EHL: Mannheim completes an almost perfect first half

Mannheimer HC capped a near-perfect autumn season in the German women’s Bundesliga with a win in Düsseldorf in the final round before the winter break.

Mannheim – who play Reading in the EHL FINAL12 next Easter – have collected 35 out of a possible 36 points after winning their match against Düsseldorf HC.

Ines Wanner gave MHC the lead with a penalty corner; Immediately after halftime, the Rhinelanders equalized through Sara Strauss and it remained that way until the end of the third quarter.

Stine Kurz – the competition’s top scorer – deservedly scored the most important goal for a 2-1 final result in the 46^e minute after a set piece, an outcome that gives Mannheim a five-point lead at the head of the table over Der Club an der Alster.

Düsseldorf will spend the winter break in third place with 23 points, where they are level with two other teams, including the other EHL-bound squad, Harvestehuder THC.

In the Hamburg derby against Großflottbeker THGC, the HTHC women – the defending national champions – thought they could secure a narrow victory after Katharina Bauer’s late goal.

But the visitors also converted a penalty corner in the final minute when Paula Velmans made it 1-1 for Flottbek, forcing a shootout, with Izzy Petter, Katharina Kiefer and Katharina Bauer securing the extra point for HTHC.

The German league will now switch indoors for the winter and the second phase of the outdoor competition will return on March 22^i.e2026.