US Team Handball Women's National Team

The WNT began their 2005-2006 Quebec League season with a split with the Montreal Celtiques. The WNT hosted the Celtiques at Lusk Field House on the SUNY Cortland campus for two games on December 3rd and 4th. Though the games were the first for the WNT in the Quebec League, the Celtiques came into the game with a record of 2-1-1 and in 2nd place overall. The weekend was the first real test for the WNT since returning from Brazil and also the first serious competition for many of the team’s recent additions. The WNT started off strong with a 23-20 victory in the Saturday game, but dropped the Sunday morning rematch 20-17.

In the Saturday game, the WNT jumped out to an early lead behind several quick goals from Katharina Ellmers, who ended up with 7. Veteran center back, Edina Batar, also had 7. “We had an amazing start,” said Coach Latulippe. “Katharina’s early goals really set the tone for the game.” The WNT proved generally dominant in the first half, scoring 15 goals while holding the Celtiques to only 10. The WNT was hit with an offensive draught in the second half, but consistent defense kept the Celtiques at bay while the WNT held on 23-20 for its first victory of the season. The team looked well-prepared for Fabienne Raphael, leading scorer of the Quebec League, holding her to only a single goal for the entire 60 minute game. While many of the WNT’s new players get up to speed offensively, the team will be relying heavily on its hard-nosed style of defense and solid goal-keeping. Rookie goalie Cheryl Walter got her feet wet against the Montreal club, but veteran Tabrekia Almon handled most of the game with a save percentage of 46%.

The Sunday morning game, however, was quite the opposite. Beset by injuries, neither Katharina Ellmers nor Nina Muench were able to dress and team captain Tomuke Ebuwei played on one foot affected by an ankle injury. The team got off to a very slow start, falling behind 7-1 after 15 minutes. Unable to replicate Saturday’s up-tempo first half offensive attack, the WNT went into the locker room trailing 12-5 at half time. “Despite a bad start, the team showed a lot of character by fighting back in the second half,” said Coach Latulippe. In the middle of the second half the team went on a 9-3 run and cut Montreal’s lead to 18-16 with only minutes to go. But, the team would come no closer and ended up taking its first loss, 20-17. In the loss, Edina Batar would end the game with 5 goals while Jennifer Robertson and Kathy Darling each had 4. Tabrekia Almon, looked even stronger in goal, saving 53% of all shots, and tough USA defense only allowed the same 20 goals as on Saturday. “Sunday’s game determined the type of team that we are,” commented Sara Merkl. “At halftime, we were trailing by a lot and as a team we could’ve folded, but we all chose to play our hearts out. We didn’t end up with a victory, but we learned a lot about ourselves.”

Overall, it was a respectable first weekend for the WNT. Many new players got their first tastes of the more competitive Quebec League and as these new players gain experience the WNT is sure to see steady improvement throughout the season. “Obviously, as a coach, you want to win every game,” said Latulippe. “But the weekend split shows that we will be very competitive this year in the Quebec League. And more importantly, it shows that this team is capable of huge sacrifices and will never give up.”

The WNT returns to action December 17 with a 3 game series in Quebec City.