Category: Women’ s Final Olympic Qualification Group D Tournament

Austria Defeats Italy 6-1 To Finish The Final Olympic Qualification Group D Tournament

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Women’ s Final Olympic Qualification Group D Tournament For 2022 Winter Olympics

by Adam Steiss|14 NOV 2021

Austria’s women’s’ national team finished their Women’s Final Olympic Qualification campaign on a positive note, defeating Italy by a score of 6-1 to finish second overall in Group D.

Defender Antonio Matzka led the way with two goals and one assist, and goaltender Selma Luggin stopped 26 of 27 shots on net to give Austria its second win in three games of the tournament.

The Italians, meanwhile, go home without a win in Group D, but nevertheless with some valuable experience having played three teams ranked above it in the IIHF Women’s World Ranking.

Following Denmark’s earlier overtime loss to Germany, which gave the Danes enough points to finish atop Group D and win them the qualification spot for the 20222 Winter Olympic Games, the Austrians had nothing to play for except pride and a strong showing against their regional rivals Italy.

The game opened with a surprise, as Italy got on the scoreboard first with a goal from Bolzano Eagles forward Chelsea Furlani, her second of the tournament, coming at 3:25 into the first period.

But Furlani’s score would be the last shot fired by the Italians, as Austria midway through the period with goals coming from Anna Meixner and Janine Weber.

Annika Fazokas scored her first goal for Austria in the tournament in the second period. Then in the third the Austrians put the game away with Matzka’s pair of goals and a score from Anja Trummer, which put the 20-year-old at five points leading all scorers in Group D.

For Austria, while the ultimate Olympic dream was close but did not come true for the Alpne nation, a 3-0 opening day shutout of tournament favourites Germany showed that this team has a bright future with many talented young players to develop. 

With their Olympic Qualification campaigns now behind them, both teams turn their attention to the season. Austria’s next IIHF event will happen in April 2022, when the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship takes place in Angers, France. Italy meanwhile, will compete one division below, at the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship in Katowice, Poland.

Denmark Closing In On 2022 Winter Olympics Ticket With 1-0 Victory Over Austria

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Women’ s Final Olympic Qualification Group D Tournament For 2022 Winter Olympics

Just over two months after Denmark’s men’s team earned its first-ever trip to the Olympic Games, the women’s national team is poised to follow their colleagues to Beijing with a 1-0 victory over Austria.

Maria Peters scored the game winner and Cassandre Repstock-Romme posted her second shutout in two games, moving Denmark to within one point of a guaranteed spot in the Olympics in Beijing.

It was a clash between two teams that each earned an all-important three points in their opening games, with both eyeing the ultimate prize of a trip to Beijing 2022.

The game was fast-paced and tightly-contested, with Denmark getting a few quality scoring chances coming down the middle of the Austrian defence, but were held back by goaltender Selma Luggin, who has proven to be one of the key pieces to Austria’s success in the tournament so far after a 3-0 shutout of Germany in the opener.

But the Austrians showed in their first game against German that they could be dangerous in transition, and nearly caught the Danes shorthanded on a pair of great scoring opportunities.

Following a scoreless first period, Austria was whistled for tripping with 3:46 left in the second. The puck came into the Austria zone where it was picked up by Denmark forward Silke Glud. Glud was trailed closely by Austrian defender Alessandra Lopez, but she collided with an official that was trying to get out of the play, allowing Gluke to feed Maria Peters in front of the net for the 1-0 score.

In the third period the Austrians ramped up the pressure on Danish goalie Cassandre Repstock-Romme, who had so far played 100 minutes of shutout hockey. But Repstock-Romme and the Danish defense were up to the task, effectively locking down the Austrians allowing just a handful of shots on net and zero time or space in the offensive zone.

Denmark’s victory sets up an decisive Sunday afternoon, which will see Austria take on Italy and Denmark face Germany. With six points and sitting atop the Group D standings, the Danes hold their Olympic destiny in their hands.