In fall 2015 the small Belgian city of Ghent was the venue for the "Champion's League of Lacrosse" for the third time in a row. 24 European champion teams faced each other over a weekend at 4 playing fields to determine who’ll be the European champion of Lacrosse. Including for the first time the women's and the men's team of the Vienna Monarchs after both teams won the Austrian Lacrosse League in 2015.
Already the first game promised to be a particular challenge for the Lady Monarchs, after no one less than the team from Putney, the English champions, was drawn into their group. With great respect, the Monarchs went into this game and after Putney had already scored two goals within the first few minutes, it seemed to be a clear game at first. But to the surprise of the entire team the English were not as overpowering opponents as expected. The Vienna Monarchs countered with two quick goals, only at the end of the first half Putney scored the 3:2. For a long time during the second half the Lady Monarchs were able to hold the English team under control and also had chances to score. However, the English players were able to bring the ball behind the goal line. The comeback of the Vienna Monarchs started a little too late and the second half ended again with a score of 3:2 The assumed overpowering opponents from England were disenchanted, the Lady Monarchs proudly went off the field with a final score of 6:4.
After a cancellation players from various Dutch clubs formed a pick up team, which was the second opponent of the Lady Monarchs in the group stage. As Pick up teams are difficult to assess in advance, the Monarchs went highly concentrated into the game. The first half was balanced. While the Monarch scored the first goals, the opponents were able to catch up and it was a close game. The second half was dominated by the Monarchs and the second game became their first victory at the Ken Galluccio Cup with a final score of 9:3.
After the first victory the players had some time to explore the city of Ghent. But the well-stocked Belgian beer stores had to wait, because an hour before schedule the players were recalled to the venue and the next strong opponent, LCC Radotin, waited. The Czech champions not only left behind a clear goal difference, but also some bruising. After 18 minutes and 5 goals for Radotin the Monarchs finally shot their first goal. The second half was another tough battle and after 4 fouls and 5 other goals on side of the Czech team, the two teams finally parted with a score of 2:10. But a positive statistic remained for the Vienna Monarchs: with only 4 shots on goal, 2 goals were scored.
The first day of games was heavily discussed over some beers and burgers in the evening. What initially appeared to be an unknown small town next to Brussels, presented itself that weekend with the "Ghent Festival of Flanders". On that weekend Ghent was not only the center of European Lacrosse, but a party city. The first day of the Belgian Lacrosse adventure ended for the players with impressive fireworks over the old town.
On the second day of the tournament the Lady Monarchs played against Utrecht, the winner of the Dutch Lacrosse league. The physically very strong Dutch women were able to score the first two goals, but after that it was the play of Viennese attack with 5 goals in a row. Even two goals by Utrecht shortly before the end of the game could not take the victory from the Lady Monarchs. With a final score of 9:5 they completed the group stage and moved into the placement games.
In the last game the Lady Monarchs faced a well-known opponent: The Swiss team Wettingen. Only in August, the national team players from Austria and Switzerland had cheered for each other during the European Championships, and now they faced each other in Belgium. Nevertheless, the two teams fought hard and the Swiss won the first half 4: 2. The Vienna Monarchs were able to improve their scoring and countered with 4: 2 in the second half. The regular game time ended in a tie and the most exciting minutes of the tournament, both for the players and for their fans, followed. They played one overtime after the other until finally the "Golden Goal" was scored by the Vienna Monarchs. The first appearance of an Austrian team at the Ken Galluccio Cup therefore ended on the 5th place.
The Champion's League title was decided in the final between the teams from Edinburgh and Hanover. The Scots finally won 8:7, Putney won the match for third against LCC Radotin.
You can read about the men's experience here: http://austrialacrosseontour.webnode.at/news/ken-galluccio-cup-2015/
