3:1 win! Austria’s women avenge defeat against Hungary

Following the narrow 0:2 defeat the previous day, Austria’s women’s national ice hockey team responded with a 3:1 win on Saturday afternoon. Annika Fazokas gave her team the lead in the 6th minute and, after Hungary had equalised in the second period, scored the game-winning goal to make it 2:1 just under four minutes from the end. Emma Hofbauer added an empty-net goal in the 59th minute to complete the 3:1 final score.

11 November 20232 min read

A successful conclusion to an intensive week. The November break also marked the start of the countdown to the home IIHF Women’s World Championship Division IA, taking place in Klagenfurt from 21 to 27 April 2024. Austria faced Hungary twice, a nation that had held its own in the top division in recent years. However, they were relegated in 2023. Our neighbours will be considered favourites for promotion at next year’s IIHF Women’s World Championship Division IA.

The reason why was demonstrated by the Hungarians, who travelled to Villach with several top players, in the first international match on Friday evening. They tested Selma Luggin in the Austrian goal with 33 shots and beat her twice. Austria registered 22 shots and were increasingly able to keep up with the visitors’ pace as the game progressed.

They did even better in the second friendly, with Magdalena Luggi in goal. The sides were evenly matched statistically, but Austria were more efficient on the power play, from which Annika Fazokas, who had already scored to make it 1:0 in the first period, made it 2:1. Hungary took risks in the closing stages and pulled their goaltender.

As in the previous four power-play situations, Hungary could find little way through Austria’s penalty kill. Emma Hofbauer eventually took possession of the puck and scored into the empty net to seal the 3:1 final score.

Martin Kogler, General Manager: "I am very proud of the team. We did not know beforehand what to expect, as Hungary came to Villach with several top players. The team did a fantastic job."

Head Coach Mario Bellina: "We made a much better start to the game today and implemented what we had discussed in the dressing room from the outset. We will continue working on getting more pucks to the net and creating even more danger in front of the opposition goal. We can expect an even higher pace at the World Championship."

November Break – Women’s Senior National Team

Austria vs. Hungary 3:1 (1:0,0:1,2:0)
Sat., 11 November 2023, 15:30, Villach
Austria scorers: Annika Fazokas (6th, 57th/PP1), Emma Hofbauer (59th/EN)
Hungary scorer: Bernadett Németh (32nd/PP1)

Friday’s match:

Austria vs. Hungary 0:2 (0:0,0:1,0:1)
Fri., 10 November 2023, 19:15, Villach
Hungary scorers: Fanni Garát-Gasparics (25th), Réka Dabasi (59th)

Back to news