Can Donk prevent De Zaan’s domestic treble?

Only De Zaan and GZC remain in the Dutch championship race. 

In the playoff semi-finals, both teams continued to demonstrate why they are the best in the league, with De Zaan bossing UZSC 14-8 in the first semi-final, while Donk outscored the Polar Bears at a 2:1 ratio (12-6). 

Coincidentally, both Zaan and Donk defeated their opponents by an identical scoreline of 13-5 in their respective semi-final second legs. 

The finals will be played this weekend between 12th-14th May, in what promises to be a series of fiercely-contested title deciders. 

2022/2023 Dutch Women’s League, play-offs, semi-finals 

ZV De Zaan 14 – 8 UZSC (4-0, 5-2, 1-3, 4-3)
De Zaan: E. Alander, L. Rogge 3, L. den Ouden, M. Schaap 2, T. Sam 2, E. Roijen 1, S. Vleeshakker 1, M. Koopman 2, D. Sap 1, K. Joustra 1, M. van Tol, B. Rogge 1, B. van den Dobbelsteen.
UZSC: S. Maafi 2, S. Jutte 1, K. van der Veen 4, S. Bijkerk, H. Hogervorst 1, A. van Rossum, I. Keijzer, K. Haksteen, N. Drewes, R. Jutte, M. Borst, A. Langenhorst. 

GZC Donk 12 – 6 Polar Bears (2-0, 4-1, 3-2, 3-3)
Donk: S. Keijzer, M. van der Weijden 3, B. Sleeking 3, A. Vermeulen 1, D. Verhulst, G. van Dijk 1, M. Keuning 1, L. Krukenberg 1, S. Vos 2, I. Snoeij, S. Bergsma, K. Schonewille, D. Willemsz.
Polar Bears: L. van Holland, K. Heerink, J. Oort, F. Ingels, N. van de Geijn, S. Willemsen 1, L. Schinkel 2, S. Slot, A. Roekevisch 1, F. Voordouw 2, T. van der Elst, J. Dikmans, F. Broere. 

UZSC 5 – 13 ZV De Zaan (1-3, 2-3, 0-4, 2-3)
UZSC: S. Maafi, S. Jutte, K. van der Veen, S. Bijkerk 1, H. Hogervorst, A. van Rossum 2, I. Keijzer, K. Haksteen, N. Drewes, R. Jutte, L. van Wingerden, A. Langenhorst.
De Zaan: E. Alander, L. Rogge 4, L. den Ouden 2, M. Schaap, T. Sam 2, E. Roijen, S. Vleeshakker, M. Koopman 3, D. Sap, K. Joustra 1, M. van Tol, B. Rogge 1, B. van den Dobbelsteen

Polar Bears 5 – 13 GZC Donk (1-2, 0-4, 3-5, 1-2)
Polar Bears: L. van Holland, K. Heerink, J. Oort 1, F. Ingels, N. van de Geijn, S. Willemsen 1, L. Schinkel 1, S. Slot, A. Roekevisch, F. Voordouw 1, T. van der Elst, J. Dikmans 1, F. Broere.
Donk: S. Keijzer, M. van der Weijden 1, B. Sleeking 1, A. Vermeulen, D. Verhulst, G. van Dijk 2, M. Keuning 1, L. Krukenberg 1, S. Vos 1, I. Snoeij 1, S. Bergsma 5, K. Schonewille, D. Willemsz. 

There were no complications for De Zaan or GZC Donk in progressing into the play-off finals; the best two teams throughout this season in the Netherlands will meet at least twice more to determine the best team of the Dutch realm. 

De Zaan, the top dogs in the regular season, had an easy time dispatching UZSC in their semifinal encounters. They came out firing in the first game, racing to a commanding 4-0 lead before cruising to a 9-2 halftime advantage. The outcome was never in doubt from there, with Mick van den Bree’s ladies booking their spot in the final with ease. The second match was a slightly tougher affair, but once again, De Zaan proved too hot to handle for their Utrecht-based opponents. The standout performer for the North-West Amsterdam outfit was Lieke Rogge, who continued her incredible season with seven goals over the two matches.

GZC Donk, the eleven-time champions, returned to the championship finals after dethroning the two-time reigning champs Polar Bears in straight sets. Ingrid Veenhuis-Scholten’s troops were at their consistent best over both games, with Marit van der Weijden and Brigitte Sleeking putting in excellent displays in the first match with three scores each. The second leg belonged to Sabine Bergsma, who shone brightly to help guide her team to the final.

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