U18 Women’s World Cham­pi­onship: Austria beat France 3:2 after a penalty shoot-out!

Austria’s women’s national ice hockey team experienced a rollercoaster of emotions. Lerrine Lavorel scored for France in the seventh minute to make it 1:0, just seconds after Austria had successfully killed off a penalty. However, the deficit did not throw them off course, as they enjoyed more possession overall in the first period and, fewer than five minutes later, Lena Artner deservedly made it 1:1.

After the first break, Head Coach Mario Bellina’s team stepped up their efforts, creating chance after chance but repeatedly being denied by French goaltender Eline Gillodes. She made eleven saves in the second period alone, while Davina Falmbigl had to retrieve the puck from her net again in the 30th minute. 

Austria pressed for an equaliser but initially could not get the puck into the opposition net. With 2:32 minutes played in the third period, Zoey Hobitsch, MVP of the U18 World Championship Division IB in Radenthein last September, struck to score the deserved equaliser for 2:2. Austria then had to kill off two further penalties, while Laura Leitner and Marleen Origlio clashed shortly before the end of the game and were both sent to the penalty box to cool off. 

It remained 0:0, including after the subsequent overtime. Austria’s first two shooters both scored in the penalty shoot-out, while Magdalena Luggin, now in goal, did not concede.

Head Coach Mario Bellina: "We made a good start to the game and implemented what we had set out to do. Nevertheless, we took a lot of penalties and promptly conceded the first goal shortly after killing one off. That created a degree of uncertainty. The equaliser gave the team a lift. We had significantly more shots on goal than yesterday, and that is what we need to build on, especially by going for the rebounds. The players showed character. After we adjusted the lines slightly during the second break, it immediately paid off. We could have decided the game in regulation time, but the penalties were composed. We are delighted with the first win and the points."

2023 IIHF ICE HOCKEY U18 WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION I, GROUP A

9–15 January 2023, Ritten/Italy

Schedule and results 

France vs. AUSTRIA 2:3 after penalties (1:1,1:0,0:1,0:0,0:1)
Tue, 10 January 2023, 16:30
Austria goalscorers: Lena Artner (12:06 min./PP1), Zoey Hobitsch (42:32 min.); in the penalty shoot-out: Anna Billa (65:00 min.), Leonie Kutzer (65:00 min.)

Germany vs. AUSTRIA
Thu, 12 January 2023, 13:00 >> to the live stream

Hungary vs. AUSTRIA
Fri, 13 January 2023, 20:00 >> to the live stream

AUSTRIA vs. Norway
Sun, 15 January 2023, 13:00 >> to the live stream

Already played:

AUSTRIA vs. Italy 0:1 after overtime (0:0,0:0,0:0,0:1)
Mon, 9 January 2023, 20:00

Standings

All World Championship information on the official IIHF website