It’s been a little while, but here’s the match report of the weekend team’s first game of the season, away against DKOD. It quickly became clear that the team wasn’t entirely in sync yet when transportation had to be arranged. Half of the team decided to warm up by cycling to the game despite the dreadful weather [which was not thad bad – red.], while the other half chose to conserve their energy by taking the bus.
After a warm-up featuring, according to some, very danceable warm-up music, the first match of the Débaldérin weekend team in years was about to start. The first attack lineup consisted of Tirza, Lara, Deen, and Tom. In defense, Willemijn, Tine, Bart, and Matthijs started. We came out of the gates strong, scoring two quick goals in the first attack. Unfortunately, the floor was quite dusty, which seemed to suit the opponent’s style of play more than ours. While our aim wasn’t fully calibrated in this first game, we still managed to score a few goals in the first half. The opponent, on the other hand, focused on closer-range attempts, including several successful running-in shots.
We entered halftime with a 6-8 score. During the break, substitutions were made: Sara came in for Willemijn, Marieke replaced Matthijs, and Nathalie took Tirza’s spot. The changes brought fresh energy to the game. Nathalie managed to block a seemingly unstoppable goal, only to score one herself in the next attack under similar pressure. Unfortunately, not every attempt was successful; we even missed a penalty shot (Bitterballen!). In the second half, the opponent shifted their strategy, focusing on short-range opportunities for the male players near the post. As the game progressed, DKOD steadily closed the gap. In a nail-biting final phase, where the game could have gone either way, the deciding factor was a high lob to a tall player under the post in the last minute. Unfortunately, the game ended with a narrow 17-16 loss.
Despite the tough result, this match gives us plenty of hope for the rest of the season. We clearly see opportunities for the return game. A bit more team synergy and, as coach Kamiel suggests, some shooting practice, and the weekend team has a promising season ahead. Heads held high as we move on to the next match!
Scorers: Nathalie 4x, Bart 4x, Tom 3x, Tine 2x, Lara 2x, Tirza 1x