The German women's national team played their first game at the Deutschland Cup Germany won. The team coached by Jeff MacLeod defeated France 3-2 on penalties (1-0, 0-0, 1-2, 0-0, 1-0). Emily Nix and Laura Kluge were the goal scorers. DEBThe team started with Sandra Abstreiter in goal, Aileena Dopheide made her first appearance for the national A-team.
In the first third, the DEBThe team initially suffered an early penalty. The French players failed to get into their power play formation and thus posed no threat to the German goal. When Laura Kluge returned from the penalty box, she had the first clear scoring opportunity, hitting the post. Two German power plays also failed to produce a goal. Franziska Feldmeier had the next chance to take the lead, but her shot, running parallel to the goal line, slid just wide of the French net. Eleven seconds before the intermission, Emily Nix scored on a rebound to give Germany a well-deserved 1-0 lead at the break (20th minute).
As in the first third, the DEBThe team started shorthanded early, and France once again failed to score. The same was true for the German power play shortly afterward. France improved as the game progressed and tested Sandra Abstreiter in the DEB-Goals were scored more frequently now. However, both goalkeepers remained error-free, and so the narrow lead held even after 40 minutes.
After the second intermission, the visitors got off to a better start. Emma Nonnenmacher equalized for France in the 43rd minute. The German national team then squandered another power play opportunity. On the counterattack – again with five players – Clara Rozier turned the game around with an unstoppable shot, putting France ahead 2-1 (48th minute). DEBThe team upped the tempo, earned their fifth power play, but still failed to score on the man advantage. It wasn't until 65 seconds before the end of the period that Feldmeier finally passed to Kluge, who, unmarked, scored the equalizer and forced overtime.
With no winner in overtime, the game went to a penalty shootout. Here, the German players showed stronger nerves and won the game.
Franziska Feldmeier was chosen as the best German player of the evening.