After taking the lead: Austria lose final group game

The ÖEHV women’s national team lost 2:4 to Switzerland in their final group game of the IIHF Women’s World Championship 2026 in Esbjerg (Denmark). Austria even led 2:1 against the fourth-ranked team in the world. Austria therefore finish bottom of Group A and will play on Friday to remain in the top division.

The situation was clear ahead of the final group game: only a win within 60 minutes could have kept Austria’s quarter-final hopes alive. Austria had previously lost to Czechia (1:4), Germany (0:2) and the USA (1:11).

Head coach Alexander Bröms made several changes from the USA game: Selma Luggin returned in goal, with Magdalena Luggin as her backup. Emma Pfeffer and Amelie Suppan returned to the squad, while Anna Billa and Vanessa Picka were absent. Lena Dauböck lined up alongside Anna Meixner and Theresa Schafzahl on the first line.

Switzerland had more of the play from the outset, but Austria responded with great fighting spirit and a physical game. However, Austria had the best chance: in the 4th minute, Emma Hofbauer narrowly sent a rebound wide of the net. After a long spell of pressure, Switzerland took the lead in the 13th minute: following a perfect pass into the crease, Sinja Leemann got the better of her opponent and only had to get her stick to the puck. Selma Luggin preserved the narrow deficit with outstanding saves during several Swiss power plays, while the shots after 20 minutes stood at 4:20.

Brief joy at taking the lead

Austria made a much better start to the middle period. In the 26th minute, Luggin first prevented 0:2 with a brilliant save after an error in Austria’s own build-up play. On the counter-attack, Theresa Schafzahl was denied by Andrea Braendli, but put the rebound over the line for 1:1. The goal visibly boosted Austria, and Lena Dauböck put them 2:1 ahead on the power play in the 34th minute following a clever shooting pass from captain Anna Meixner.

However, the joy lasted only 19 seconds before Swiss star Alina Müller levelled at 2:2 with a fine move. Shortly before the second intermission, Austria were fortunate when a Swiss goal was overturned following a challenge for goaltender interference. Austria were also almost evenly matched in shots in the middle period (10:13).

Penalties halt Austria

Switzerland began the final period on the front foot, especially when Alina Müller was on the ice. However, Austria were once again undone by their many penalties – eight in total, compared with only three for Switzerland: in the 45th minute, Ivana Wey scored on the power play with a perfect shot into the far top corner for 2:3. With 3:40 remaining, Bröms called his timeout and took Luggin off for a sixth skater.

Austria pressed for an equaliser and even had more shots in the final period (9:7): Schafzahl hit only the post, while Hofbauer also missed a great chance. At the other end, Switzerland initially hit only the post of the empty net, but Müller made it 2:4 in the final minute. Schafzahl was named Austria’s best player, while Luggin made 36 saves.

Decisive game to remain in the top division

On Friday (13 November, 11:00, ORF), Austria will face the bottom team in Group B in Herning for a place in the top division. Their opponents will be confirmed after Wednesday’s Japan v Sweden game: if Japan lose, Austria will face Japan; if the Japanese win, hosts Denmark will be the opponents.

Alexander Bröms, head coach of the ÖEHV women’s national team: "When we took the lead, they hit back immediately. Today, we were punished, especially for taking too many penalties, and the momentum swung their way. We tried everything and took the goaltender off early, but we could not turn it around today. Now we have to reset and refocus. On Friday, we have the chance to show that we belong in this division. I firmly believe that we will find the energy to do that."

Theresa Schafzahl, ÖEHV forward: "Unfortunately, we were a little slow to start, but then we got into the game better and did really well at times. However, we could have believed in ourselves more. Switzerland are a good team, but we can compete with them and beat them too. In the dressing room, the leaders pointed out that we had fought for years for this moment, to finally play in the top division. That gave us all a boost."

Lena Dauböck, ÖEHV forward: "We stepped it up after the first period, but unfortunately it was not enough in the end. We saw how close we are and that only small things are missing. There is certainly disappointment, as we really wanted a win in the group stage. Now we have two days to analyse the details, recover and make sure everyone is fit on Friday."

Match report

IIHF Women’s World Championship 2026
Switzerland – Austria 4:2 (1:0, 1:2, 2:0)
Hockey Arena Esbjerg, Esbjerg, Denmark, attendance: 274

Goals:

• LEEMANN (Herzig, Baechler) (12:23)
• SCHAFZAHL (Meixner, Pfeffer) (25:41)
• DAUBÖCK (Meixner, Schafzahl) (33:27/PP)
• MÜLLER (Wey, Zimmermann) (33:46)
• WEY (Vallario, Leemann) (44:57/PP)
• MÜLLER (Wetli) (59:13/EN)

Penalty minutes: 6 and 16, respectively

Austria: Selma Luggin (Magdalena Luggin); Matzka – Fazokas, Nagy – Schröfl, Tekin – Mörtl, Wittich; Meixner – Schafzahl – Dauböck, Trummer – Lintner – Hofbauer, Pfeffer – Grascher – Obermayr, Kutzer – Linzbichler – Beiter, Suppan

The remaining ÖEHV matches

• Friday, 13 November, 11:00: game to stay in the top division against the bottom team in Group B (on ORF)