EVZ ice hockey women re-assert their role as favourites

The EV Zug women's ice hockey team lived up to their expectations, and won their home games on Friday and Saturday.
 

Coach Daniela Diaz's team had a successful championship weekend at home, earning maximum points. But the EVZ women had to fight harder than they would have liked in Friday's game against the HC Davos Ladies. The third-placed team from Graubünden proved to be tough opponents and challenged the EVZ Women's League leaders up to the 48th minute.

Following the opening EVZ goal by Lia Egger (7th minute), Davos hit back in the 12th and 21st minute to go into the lead. Lara Stadler’s equalizer in the 26th minute was followed by a further Davos goal, Lara Stadler equalized again in the 39th minute, but Davos again went ahead 4:3 in the 42nd minute.

Lara Stalder's equaliser (again!) at 4-4 marked the turning point in this exciting game, however. The favourites then took control and, with goals from Annic Buchi (48th minute), lvana Wey (57th minute) and Noemi Neubauerova (59th minute), ultimately celebrated a well-deserved 7-4 victory in front of 1,420 fans at their home ground, the OYM Hall in Zug.

‘We responded very well to the setbacks, i.e. falling behind three times, and fought our way back. We played patiently after that, it was a close game for a long time with a lot of emotion,’ said EVZ player Rahel Enzler.

Klara Seroiszkova of the Davos Ladies (front left) against Zug's Rahel Enzler (front right) during Friday's game at the OYM Hall in Zug                Photo: Alexandra Wey
 

Team from Western Switzerland was clearly dominated
The Zug women had less trouble on Saturday, again in front of a home crowd (775 fans). Neuchâtel Hockey Academy (NHA), the team from western Switzerland who are currently at the bottom of the table, didn't stand a chance against the Zug women and lost 7-0 without much of a fight. Rahel Enzler: ‘We were able to play our game for 60 minutes, had our opponents under control and were in charge of the match.’

The EVZ led 2:0 in the first session through goals by Ivana Wey and Nina Harju, were 6:0 in the lead at the end of the 2nd session with goals from Noemi Neubauerova, Nicole Vallario, Alina Marti and Lara Stadler, and a final goal by Ivana Wey brought up the final result of 7:0.

After the 15th match day, Zug are comfortably at the top of the table with 42 points from 14 wins, with second-placed Ambri Piotta already ten points behind and Davos Ladies in third place with 25 points. They currently have a goal difference of +67, with the next highest aggregate being HC Ambri-Piotta, with +18.

The championship is taking a break
The EVZ will not play again until Saturday, 15th November (5.30 pm in the OYM Hall), when they host SC Bern Ladies.

The championship is taking a break this week as the Swiss women's national team is competing in a four-nation tournament in Sweden.

Head coach Colin Muller's national team squad includes a large number of EVZ players: Annic Büchi, Elena Gaberell, Nina Harju, Jael Manetsch, Alina Marti, Noemi Rhyner, Ivana Wey, Chiara Pfosi (on standby), Chiara Eggli (on standby) and Luisa Waser (on standby).