SOFIA - The U18 national women's team played the third match of its World Championship campaign in Division 2 Group B in Bulgaria's capital Sofia today, Jan. 12. Opponent South Africa was no match for the Belgians and was defeated by double digits.
From the start of the match, it was clear that the Belgian Blades were the better team. In the first period, Camille Sommerschuh (#18) manifested herself as Team Belgium's top scorer by hitting a gap with a hat trick. Both in the second and third periods, she scored once again.
A fourth goal followed in the fourth minute of the second period through Julia Pasztaleniec (#23) and seconds later Lola Gestels (#15) also drilled the puck past the South African goalie. And then things move quickly. The Belgian Blades dominate the defensive zone of the 'Rhinos' and the goals follow each other through Anais Lambrechts (#6), Louise Paulissen (#17), Linnore Saunders (#9) and finally Camille Sommerschuh (#18) again.
In the last period, the Belgians are all over the place, outsmarting the South African goalie four more times through Camille Sommerschuh (#18) once more, Fenna Semples (#22), Xiara Dobbelaere (#12) and Lola Gestels (#15) who netted her second goal.
"This is a great win that we will take to the next game. The newcomers to the team have had a lot of playing opportunities and can take confidence from this," said coach Tim Vos. "Also noteworthy is that five of the goals were '1st goals' by the team's rookies."
Team Belgium is tentatively in third place in the standings.
Final score: 13-0 (3-0; 6-0; 4-0)
MVP Team BEL: Louise Paulissen (#17)
Results
08.01 – 19:00 - BEL vs. BUL: 1-0
09.01 – 15:30 – BEL vs. ISL: 0-1
11.01 – 12:00 – BEL vs. RSA: 13-0
13.01 – 19:00 - NZL vs. BEL
14.01 – 19:00 – MEX vs. BEL
Link IIHF