Final rematch confirmed: Sabres and Aisulu through to the EWHL final
The European Women’s Hockey League will see a rematch of last year’s final next weekend between defending champions Aisulu Almaty and runners-up Sabres St. Pölten. Both teams recorded emphatic wins in the second legs of their semi-finals: the Sabres beat MAC Budapest 4:1, while Aisulu defeated the KSV Highlanders 5:1. Budapest and the Styrians will now meet in the third-place play-off.
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Following the Sabres’ narrow 3:2 away win at MAC on Friday, they claimed a commanding 4:1 home victory on Sunday. Antonia Matzka was player of the game, scoring twice to make it 2:1 and 3:1. The Sabres initially took the lead on a five-on-three power play in the 19th minute, before Budapest equalised on the power play in the 23rd minute. Matzka added further goals in the 28th and 38th minutes to put the Sabres firmly 3:1 ahead. The Lower Austrian side added the final goal in the 41st minute.
Defending champions Aisulu return to the final with a rout
Aisulu Almaty will join the Sabres in the final once again. The defending champions from Kazakhstan secured a 5:1 win over the KSV Highlanders in the second leg of their semi-final, after the first leg had ended 4:4. Aisulu took the lead as early as the second minute, but the Highlanders equalised through Selina Gentilini in the 19th minute. In the second and third periods, the Highlanders could no longer match the pace of the Kazakh side, as Aisulu pulled away to 5:1 with two goals in each period. They scored the final goal in the 51st minute.
This sets up a rematch of the final against Sabres St. Pölten. Last season, Aisulu narrowly prevailed 2:1 after overtime in the second leg, after the first leg in St. Pölten had ended 1:1. This time, the second leg will be played at the Sabres, after they finished the regular season in first place ahead of Almaty.
Final and 3rd-place game dates
• First legs: Friday, 27 March
• Second legs: Sunday, 29 March
European Women´s Hockey League
22.03.2026:
Sabres St. Pölten – MAC Budapest 4:1 (1:0, 2:1, 1:0)
Aggregate score: 7:3
Aisulu Almaty – KSV Highlanders 5:1 (1:1, 2:0, 2:0)
Aggregate score: 9:5
