Neuberg Highlanders Crush Gipsy Girls Villach, 11-2

Photo Courtesy of Harmut Marchl

The Neuberg Highlanders remain undefeated in the Damen Eishockey Bundes Liga (DEBL), as they beat the Gipsy Girls Villach, 11-2, on Saturday in Villach.  With the win, the Highlanders improved to a 7-0 record in DEBL while Villach falls to 1-7.

The Highlanders struck first as defender Jessica Jenkins skated with the puck into Villach's zone.  She shot the puck and captured her own rebound, sliding the puck passed the goaltender.  At the 10-minute mark in the first period, I was able to score a goal on the powerplay giving the Highlanders a 2-0 lead.  Four minutes later, I scored my second powerplay goal of the game.  I beat Villach's defender but was tripped.  As I was falling to the ice, I slid the puck between the goaltender's five-hole. 

Photo Courtesy of Harmut Marchl

The Highlanders were able to put one last tally on the scoreboard before the period ended.  Evelyn "Eve" Hochegger scored the final goal for the Highlanders.  The Gipsy Girls capitalized on one play and scored their first goal of the game.

Neuberg entered the second period with a 4-1 lead, but Villach came out bursting with speed, determined to tie the game.  The second period proved to be the Highlanders' worst period as they were unable to score even one goal while Villach cut its deficit to two goals.

Photo Courtesy of Harmut Marchl

As the Highlanders stepped onto the ice for the third period only leading 4-2, they proposed shortening the bench to two lines if the Gipsy Girls scored another goal.  I told the captains that they were not going to score, and they didn't!  The Highlanders scored seven unanswered goals in the third period and finished the game with an 11-2 victory.  Seven different Highlanders contributed goals in the game.  I received credit for three goals, while Hochegger and Julia Willenshofer scored two goals each.  Jenkins, Bettina Angerer, Sabrina Schlauer, and Katja Weiss each put one puck in the net.

The Highlanders play their final game of the 2011 year against HDK Maribor on Sunday at 4 p.m. in Kapfenberg.