Den Bosch win top clash, Victoria fall just short of a point

SCHC - Den Bosch 0-2

On home turf, SCHC had their hands full against Den Bosch. They had not beaten the Bossche Bazen in front of their own fans for ten league matches, and once again the home side came away empty-handed.

Just before half-time, Den Bosch – with Pien Sanders back in the match squad – took the lead. The penalty corner initially looked set to come to nothing, but Frédérique Matla retained possession. The Staatsloterij Hoofdklasse’s top scorer turned free and smashed the ball against the crossbar from the top of the circle. It was already her sixteenth goal of the season. Matla has scored in each of the last thirteen match rounds. During that run, she has now scored 35 goals. Seven minutes after the break, Maartje Krekelaar made it 0–2 for Den Bosch.

For SCHC, this brought an end to a run of 42 league matches in which coach Robbert van de Peppel’s side had remained unbeaten. That last defeat had, of all things, also come at home against Den Bosch on 23 October 2024 (0–2). Den Bosch remain unbeaten after seven rounds.

Victoria – HDM 3–4

Bottom-of-the-table Victoria showed resilience but came away empty-handed against HDM, who won 4-3, partly thanks to a hat-trick from Belén van den Broek.

The home side, who had failed to score in their last four matches, took the lead after five minutes through a goal by Claire Moerman from a penalty corner variation. Two goals from Van den Broek meant they trailed 1–2 at half-time. HDM extended their lead further through Reese d’Ariano. But still in the third quarter, Victoria levelled the score through goals from Merel van Campen, from a penalty corner, and Moerman, from a penalty stroke.

The resilience shown by Victoria seemed set to be rewarded with their first point of the season. In the final minute, Van den Broek scored for the third time from a penalty corner, meaning that HDM finally secured the three points again after two defeats.

In the league table, the Hague-based side climbed two places to ninth position. Victoria suffered their eleventh consecutive defeat at the top level and have now gone fifteen top-flight matches without a win.

Amsterdam – Bloemendaal 7–0

Bloemendaal travelled to the Wagener Stadium knowing they had failed to beat Amsterdam in 32 league matches. The reigning national champions proved once again to be a class above. The final score was a resounding 7-0.

Katerina Langedijk and Felice Albers both scored twice. Daantje de Kruijff, who opened the scoring after just two minutes, Freeke Moes and Marijn Veen were also prolific, scoring for the home side, who secured their second consecutive victory and thereby closed the gap on second-placed SCHC by three points. Bloemendaal, who had failed to win any of their four away matches, dropped from ninth to tenth place in the league table.

Kampong - HGC 6-0

With their 6-0 victory over HGC, Kampong ended a run of three league matches in which they had picked up just one point.

In-form player Iris de Kemp scored twice. Her season tally now stands at nine goals. With this total, she has already surpassed her entire tally from last season (seven). Eline Jansen, Sosha Benninga, Bente van der Veldt and Mea de Vries also scored for the Utrecht side. It was Benninga’s first goal of the season.

Incidentally, the victory over HGC was Kampong’s first home win since 10 May this year, when they beat HDM 3–1. As a result, Kampong remain in sixth place. HGC dropped from tenth to eleventh place following their fourth defeat in five league matches.

Oranje-Rood – Hurley 0–2

Oranje-Rood’s 200th Hoofdklasse match and 100th home match at the highest level ended on a low note. Hurley took all three points back to the Amsterdamse Bos thanks to their 2-0 victory.

Just before half-time, Hurley took the lead. Dymph Luttge played herself free and saw her cross from the left deflect off a defender’s stick and into the net. In the final quarter, Fiona Morgenstern sealed the match once and for all by converting a penalty corner variation.

With this win, Hurley ended their run of two consecutive defeats. The team remain fifth, two points behind fourth-placed Rotterdam. Oranje-Rood dropped from seventh to eighth place.

Rotterdam – Pinoké 2–2

Rotterdam looked set for their fifth win of the season, but a yellow card for Daphne Koolhaas four minutes from time proved crucial.

Up to that point, the home side had been leading 2-0 thanks to goals from Floortje van Triest and Bo van Kempen from a penalty stroke. Following the yellow card, Pinoké goalkeeper Kiki Gunneman was withdrawn to make way for an extra outfield player. That decision paid off, as a minute later Lana Kalse brought the tension back into the match with a penalty stroke. Rotterdam then had a chance to seal the match in their favour, but a shot struck a Pinoké stick and hit the crossbar of the empty net. Shortly afterwards, the score was levelled at 2–2, with Tessa Beetsma finding the net.

Rotterdam, now unbeaten in five matches, remain fourth, two points behind third-placed Amsterdam. Pinoké moved up from eighth to seventh place thanks to the draw.