HC Erlangen loses in Lemgo

HC Erlangen suffered a defeat on the road at TBV Lemgo Lippe and so slipped just below it in the table on the 26th game day. After an intense first half, the home side steadily extended its lead in the second half to run out winners by 31:23 (15:12).

HC Erlangen got off to a good start, with Nico Büdel putting his side 1:0 ahead with a goal from the backcourt. However, the German international Hornke equalized right away. Erlangen, who was without defensive organizer Petter Overby in Lemgo, displayed stiff defending in the first half. Goals by Bissel and Steinert tied the score at 3:3 for the visitors. It was only against the wingers breaking in from the side for the club from Eastern Westphalia that the central block marshaled by Michael Haaß and Andreas Schröder were unable to find an antidote in the opening minutes. Both teams produced a tight and fiercely contested encounter. With the scores tied at 4:4, however, the home side went 5:4 in front and then built its first two-goal lead in the 12th minute. Yet the HC was not to be shaken off and pulled a goal back through Christopher Bissel on the next attack. In particular German internationals Suton and Hornke managed to add to the home side’s tally. However, Gorazd Skof put an end to that after being brought on and stopped a seven-meter penalty with a strong save to keep the HC within striking distance. As the game went on, the club from Franconia increasingly made mistakes as it was building moves and the TBV pounced on them to score. The HC then fell three behind for the first time while short-handed. With the score at 12:9, Schröder cut the gap to 12:10. Nikolai Link, who was back in action after recovering from his injury, was then given a two-minute penalty immediately after that, meaning Erlangen was a man short up to the break. After goals by Bissel and Thümmle, the two teams went in with the score standing at 15:12.

The home side opened the second half with a goal by Carlsbogard, after which Bissel made a poor pass, which the TBV exploited to move 17:12 in front. Florian von Gruchalla scored Erlangen’s first goal after the break from the seven-meter spot. Shortly after that it was again Jan Schäffer who made it 18:15 from the crease after a clever pass by Bissel. Head Coach Aðalsteinn Eyjólfsson tried everything to turn the game around and deployed an offensive 5:1 system in defense, with the result that the TBV was often on the verge of being punished for passive play. Even though HC Erlangen defended well for a long time, the home side repeatedly managed to score while under time pressure. Yet Erlangen did not give up and cut the deficit to 20:18 after keeper Skof won possession. In crunch time, the HC often had bad luck in taking its chances and for a spell only managed to hit the bar or was thwarted by a string of saves by the in-form Wyszomirski. As a result, the TBV was able to move 24:18 in front in the 48th minute. Florian von Gruchalla scored goal number 19 for his side while it was short-handed, but that did not spark any big comeback. The home side was all too often able to unlock Erlangen’s defense, which was not as stable as usual without the injured Overby. With its opponents short-handed, the TBV produced a 3:0 run to pull 29:20 ahead and as good as decide the game. The HC tried all it could and fought to the end, but finally succumbed by the margin of 31:23.

source: https://www.hc-erlangen.de