19. January 2025
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SaiPa – SB-Pro 2-1 SD (0-0, 0-0, 1-1, 1-x)

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

For the second F-Liiga match in January 2025, I traveled from Helsinki to Lappeenranta. The 18th January 2025 match was very interesting from multiple perspectives. The guest, SB-Pro Nurmijärvi, is my favorite team in Finland. I looked forward to see them again and also to see Elina Kujala in the rink. On the other hand, SaiPä comes with two German National Team players in their squad in the 2024/25 season. However, both, Anna-Lena Best and Lara Schubert, could not play due to illness – the latter is even out with a long-term perspective. Nonetheless, I was really looking forward to that trip to Lappeenrannan Urheilutalo.

This posting comes with a section of 396 major size pictures in the sports galleries. 

 

SaiPa – SB-Pro – Match Report

Some 238 saw the Women F-Liiga match. The first period has rather been a treat for floorball strategists. Especially SB-Pro held the ball very long deep in their own defense with scattered rotation, trying to find the right opportunity to find a gap in the opponent’s defense. Until the power break, this rarely happened. And even if so, the two netminders, Mia Maaranen and Milla Jaatinen, had a really good day. Even a bench penalty against Elsa Holopainen later in the period did not change too much. First, SB-Pro did a nice power play formation without having really good shots. Later, they even allowed the short-handed team to keep the ball behind their own goal line. This strongly reminded me of parts of the EräViikingit vs. Classic men’s match I saw the day before. Not too surprisingly, the first period ended without a score – luckily, there was just a 12 minute intermission in Lappeenranta, in contrast to the lengthy 18 minute one the day before.

 

No Score after 40 Minutes as well

A bit of sarcastically, I would say that the first two minutes of the second period had more action than the first period as a whole. Both teams tried to push for a goal from the very beginning. The best opportunity had Venla Huuhko, who just hit the post in the 22nd minute. SaiPa felt a more active, but both goalies kept their nets clean, also when SB-Pro launched some nice counter attacks. Even though the match slowed down a bit later in the second period, the match was interesting. There was a bit of physical action towards the end of the period, but the referees did their job well and could leave the rink for the second break with a smile.

 

Holopainen and M. Hiertamäki break the Curse

At the beginning of the third period, the guests felt to gain the momentum. However, the first cheer for a goal was by the local fans. After 43 minutes, Holopainen sniped the ball into the corner of Jaatinen’s goal and gave her team the lead. However, this was one of only two shots on goal by her team in the entire period. SB-Pro tried to push for the tie, but the SaiPa defense majorly acted smart. Nonetheless, with some five minutes left to play, the guests’ top scorer Mirja Hietamäki relieved the pressure from her team and successfully completed a right wing attack. Both teams now acted concentrated and disciplined in defense, so that the match went into overtime.

 

Holopainen finishes the match

After just 59 seconds in overtime, Holopainen was in focus again. She converted a fast played free hit pass by Miisa Turunen and gave her team the victory with the first first shot in this decider.

 

SaiPa – SB-Pro – Lineups

SaiPa: 98 Miia Maaranen, 12 Sara-Sofia Rapo – 5 Moona Poskiparta, 6 Miisa Turunen, 8 Saana Luostarinen, 10 Siiri Tuutti, 16 Saana Karilahti, 19 Amelia Ukkonen, 20 Ella-Mari Kettunen, 22 Lotta Lindi, 28 Veera Lokka, 31 Elina Suutari, 32 Essi Räsänen, 49 Venla Huuhko, 75 Elsa Holopainen, 79 Vilma Halkola, 93 Aino Partinen

SB-Pro: 16 Milla Jaatinen, 36 Jenna Makkonen – 5 Annika Toivanen, 8 Sofia Lehtomäki, 10 Julia Turunen, 12 Anna Hiltunen, 14 Jenni Torkki, 15 Jasmin Jänkä, 17 Sade Puolakka, 18 Elina Kujala, 20 Emmi Lindh, 22 Laura Hietamäki, 23 Veronika Kopecka, 31 Aada Isometsä, 33 Mirja Hietamäki, 42 Jenni Rautanen, 55 Saara Puurunen, 87 Milja-Maria Saarikoski

 

SaiPa – SB-Pro – Gallery

In the sports gallery, there is a designated major size picture gallery with 396 pictures of this match at

 

SaiPa – SB-Pro – My View of the Match

After a slow start, the match had more and more interesting moments thereafter, with a dramatic sudden death victory for the hosts. SaiPa felt overall more active to me, even though SB-Pro had more shots on goal. The point may be very valuable for the guests later in the season, while the Southeast Finnish team took secured their spot in the middle of the Women F-Liiga standings. A very interesting and finally thrilling match by both teams.

 

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