HC SKP Bratislava and KSV Neuberg Highlanders played their initial games of the 2021-2022 EWHL regular season action today in Bratislava, Slovakia, with the home team easily defeating the visiting Highlanders 7-1.
The game was physical between the two teams, and penalty filled, as the two teams battled each other for scoring opportunities.
Bratislava outshot Neuberg 36-20 (14-9, 11-5, 11-6). Bratislava power play was 2 for 8; Neuberg 1 for 3 in the game.
The home team reacted first to questionable actions by the visiting squad, getting the first penalty of the game, at the two minute point of the opening period on a slash by Julia Matejkova, with Bratislava successfully killing the penalty.
Less than three minutes later, after the unsuccessful Highlanders power play, Bratislava would open the scoring, taking a 1-0 lead at 4:57. Lucia Haluskova, assisted by Nikola Nemcekova.
Lucia Istocyova would score to make it a two goal advantage at 14:56 on the power play when Nicole Vigilanti of Neuberg was penalized for charging. Assist to Livia Kubekova.
Late in the opening frame, after an unsuccessful power play, Bratislava would take control of the game at 3-0 at 19:00, Romana Haluskova, assisted by her sister Lucia.
Neuberg would score their only goal of the game, on the power play in the second period, breaking Bratislava’s shutout bid, at 2:42, with Nemcekova off for charging. Olivia Atkinson, assisted by Bieke Van Nes and Nicole Vigilanti, bringing Neuberg within two goals of the home team.
Bratislava would seal the game with four straight goals, including their second on the power play, to end the game.
Emma Plankenauerova scored the last goal of the middle frame, making it 4-1, at 12:02, assisted by Julia Matejkova.
In the third, Plankenauerova would return the favor and had the only assist on a goal by Matejkova, at 5:13, on the power play, to stake the home team a four goal margin at 5-1. Martina Vrbinska took the score one goal further, to 6-1 at 8:04, assisted by Nemcekova and Matejkova.
Romana Haluskova would cap the score at 7-1, with her second goal of the game at 17:22, assisted by her sister Lucia and teammate Ema Tothova.
Next EWHL regular season game for KSV Neuberg Highlanders is September 26, 2021 versus EHV Sabres Vienna.