but the goalkeeper Laura Loisa took many important saves and also the posts were on her side. Loisa kept Finland in the match for 12 minutes of the 3rd period, but then Emelie Wibron´s long distance shot passed her. After this the Swedish pressure continued and the equalizer and last goal of the match was shot by Therese Karlsson in 56.18.
Read more about today´s matches also from organiser´s official U19 WFC 2010 web pages.
– We were offered a victory in this match, but a draw was finally the right result, the Finnish coach Tommi Seikkula thought in Salibandyliiga´s interview.
The Swedish head coach, Marcus Holm, said in innebandy.se´s interview that Finland played a really good match but also gave credit to his own team: – I think that we received positive signs from all three lines that played.
