Machine-translated from Hungarian.
After two league matches, two wins and a goal difference of 20–1, we played the top-of-the-table clash in the Western Group on Saturday at the Győr University Ice Sports Center: in our third Andersen League match of the season, we hosted MAC Budapest AHC, who were also unbeaten with six points. Last year, each team claimed one victory against the other: in November, MAC won 4–3 in Győr, whilst in February, we won 7–3 in Budapest. There were 270 spectators in the stands, and Martin Szeles started in goal, making his second competitive appearance of the season following the Hungarian Cup opener.
The match got off to a dream start: in the 37th second, István Szűcs, set up by Sebestyén Csata, went one-on-one, pulled the puck past the visitors’ goalkeeper, Földes, and tucked it into the far corner (1–0). We had two power-play opportunities in the first period – following penalties to Szalmás and Prém – but were unable to score another goal. We received a penalty at the end of the period, so we started the second period a man down. The shot count for the first period was 13–12.
In the 2nd minute of the second period, Zsitva equalised whilst on the power play (1–1). In the 28th minute, following a 5+20-minute penalty, another penalty followed within half a minute, and Zsitva scored again whilst we were two men down (1–2). In the 33rd minute, we found ourselves two men down again, and Kaposi extended MAC’s lead (1–3). As, under this year’s rules, a goal conceded whilst shorthanded no longer ends the penalty, the visitors’ power play continued, and 25 seconds later Zsitva completed his hat-trick (1–4).
Then our chance came: following penalties for Csicsmann and Prém, we had a two-man advantage in the 35th minute, but Földes kept us at bay. We pulled one back shortly afterwards, with both teams at full strength: Benedek Madácsi scored from passes by István Szűcs and István Süveg (2–4). The final stages of the period were punctuated by further penalties, but no further goals were scored.
We played the opening minutes of the final period a man down, but we didn’t concede a goal. We won the shot count 15–9 in that period; in the 50th minute, during Kaposi’s penalty, we were once again able to attack with a man advantage, but the visitors’ goal remained impenetrable. In the 59th minute, we called a time-out, then, with Martin Szeles pulled, we launched a six-on-five attack, but Földes continued to make flawless saves right up to the final whistle. The MAC goalkeeper made a total of 38 saves, whilst Martin Szeles finished with 30 saves.
We suffered our first defeat in the fourth competitive match of the season: after three league matches, we have six points and are in second place in the Western Group table, three points behind MAC. The two teams will meet again in Budapest on 5 December. Thank you to the 270 supporters for their encouragement! Next up is international action: from Wednesday to Friday, we’ll be hosting the University of Győr Hockey Cup V in the EUHL at the Győr University Ice Sports Center, where we’ll take to the ice every evening at 6:30 pm – on Wednesday against Opole United, on Thursday against PUHA SELECT, and on Friday against DEAC.
Hajrá UNI GYŐR ETO!
UNI GYŐR ETO HC vs MAC Budapest AHC: 2 – 4 (AL54)
Goalscorers: #97 István Szűcs, #18 Benedek Madácsi (UNI GYŐR ETO), #39 Zsitva (3), #23 Kaposi (MAC)
Photos from the showdown with MAC are in the gallery.
Fotó: @_jl.photo_ (Jáksy Lili)