ESC Planegg Remain Undefeated in Bundesliga

Saturday's matchup had the Penguins hosting ESG Esslingen at Grafing Stadium. Julia Zorn said heading into this game that despite previous results against Esslingen, they couldn't take them lightly. "They (Esslingen) won a point against Berlin so we had to be aware. But we had a good start and had the right attitude."

A good start indeed, as Kersten Spielberger starting the goal parade by scoring at the 1:31 mark into the game.  There was no turning back after that as the final score was 11-0. American import Danielle Ward lead the Penguins with 4 points.

Arguably the biggest rivalry in German women's hockey is the one between ECDC Memmingen and the Penguins. The rivalry was intensified this year due to an American presence. Memmingen's roster features two former Boston College players, Jessica Martino and Mary Restuccia, while the Penguin's Danielle Ward used to play for the University of Maine. Boston College and the University of Maine both compete in the NCAA division 1 conference Hockey East, and had some memorable battles in the last two years.

Sunday featured the second meeting of these two clubs this season, with the Penguins winning that EWHL-Supercup match in a shootout, 3-2. The shootout winner in that game was Danielle Ward, and coincidently Ward proved to be difference again in Sunday's game.

"It's exciting to be a part of a new rivalry and also continue the Maine/BC one," Ward said after Sunday's game.

German National team player and Bundesliga leading goal scorer, Julia Zorn, put the Penguins on the scoreboard first. In the second, a mad scramble in front of the net forced a Memmingen player to cover the puck in the crease with her hand.  Selected to take the penalty shot was Ward and she made sure she made the best of her opportunity, deeking Franziska Albl and sliding the puck in the open net. The goal ended up being the game winner as Martino was the only Memmingen player able to beat the Penguins' Lena Schuster. Kathrin Lehman solidified the victory with a goal late in the third.

"Every game is exciting. But those which are close and a hard fight make it a lot more fun then those you lead 6-0 after the 1st period." Zorn commented after the Memmingen game. "Winning the German championship in a last minute way (last season) made the rivalry even stronger."
The Penguins continue their pursuit of winning back-to-back German Bundesliga championships with a home and home series against SC Garmisch, November 17 and 18.

Be sure to follow the Penguins on Twitter, @ESC_Penguins, and Facebook, facebook.com/ESCPenguins.

 

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