The OGC Nice Handball women’s team traveled today to face Stella St-Maur. A match that should have been largely within reach for the Niçoises, but it proved to be more challenging than expected.
This 19th day of the championship started very poorly for the Aiglonnes. Ninth in the championship before this match, the Niçoises were in the mid-table position. Against the bottom team Stella St-Maur, the red and blacks had every chance.
The beginning of the match was tight. Both teams exchanged blow for blow. It took until the 15th minute for the players of Stella St-Maur to make a difference. The Val-de-Marnaises managed to lead by up to five goals. Worrisome for the girls of Clément Alcacer. But before the break, Ehsan Abdelmalek corrected the situation by scoring three goals in the last five minutes. The former captain brought her team back to (15-14) at halftime. Everything was still possible.
A tough opponent
The second half left no room for approximation. The gap never exceeded three goals in favor of the Aiglonnes. Although the Maralpines were in the lead, the opposing goalkeeper, Marie Lachat, kept her team in the game by making 13 saves. On the other side, Nicole Wiggins (8 saves) and Marija Colic (5 saves) were not far behind. Combined with the impressive success of Adriana Holejova (7 goals from 9 shots), OGCN Handball clinched a narrow victory (28-29).
The Aiglonnes can be proud of themselves. Next match is on March 27 at home against Chambray Touraine.
