There was a strange juxtaposition in the Greek women’s league today: the first game of the new year also marked the end of the first phase of the 2022/2023 season.
Predictably, Olympiacos won their eleventh straight league victory over Ethnikos (13-10), although they had to work for it on this occasion. Meanwhile, there was another clash involving two teams at the top-end of the table, as Glyfada also defeated their opponents, Alimos, by three scores (7-4).
In the slightly less competitive games, Vouliagmeni defeated Patra by ten (17-7), while PAOK downed Rethymnou 18-10 in Crete.
Larissa suffered a damaging defeat to AEK, while Panionios continued to occupy the mid-field with a 11-7 win over Peristeri.
Due to their participation in the Euro Cup next weekend, Ethnikos and Glyfada will have to reschedule their upcoming matches.
Olympiacos 13 – 10 Ethnikos (3-4, 2-1, 4-1, 4-4)
Olympiacos: C. Diamantopoulou, S. Santa 2, I. Chydirioti 1, Z. Tzortzakaki, F. Tricha, E. Xenaki 1, C. Siouti 1, D. Drakotou 2, S. Tornarou, V. Plevritou 3, K. Christmas 1, M. Myriokefalitaki 2, I. Stamatopoulou, A. Christodoulou-Out, M. Papadopoulou.
Ethnikos: Sotireli, A. Karampetsou, M. Borisova 4, V. Laskaridou, I. Kontoni, E. Beta, F. Chatzikyriakaki 1, A. Benekou 2, S. Georgousi, E. Kanetidou 1, L. Benekou 1, A. Andrews 1, A. Bekri, E. Katsipri, Klapsianou.
With a win on derby day against Piraeus rivals Ethnikos, Olympiacos set the tone for a successful 2023.
A hat-trick from Vasiliki Plevritou, and braces from Stefania Santa, Maria Myriokefalitaki and Desposina Drakotou helped secure an eleventh straight league victory this campaign, against the same team they defeated in the LEN Supercup Final in their last fixture of 2022.
It was a far closer affair than that final just under three weeks ago.
Ethnikos led after eight minutes, and were level at the half-time interval (5-5). The Red-Whites carved an important gap in the third, and while Ethnikos had chances in the last two minutes, Aleksandar Ciric’s side shut-out the blues, ending their opponent’s four game winning streak in the league.
Mariia Borisova was the brightest spark for Stefano Leandros’ team, with the Russian summer signing scoring four times.
Alimos NAC 4 – 7 ANO Glyfada (1-3, 0-1, 1-1, 2-2)
Alimos: E. Lazaris, N. Chaldaiou 2, E. Kovasevic, N. Piovan 1, J. Lykothanasis 1, E. Paterou, A. Asimaki, S. Logothetis, L. Mihailovic, M. Bitsakou, E. Tsimara, I. Helmi, M. Karagianni, S. Kyrkou, E. Bitchaku.
Glyfada: E. Karytsa, P. Ninou, T. Moustakaria, I. Wolves, E. Grigoropoulou, Irini Ninou 3, E. Antoniadis, I. Kanellopoulou, I. Koolhaas, E. Fountotnou 2, L. Katsoni, S. Kontogianni 2, V. Tsiara, R. Kakaidi, A. Madenoglou.
Glyfada are up to third in the league, at least for now, after an entertaining 7-4 win over Alimos NAC.
In a low-scoring, but hugely fun watch, it was Thodoris Andreakis’ team who got off to the better start, and managed the game well.
Eirini Ninou bagged three goals, while Eleftheria Fountotou and Stamatina Kontogianni each scored twice in the game.
After a little bit of a shaky start to the season, Glyfada are now making up ground on all fronts. They sit in third in the league (with a game extra than Vouliagmeni), and have a Champions League quarter-final to look forward to against Italian Champions, Ekipe Orizzonte.
It’s Alimos’ third defeat in four games, after winning all of their previous seven contests from October through to early december.
NE Patra 7 – 17 NC Vouliagmeni (3-3, 2-4, 1-5, 1-5)
Patra: L. Steenbeek, A. Androutseli, V. Zofoli, A. Krina, E. Tsimara, M. Balatsa 3, M. Petasi 1, D. Koureta 2, O. Moirali 1, I. Paraskevopoulou, D. Kontakou, A. Kontakou, N. Michalatou, I. Rack
Vouliagmeni: M. Kotsioni, S. Kaifa 1, D. Kalogeropoulou, E. Elliniadi 7, A. Giannopoulou 1, A. Ridge 1, Vidali, E. Wright 2, K. Stratidaki 1, D. Andreadi 2, M. Mimidi, F. Angelidi1, E. Patra, E. Markatseli, N. Krassa 1.
Vouliagmeni won their second game of the calendar year this afternoon, following up their comfortable 9-4 duel with PAOK with a ten-score victory over Patra.
Eleni Elliniadi continues her sublime goal-scoring form this season with another seven goal haul – the third time she has hit that number so far this season. The Greek international is now up to 38 goals in 10 games.
The Nautical Club couldn’t shake their opponents in the first half, with Kiki Liosi’s side only able to build a two-goal lead at half-time. However, into the second half, the floodgates opened, and consecutive 5-1 quarters for Vouliagmeni eventually made the result comfortable.
In her second appearance for the club, Canadian international Emma Wright netted two scores. Wright was absent in the first half of the season, owing to academic commitments with the Cal Bears; she will, however, be available for next week’s Euro Cup fixtures.
NC Rethymnou 10 – 18 PAOK (1-5, 4-3, 3-4, 2-6)
Rethymnou: M. Poulopoulou, D. Lampathaki, B. Doyle 2, K. Kyriakaki 6, E. Farmaki, N. Tsiougri, M. Zafeiraki, A. Sanchez 1, M. Tsakonaki, S. Libitaki 1, A. Libitaki, Z. Myriokefalitaki, E. Libitaki.
PAOK: E. Lerioti, A. Bikou 2, E. Pustinikova, E. Tzelepi, M. Karypidou 6, I. Paraskevopoulou 1, P. Graikou 2, D. Fragia 5, C. Tsaka 1, A. Tzourka, I. Karypidou 1.
The first game of the new year saw PAOK secure their third win of the season, in a 18-10 defeat over Rethymnou in Chania.
Six goals from Melina Karpidou and five from Despina Fragia guided the Thessalonians to three points – with Panagitosis Vergos’ team enjoying a sharp start, and an assured finish to the game.
Katia Kyriakaki bagged a double hat-trick for the side from Crete, but they remain rooted to the bottom of the table, with their solitary point this season coming in a 9-9 draw with AEK in early November.
AEK 13 – 9 NC Larissa (3-2, 2-3, 5-2, 3-2)
AEK: D. Nigro, K. McKenty 3, E. Georgiou 1, H. Biniari, A. Kalaitzi 2, A. Gilla 3, A. Frangelaki 1, E. Roumelioti 1, E. Liapaki 1, A. Peteinatou, K. Michaelidou 1
Larissa: E. Archontaki, A. Kokkinou 2, I. Touloumtzidou 1, C. Zmpita, A. Safeti, A. Koltsida 1, G. Sakellariou, K. Rogers 1, T. Galanopoulou 2, M. Mastori 1, A. Clapperton 1.
AEK secured an important three points over Larissa this afternoon to go above today’s opponents in the league.
Hat-tricks from New Zealand international Katie McKenty, and twenty-two year old Angeliki Gilla helped Marko Misic’s team to their second victory of the season, and nudged the Yellow-Blacks into 9th in the A1.
Three consecutive goals after half-time opened up a 10-7 advantage for the Athletic Union, and that gave the hosts something to hold onto for the rest of the game.
Panionios GSS 11 – 7 Peristeri SC (1-2, 4-1, 2-2, 4-2)
Panionios: L. Mavrotas, Mouzi, E. Mavrotas, M. Bogachenko 3, A .Kotsafti, M. Mastrokallou, M. Galiatsatou, E. Loudis 1, C. Kotsia 3, A. Loudis 1, D. Papanastasiou 3, A. Papanastasiou, C. Kassiou, M. Thomopoulou,
Peristeri: C. Zafeiraki, A. Kolitsopoulou 2, S. Fragaki, E. Grozopoulou 1, C. Apostolidou, D. Konstantopoulou 1, E. Loukopoulou, E. Berikou, P. Petta 1, D. Bekiri, M. Kassari 1, M. Gotzia 1, S. Kovasevitis, A. Papasifaki
Hat-tricks scored by Christina Kotsia, Dimitra Papanastasiou and Maria Bogachenko spearheaded Panionios to an 11-7 victory over Peristeri.
In their sixth victory of the season, Vangelis Patras’ team had a slow start, but eased themselves into the contest. They trailed in the first, but took the lead in the second, and never lost it from there.
Peristeri have only won one game all season, and were slightly unlucky not to take anything from today’s game.
Standings
- Olympiacos – 11 – 33pts
- NC Vouliagmeni – 10 – 25pts
- Glyfada – 11 – 25pts
- Alimos NAC – 11 – 24pts
- Ethnikos – 10 – 21pts
- Panionios GSS – 10 – 18pts
- NE Patra – 11 – 15pts
- PAOK – 11 -12pts
- AEK – 11 – 7pts
- NC Larissa – 10 – 6pts
- Peristeri SC – 11 – 3pts
- NC Rethymnou – 11 – 1pts
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