The German Women's national team narrowly lost their World Cup preparation game in Utica after a courageous performance. At the Utica University Nexus Center, the team lost Women's national coach Jeff MacLeod after temporarily leading 1:2 (0:0, 1:0, 0:1, 0:0, 0:1) after a penalty shootout against Switzerland. The goal for them DEBLilli Welcke made the selection.
The DEB-Selection started with Sandra Abstreiter in goal. Daria Gleißner led the team onto the ice as captain and Laura Kluge and Ronja Hark assisted at her side. Emily Nix celebrated her 50th international match in the German national team jersey.
The team of women's national coach Jeff MacLeod started the game well and had a 10:4 advantage in shots on goal during the first third. Lilli Welcke and Emily Nix with hidden shots and Nina Jobst-Smith from a tight angle failed to score with good opportunities against the Swiss goalkeeper. In the last minutes of the first third, the Swiss tried to put pressure on the German goal with their own numerical advantage, but their shots were blocked time and again by the German team's selfless work in the minority.
In the middle section, Lilli Welcke took advantage of one of the German team's good scoring opportunities after an assist from her sister Luisa Welcke to take the lead 1-0 in the 33rd minute. A competitive game developed in which the German team continued to create the better scoring chances. However, the Swiss equalized after just 37 seconds in the final period through Nicole Vallario and forced extra time with the goal.
No goals were scored there, so the game was decided in a penalty shootout. From the regular shooters, one player from each team scored – Rahel Enzler for Switzerland and again Lilli Welcke for them DEB-Selection. Alina Marti then decided the game in favor of the Swiss with her converted penalty.
On Thursday, April 4, 2024, the women's national team will start this year's Ice Hockey World Championships in Utica (USA). In the opening game, the Danes face each other at 15 p.m. local time (21 p.m. German time). All German World Cup games will be broadcast live and free of charge on MagentaSport.
Women's national coach Jeff MacLeod: “We showed a good performance throughout the entire game today. Our plan was to work on our forecheck, defensive zone and teamwork, which we achieved in this game. Of course there are things we still need to work on, but the attitude and commitment of the team was really good. We are looking forward to the start of the World Cup on Thursday!”
Captain Daria Gleißner: “We showed a very good team performance today. We wanted to play aggressively - especially in the forecheck - which we did very well. The final outcome of the game is bitter because we were very close to victory. Nevertheless, I am pleased with our good performance, which also shows that we are very well prepared for the start of the World Cup.”
World Cup schedule for the German women’s national team:
04.04.2024/15/00 | 21:00 p.m. (German time XNUMX:XNUMX p.m.) | Denmark - Germany
06.04.2024/15/00 | 21:00 p.m. (German time XNUMX:XNUMX p.m.) | Japan – Germany
April 08.04.2024, 11 | 00:17 (German time 00:XNUMX p.m.) | Germany - Sweden
April 09.04.2024, 11 | 00:17 (German time 00:XNUMX p.m.) | Germany – China