Defeat in first test

At the final training camp of the season, the Austrian women’s national team is already preparing for the major objective to be achieved in November: qualification for the Olympic Winter Games. Germany are the biggest rival on that path. The two test matches in Füssen against long-standing top-division nation Germany therefore offer an initial indication of what awaits the Austrians in the final Olympic qualifying phase.

The hosts took an early lead in this first match through Andrea Lanzl. The Austrians, who had held a short training camp in Gmunden in the preceding days, earned a deserved equaliser through Anna Meixner in the second period. There were numerous good scoring opportunities for both teams in an eventful second period, with Germany converting one of them to regain the lead.

With the lead behind them, Germany drew on their experience and added three more goals in the closing minutes to secure a 5:1 final score. “Despite the defeat, we played a good game and created numerous opportunities to score more goals. We will take the positives into Thursday’s game and try to battle for the win,” said coach Jari Risku.