The German U18 women's national team also lost their second game at the 4-nation tournament in St. Gallen (Switzerland) with 0:1 (0:0/0:0/0:0/0:0/0:1). Penalty shootout against Russia.
The first substitution of the game belonged to the Russians, but the German team had their first chances on the Russian goal in the second minute of the game. Thea Bartell shot from the slot, Pauline Gruchot narrowly missed the follow-up shot. A few seconds later, Alina Leveringhaus shot from the outside faceoff circle, but her shot deflected into the net Fangnetz. Three and a half minutes had been played when a German penalty took the wind out of the German attacking efforts. But like yesterday, the German outnumbered formation did a very good job and Lilly Uhrmann in goal showed all her skills twice when she saved in dire need. After the penalty expired, the German team needed a brief moment to get back into the game. Then it was Lola Liang who fired a shot into the side net in the eighth minute to give the traveling German a brief respite Fanwarehouse provided. Franziska Klinger and Fine Raschke then had two chances from the blue line, but they weren't compelling enough. The clock showed 10:55 when the German team had their first power play chance in the game. It took a good minute until the formation was secure. A hammer from the blue line, fired by Heidi Strompf, hit the boards just a few centimeters from the goal. So the last seconds of the penalty ran down without any further chances. Just complete again, the Russian team was able to make the next attack on the German goal, but Uhrmann defused the deflected shot without any problems. The German team continued to play well, kept the Russians away from their own goal and repeatedly shifted the game into the opponent's third. Two minutes before the end they had to DEB-Selection suffered another penalty, and the post helped twice when they were outnumbered. The penalty had not yet fully expired when another double penalty was given against the German team, but they managed to save themselves with a 0-0 score at the break thanks to a great fight.
The remaining minority played the DEB-Selection also finished with concentration in the second third and then went straight back on the attack. Katarina Jobst-Smith tested Eva Gubareva in the Russian box but couldn't overcome her. The Germans celebrated in the 36th minute of the game Fans already, but when Nina Christof shot, the puck had not yet fully crossed the goal line. In the following minutes, the German team was able to rely on strong defensive work and a confident Uhrmann in goal. German attempts to attack were rare in the middle of the game. Franziska Klinger brought one of the few German chances to the opponent's goal, Jule Schiefer deflected, but the disc bounced off the Russian goalkeeper's pad, who was then able to secure it. Thirty seconds later it was again Schiefer who completed a German attack with a scoring opportunity. But she couldn't make use of her attempt. Just four minutes before the half-time siren, the German defense made a positional error, a Russian slipped through but missed her shot significantly. In the last few minutes until the break, the German girls had several chances again, but overall they weren't compelling enough. However, they put more pressure on their opponents and were able to take the 0-0 score back into the break.
The final third of this game began with a German power play. However, the protégés from the coaching duo Tommy Kettner and Franziska Busch had a hard time getting into the line-up, were repeatedly put under pressure by the Russians and so the penalty counted down without any chances being created. As a result, the events mainly took place in the German third. Forty-nine minutes had been played and a situation identical to the one that had led to the 2-2 equalizer in the game against the Swedes arose. Uhrmann could only let it rebound, a Russian took the puck out of the air with a volley, but this time the puck rolled just past the German goal. Time and time again the Russians put massive pressure on the German goal, but the German defense held firm. Eight minutes before the end there is another chance for a power play. The majority was half over when the German team drew a penalty. At four-on-four there was now space on the ice. The Russians took advantage of this and launched one attack after another on the German goal. The Russians were just complete again when there was a chance for a counterattack. Katarina Jobst-Smith started off, but was unable to reach Jule Schiefer's pass despite diving. The German team played down the final seconds of being outnumbered in a disciplined manner. It was now the last five minutes of regular playing time. Russia continued to apply pressure and launched attack after attack. But the DEB-Selection held on and managed to keep the disc away from its own goal. So it remained 0-0 after sixty minutes and it went into overtime for the second time in the tournament.
This started with a penalty against the German team. But the outnumbered formation stood well, blocked shots and was able to break free again and again. So the penalty ran off the clock without the Russians having any significant chance to score. By the end of extra time, both teams were able to record scenes in front of the opponent's goal, but a goal would no longer be scored and so the penalty shootout had to decide again. And it was another thriller and goalkeeping duel.
Russia opened but missed the goal wide. Christof ran for the German team, loaded the Russian goalkeeper, but was unable to get the puck into the empty goal due to her speed. Since Lilly Uhrmann also saved the second Russian penalty, it was up to Katarina Jobst-Smith to present it. But she also failed because of the opposing goalkeeper. Since Lilly Uhrmann also saved against the third Russian shooter, no decision had been made yet. But the third German shooter, Lola Liang, also missed her attempt. Alina Leveringhaus opened the one-on-one shooting, but she missed. But Lilly Uhrmann also stayed cool and secured another round for the German team. Nina Christof ran again and again she missed by just millimeters. Russia could now close the bag. But Lilly Uhrmann had something against it. In the splits and with your arms outstretched FanShe fished the disk out of the air with great hand. Fine Raschke put her next attempt on the butt of the Russian goalkeeper's stick. Because Polina Luchnikova converted her penalty ice-coldly, she decided the game 1-0 for the Russian team.
Viona Harrer, U18 women’s assistant coach: “The team implemented the tactical guidelines very well and showed a united and concentrated team performance over 65 minutes. We had very strong support in goal today with Lilly Uhrmann. Now it’s important to regenerate well and focus on tomorrow’s game in order to get the full points.”
Germany: Uhrmann (Disl) – Raschke (A), Klinger (C); Hark, Slate, Jobst-Smith – Strompf, König/Badura; Bartell, Christof, Leveringhaus – Heinz, Merkle; Fiedler, Gruchot (A), Miller – Cyrulies, Sterzik, Liang
Gates: 0:1 Polina Luchnikova (penalty)
Penalty minutes: Germany 12 – Russia 6
Viewers: 45
You can find the statistics for the game HERE.