The second day of the Pythia Cup in Itea exhibited some tasty match-ups, with all the games being close in the pool and on the scoresheets.
Hungary and Greece tied 11-11 in both nations first game today, before the Dutch beat the Junior Aussie Stingers 12-11 at lunchtime. The Magyars then defeated the Netherlands 12-10, before Greece lost by just a single score, 12-11, to the United States this evening.
The first game of the day was a really entertaining contest, with nothing to separate the two teams after 32 minutes. Greece looked like they might pull away in the third, taking a three goal lead with scores from Sofia Tornarou, Dionysia Koureta and Christina Siouti (2), but Hungary fought their way back level to 10-10 thanks to a significant contribution from Kata Hajdu (5 goals in the match).
Vasiliki Laskaridou thought she had maybe won the match for her side with 1:40 left in the 4th, but Zoe Lendvay had other ideas – securing a draw for her side with 23 seconds left off a power-play opportunity.
The second game in Itea was an equally gripping affair, with the Netherlands coming from 4-0 in the first to beat Australia. The Junior Stingers started on the front foot, with scores courtesy of Molly Nasser, Taafili Taoso, Layla Smith and Allegra Childs putting them out ahead early on.
But five consecutive scores in the third period for the Oranges (Lola Moolhuijzen 2, Nina van de Geijn and Esmee Roijen) made it 8-8 going into the 4th quarter. The final 8 minutes were nip and tuck, but two goals in two attacks from Moolhuijzen and Feline Voordouw with just under two minutes to go decided the outcome of the match.
After a few hours break, Hungary and the Netherlands were back in the pool, and it was the Magyars that triumphed 12-10. The Dutch were 3-2 up after the first quarter, but a double from Panni Szegedi helped Hungary take a 5-4 lead at halftime.
From there on, the Hungarians never let the lead go, despite a second half hat-trick from Noa De Vries – who is well known to the Hungarians, having spent last season playing in the Hungarian OB I at Szentes.
In the last game under the lights, the United States had enough quality to beat their hosts, running out 12-11 winners.
Four American players, who made their debuts with the senior team at the Intercontinental Cup in Lima all showed their quality tonight – with Emily Ausmus, Margaret Johnson, Ava Stryker and Jenna Flynn all registering goals for the United States. Ella Woodhead, sister of Dylan from the United States Men’s National Team, had a fantastic game at centre.
Olympiacos’s Foteini Tricha was excellent for the Greeks, but her four goals wasn’t enough to maintain their unbeaten record at this year’s Pythia Cup.
Today’s Results
Greece 11-11 Hungary (3-3, 3-2, 4-2, 1-4)
Greece: M. Karagianni, S. Santa, D. Kalogeropoulou, C. Siouti 3, E. Tsimara, N. Chaldaiou 1, S. Tornarou 4, D. Koureta 1, D. Andreadi, F. Tricha 1, V. Laskaridou 1, M. Kassari, E. Konstantopoulou,
Hungary: L. Torma, T. Aubeli, F. Fekete 2, K. Hajdu 5, E. Macsai ,1 C. Jonkl, Z. Lendvay 2, E. Varro 1, P. Szegedi, Z. Koka, R. Irmes, V. Bonca, S. Golopencza
Australia 11-12 Netherlands (4-0, 1-3, 3-5, 3-4)
Australia: A. Nasser 2, L. Downes, L. Elliot, M. Ogg 1, T. Dawkins, K. Taoso 1, G. Chapman, S. Green 1, L. Smith 3, A. Childs 3, A. Watt, A. Cowan
Netherlands: L. Bakker, A. De Koeijer, L. Den Ouden 2, L. Moolhuijzen 5, A. Roekevisch, N. Van de Geijn 2, L. Van Wingerden, S. Slot 1, R. Jutte, F. Voordouw 1, E. Roijen 1, J. Dikmans, J. Sinnema
Hungary 12-10 Netherlands (2-3, 3-1, 4-5, 3-3)
Hungary: L. Torma, K. Hajdu 2, E. Varro 2, C. Jonkl 1, E. Macsai, P. Tiba 1, Z. Lendvay 2, N. Golopencza, P. Szegedi 3, Z. Koka, R. Irmes 1, V, Bonca, S. Golopencza
Netherlands: L. Bakker, N. De Vries 5, L. Den Ouden 1, L. Moolhuijzen, A. Roekevisch, N. Van de Geijn, L. Van Wingerden, S. Slot 1, R. Jutte, J. Jutte, E. Roijen 1, J. Dikmans, J. Sinnema
Greece 11-12 United States (1-3, 3-3, 3-3, 4-3)
Greece: M. Karagianni, S. Santa 2, D. Kalogeropoulou, C. Siouti 2, E. Tsimara 1, N. Chaldaiou 2, S. Tornarou, D. Koureta, D. Andreadi, F. Tricha 4, V. Laskaridou, M. Gkotzia, E. Konstantopoulou
United States: C, Carpenter, R. Gazzaniga 1, G. Rossi, E. Ausmus 2, H. Dawkins, M. Johnson 2, A. Stryker 2, J. Flynn 3, J. Bonaguidi, J. Snyder, Q. Healy 1, E. Woodhead 1, L. Steele
Tomorrow’s Fixtures
10.30 – United States vs Hungary
12.00 – Australia vs Greece
