Women's Triple Challenge 2021 results & match reports

The Women’s Triple Challenge between Italy and France was played on the 27th and 28th of May in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy. The teams played three close matches within 24 hours, the first match ended in a draw and then both teams won one game.

Italy won the tournament with a better goal difference. Camilla Olshov was the top scorer of the event with 6 points (3+3). Check scoring leaders.

Women’s Triple Challenge results:

27.5.2021 at 11:00 ITA W – FRA W 3-3
27.5.2021 at 18:00 ITA W – FRA W 3-4
28.5.2021 at 09:00 ITA W – FRA W 5-3

Match reports

Three games being played within 24 hours was a challenge for both teams, but it was matched by the players’ will to return to play international matches. The venue Bella Italia EFA Village created a safe and comfortable environment allowing the two teams to focus on the games.

Two teams both hungry to play and both led by a new Head Coach. Team France having a lot of experienced players, Team Italy instead having a very young team (average age of 20 years) with 14 players playing their first game in the National Senior team.

Game 1

The first match on Thursday morning was a tight story. A cautious start from both teams and it took until 28.09 before Emelie Belet opened the scoring for France. The Italian reply came within a minute through Laura Bolt, assisted by Camilla Olshov. Then just before the end of the second period Alessia Pascietta took the French goalie by surprise with a shot at long distance. At 46.12 France found the equaliser by Marine Klopfenstein, assisted by Annabelle Simonetti. It seemed that the game would finish 2-2, but then the last two minutes were full of events. Camilla Olshov took Italy back to the lead at 58.42, but France didn’t give and with 38 seconds left Marine Klopfenstein scored again for the final score 3-3.

MVP Italy: Anastasia Zatta & MVP France: Marine Klopfenstein

Game 2

Later in the evening the second game was played. Italy started very well scoring twice in seven minutes, first by Camilla Olshov then Anna Marasso. At the end of the period Pauline Meneus shortened the distance. In the second period it was France starting better and Annabelle Simonetti and Marine Klopfenstein took France to the lead by two quick goals. This time it was Italy scoring at the end of the period with a shot by Roberta Olshov. A tight third period with France finding the winning goal at 52.21, scored by Linda Kmetova assisted by Annabelle Simonetti.

MVP Italy: Roberta Olshov & MVP France: Pauline Buiche

Game 3

The last game of the Triple Challenge started well for Team France with two goals in the middle of the first period scored by Linda Kmetova and Laure Bottazzi. Despite a lot of opportunities the score remained unchanged until 43.07 when Roberta Olshov scored for Italy. Five minutes later Pauline Buiche scored for France and Italy took a timeout. A small tactical gave an immediate result in 18 seconds with a goal by Deborah Wagner. The quick reply gave new energy to the Italian team and in seven minutes they scored another three goals (Camilla Olshov, Deborah Wagner and Marta Pelliccioni) bringing the score to the final result, 5-3.

MVP France: Linda Kmetova & MVP Italy: Martina Falchi

The event terminated with a small ceremony headed by the President of the Italian Floorball Association, Giorgio Rambladi. Awards were given to the referees, Alberto Coduto and Roland De Conno Pobitzer, as well as to the two Head Coaches in this “Comeback together”.

— All players and staff members were proud of participating in the Women’s Triple Challenge, as it is a small but important step on the way back to normality, Jorgen Olshov, the Secretary General of the Italian Floorball Federation, comments after the games.