GZC Donk and ZV De Zaan advanced to the final of the Dutch Men’s League playoffs. The teams from Gouda and Alphen were the favorites for spots in the final, considering the fact that GZC finished in 1st, and AZC in 2nd place in the regular season.
ZV De Zaan qualified for the final after two convincing wins over Polar Bears.
The semifinal series between GZC Donk and AZC saw three games played between Friday and Sunday. AZC surprised GZC in the first match in Gouda, but the favorite recovered and cruised to wins in the next two games.
GZC Donk and ZV De Zaan will also meet in the women’s championship final.
2022/23 Dutch Men’s League, Playoffs, Semifinals (best of three)
Pair 1
GZC Donk – AZC 5:6 (0:2, 1:2, 2:1, 2:1)
GZC Donk: Veenhuis 1,Wouderwoudt 1, Van IJperen 1, Van der Weijden 1, Winkelhorst 1.
AZC Alphen : Filipovic 2,Reuten 1, Lindhout 1, Van Gulik 1, Jovanovic 1.
AZC – GZC Donk 7:13 (1:3, 3:4, 1:2, 2:4)
AZC: Nispeling 2, Rouwenhorst 2,Filipovic 1, Kombrink 1, Lindhout 1.
GZC Donk: Van den Heuvel 4, Winkelhorst 2, Van der Weijden 2, Veenhuis 2, Westerwoudt 1, Van IJperen 1, Sjardijn 1.
GZC Donk – AZC 15:4 (4:1, 3:2, 3:0, 5:1)
GZC Donk: Winkelhorst 4, Veenhuis 3, Van der Weijden 3, Van den Heuvel 1, Brugué 1,Van IJperen 1, Schouwerwou 1, Westerwoudt 1.
AZC: Van den Heuvel 2, Nispeling 1, Reuten 1.
AZC opened the first match in Gouda with a surprising 5:1 lead. GZC wasted too many man-ups and paid for it. However, midway through the third period, the hosts started coming back. GZC Donk leveled at 5:5 in the 28th minute. Still, shortly after, Van Gulik put AZC in front again (6:5), and AZC couldn’t equalize again.
The duel in Alphen offered a completely different storyline. GZC quickly took a 3:0 lead. AZC cut the deficit (2:3), but the visitors responded with two goals, for 5:2 lead. By the end of the first half, GZC went to 7:3 and controlled the game in the second half.
The semifinal series ended with GZC’s convincing victory in Gouda. GZC dictated the pace from the beginning. AZC’s hopes were alive until the second quarter when the visitors trailed by two goals (3:5). Then the game turned into a lopsided contest. GZC scored nine goals in a row and flew to a 14:3 lead.
Pair 2
ZV De Zaan – Polar Bears 17:10 (6:1, 4:3, 2:3, 5:3)
ZV De Zaan: Lucas 5, Brantjes 3, Corver 3, Mandolini 2, Ketelaars 1, Meijn 1, Bakker 1, Rempt 1.
Polar Bears: Ten Broek 7, Szoke 1, Kunz 1, Roels 1.
Polar Bears – ZV De Zaan 10:14 (3:4, 1:4, 4:4, 2:2)
Polar Bears: Ten Broek 3, Szoke 3, Van der Horst 2, Scherrenburg 1, Wijgers 1.
ZV De Zaan: Brantjes 4, Janssen 3, Van der Struijk 2, Mandolini 2, Rempt 1, Corver 1, Meijn 1.
ZV De Zaan left no chance to Polar Bears in the first game in Zaandam. The hosts rushed to a 7:1 lead and there was no way back for Polar Bears.
The encounter between the same rivals in Ede was slightly more interesting. Still, ZV De Zaan secured a solid advantage in time. At halftime, ZV De Zaan led 8:4 and stretched the margin to five early in the third quarter (9:4). Polar Bears were able to reduce the gap to three once (8:11), but they didn’t endanger the visitors’ win.
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