In the Netherlands, the semi-finals of the KNZB Cup were on the program on Saturday. Among the men, Het Ravijn and UZSC qualified for the final battle. Among the women ZV De Zaan and UZSC are the finalists. Both finals will be played on June 6 in The Hague.
Men
Het Ravijn recorded a great victory over AZC. In Alphen aan den Rijn, the team from Nijverdal led the entire game and it became 9:12. In the second period, the visitors made a gap of four goals (3:7), but AZC almost completely wiped out that in the third act. Andreas Miralis, Jacoppo Mandolini and Nathan de Zwaan brought their team to 6-7 and all the way back into the game. It remained exciting until 7:8, but then Emiel Wouters and the Gottemaker brothers put things in order. Their goals gave Het Ravijn another comfortable lead (7:11). Mandolini did something back, but with the 9:12 more than a minute before the final whistle, topscorer Lars Gottemaker closed the game.
Het Ravijn will meet UZSC in the final. The team from Utrecht eliminated national champion GZC Donk (11:9). The home team was long behind, but the turning point came in the third period. Gies Wijnhoven, Benjamin Hoepelman and Tim de Mey bent the score towards Utrecht’s advantage (7:6). With that, however, the game was anything but over. An exciting final phase followed. GZC Donk tied the score three more times, but Joost van der Burg and Bram van den Bersselaar ultimately decided the match in Utrecht’s favour.
Women
ZV De Zaan put the brand new national champion aside in a blistering game with 8:9. Until the team of Arjan Vos got it on his hips in the last period, both teams gave each other nothing. Takyiwa Sam, Yara Galjé and Siggrid Vleeshakker then created a gap of three goals. The final sprint of Polar Bears with goals from Storm Willemsen and Jill Oort could not prevent a ZV De Zaan-victory.Â
UZSC had it a lot easier. With 20:11, Joachim de Ruijsscher’s team sent GZC Donk back to Gouda. In the first period (6:2) the home team immediately made clear who was in charge in Utrecht, a sharp Isabella van Toorn (six goals) could not change that. After that, UZSC steadily expanded the score. Nerida Drewes was the most productive on the Utrecht side. She also netted six times.
KNZB Cup semi finals
Saturday May 29
Men
AZC – Het Ravijn 9:12 (2:3, 2:4, 2:0, 3:5)
AZC: Jacoppo Mandolini 3, Nathan de Zwaan 3, Andreas Miralis 1, Laszlo Balasz Nagy 1, Attila Kincses 1.
Het Ravijn: Lars Gottemaker 5, Emiel Wouters 2, Bas ter Brake 1, Sander Veltkamp 1, Yoran Loos 1, Rob Gottemaker 1, Jorrit Aanstoot 1.
UZSC – GZC Donk 11:9 (1:3, 3:2, 3:1, 4:3)
UZSC: Tim de Mey 2, Bram van den Bersselaar 2, Benjamin Hoepelman 2, Joep de Jong 1, Jeroen Rouwenhorst 1, Sebastian Hessels 1, Joost van der Burg 1, Gies Wijnhoven 1.Â
GZC Donk: Tijs Schouwerwou 3, Ton van der Velden 2, Erik Brugué 2, Mart van der Weijden 1, Daan Schouwerwou 1.  Â
Women
Polar Bears – ZV De Zaan 8:9 (1:1, 2:2, 3:3, 2:3)
Polar Bears: Feline Voordouw 2, Jill Oort 2, Laura Schinkel 1, Storm Willemsen 1, Aniek Roekvenisch 1, Britt van den Dobbelsteen 1 (o.g.).   Â
ZV De Zaan: Lieke Rogge 3, Yara Galjé 3, Takyiwa Sam 2, Sigrid Vleeshakker 1.Â
UZSC – Widex GZC Donk 20:11 (6:2, 6:4, 4:2, 4:3) Â
UZSC: Nerida Drewes 6, Hanna Hogervorst 4, Esther Scheij 2, Sam Jutte 2, Marese Borgts 2, Saloua Maafi 1, Danique Lauritsen 1, Anne van Rossum 1, Marijn Borst 1.
GZC Donk: Isabella van Toorn 6, Marit van der Weijden 3, Viviane Kretzmann Bahia 1, Sabine Bergsma 1.
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