Floorball players start WC qualification with a convincing victory over the Netherlands – Floorball – Sportacentrs.com

The national teams of Latvia and the Netherlands had met each other only once so far, when the Latvians defeated their rivals with the result 11:2 in a similar World Championship qualifying tournament match four years ago. At that time, the top scorer in the Latvian national team was Paula Metāla, who scored three goals and made one assist. This time she is not part of the Latvian national team, but our national team was still a strong favorite in the game.

The Latvians began to confirm their status already with the first attack, when Zane Darša made an accurate shot, revealing the result of the fight. It took more than nine minutes for the next goal to be scored, when Simona Gräpena sent the ball into an almost empty goal after a quick play. A little slack and a mistake near her own goal where the ball was lost led to a goal loss when Kristine Kirilova also failed to deal with Anuka Joner’s shot. The loss of goals angered our girls, who managed to score four more goals before the break. First, Anna Ankudinova scored with a sharp shot from the edge of the field 3:1 for our national team, a minute later her teammate in the Swiss club “Floorball Zurich Lionesses” Kate Melder also scored the fourth goal. Later, the Latvians earned the right to play in the majority, which they used a minute later, when Laura Gaugere threw the ball to Simona Gräpän. On the other hand, at the end of the period, Jeina Eglīte intercepted the ball on her side of the field, passing it to Aurelija Zariņa. With a quick pass, she led our captain Julia Rozita alone against the rival’s goalkeeper and the result became 6:1.

In the second third, our national team was not so productive, and in the middle of it, Samanta Bērziņa left the team in a numerical minority. It didn’t last long, because Ankudinova provoked the rejection of her opponents. Playing in equal but incomplete formations, Melder received a pass in front of the goal, scoring the seventh goal. Soon after, Ankudinova did not use a pass against the goalkeeper, but Zane Darša scored the eighth goal in the 36th minute, while Emilija Salaciete changed the score again after 19 seconds – 9:1 for the Latvian national team.

The third period started with a quick goal by Rozite, who got the ball on her side of the field, made a raid on the right side and decided to shoot herself, which the opposing goalkeeper could not handle. In the continuation, the teams exchanged rejections, but Emilija Salacietes’ goal in the 54th minute after a diagonal pass by Melderes made it 11:1. In the continuation of the match, the Latvians could also train in a minority of three against five rivals, without conceding a goal. As a result, it was possible to win a more convincing victory over the Netherlands than in the first meeting.

In the Latvian national team, Jūlija Rozīte was the top scorer with 4 (2+2) points, but Kati Melderi was recognized as the best, with two goals and one assist. It should be noted that nine out of 11 goals in the Latvian national team were scored by floorball players who are playing abroad this season.

Thus, the Latvian national team has taken the first step towards one of the first three places in the subgroup and getting a ticket to the final tournament in Singapore. Already tomorrow at 20:00 for the Latvian national team, perhaps the most important game in this qualification tournament, in which they have to meet the always principled Germany. Live broadcast of the game on TV4 channel and on the Sportacentrs.com portal

Women’s World Floorball Championship Qualifying Tournament

Latvia – Netherlands 11:1 (6:1, 3:0, 2:0)
The most successful in the Latvian national team: Júlia Rozīte 4 (2+2), Zane Darša 3 (2+1), Simona Grāpēnas 3 (2+1), Kate Melder 3 (2+1), Emilija Salaciete 2 (2+0), Anna Ankudinova 2 (1 +1), Laura Gaugere 2 (0+2), Aurelija Zariņa 2 (0+2), Samanta Bērziņa 1 (0+1)

Tournament table