Coach Joschua Schmitz – © Dirk Krämer
–
Grefrath. (PM GEG) It was one of his better games of the 2021/22 season, which Grefrath Phoenix delivered in the last home game against EHC Troisdorf “Dynamite”.
With a passionate performance, the blue and yellow made it difficult for the favorite guests from the Rhineland for a long time, but in the end they lost 1:3 (1:0.0:2.0:1).
Around 150 fans, some in costume, made their way to the Grefrather EisSport & EventPark on Carnival Saturday for the last home game of the season and saw a hard-fought encounter between two teams who really wanted to win.
GEG trainer Joschua Schmitz had to do without some regulars due to injury. Since the junior players had already played with the U20s in their 11:5 win in Darmstadt in the morning, the young coach only had 14 field players available.
Even without an ideal line-up, the Phoenix got off to a better start and took a well-deserved 1-0 lead in the 12th minute after a remarkable individual performance by Roby Haazen. Immediately before the first third siren, the lightning-fast winger would have even managed to make it 2-0 with a shorthander. In a “1v1” with Troisdorf’s goalkeeper Felicity Luby, however, she was the narrow winner.
The guests from Troisdorf couldn’t be satisfied with the deficit and increased the pace after the break. Grefrath countered with commitment and vigor and also had a strong backing in Christian Tebbe in goal. Gradually, the encounter became rougher, so that the referees punished the increasing niggles on both sides with numerous small bench penalties.
Finally, it was a double shorthand situation, which dem Phoenix cost the lead in the 31st minute (1:1). Julian Stahlhut had the renewed Grefrather lead on the bat in the 33rd minute. However, his attempt to go it alone was defused again by Troisdorf’s strong goalkeeper. Instead, it was the guests who took the lead for the first time that evening in the 39th minute and took the 1-goal lead into the second break.
Everything still seemed possible for the final section and again it was the Niers team who really fought for their chances to finish. Kai Weber had the best chance alone (46th).
Dedication and willingness to run were right that evening at the Phoenix. GEG coach Schmitz was only unsatisfied with the exploitation of the chances. The guests finally made it more effective with their goal to make it 1:3 in the 48th minute.
Despite the renewed setback, Grefrath did not give up and left no stone unturned. The supposed 2:3 goal fell with the final siren, but would not have changed anything about the narrow defeat even if it had been recognized.
“I’m generally happy with the guys. They fought for 60 minutes, fought and threw themselves into every shot. It’s a shame, but small mistakes that we made while defending were immediately punished. On the offensive, we should have looked for and scored more often, especially in the second and third third,” Joschua Schmitz sums up after the match, which was hard-fought until the end.
The coach also sends a special thank you to the spectators and fans: “Thank you for supporting us as best you can despite the difficult season and for giving the boys an extra boost”.
With the last home game, the 2021/22 season may already have ended for Grefrather EG. It is unclear whether the canceled away encounter at Young Moskitos Essen will be made up for or whether the GEG will score 3 points and 5-0 goals. What is certain, however, is that the play-down games originally planned for mid-March will no longer take place due to the lack of ice in Grefrath, among other things.
–
