Four games, four wins, 25 goals scored, and only four goals conceded. The women’s team has had a perfect start to the season so far. The Zug team made a big statement last Sunday with a 7-0 victory over the reigning champions from Bern.

After the game, captain Lara Stalder said that it had paid off to remain patient, as the first phase of the game had been very evenly matched. After 20 minutes, EVZ was “only” leading 1-0, but in the final period, the Zug women increased the score to 7-0 with four goals. Stalder contributed two goals and two assists to the resounding victory.

The Lucerne native also expects a close game against HCD. “They have a very broad squad, so the game is likely to be evenly matched for a long time,” says Stalder. “Games against Davos are always physical and hard-fought.” Last season, the regular season games ended with a one-goal difference, and EVZ even had to go to a penalty shootout once in Landwassertal. The only one of the four games that was lost took place in Zug in mid-November. In the playoffs, head coach Daniela Diaz’s team won the semifinal series against the Graubünden team 2-0, 6-1, and 4-3 after a shootout.

HCD had a seemingly easy schedule at the start of the season against Fribourg, Neuchâtel, and Langenthal, the three teams currently at the bottom of the table. Davos suffered a narrow 1-2 defeat against the Saanestädterinnen, but won the other two games by a two-goal margin. This puts the HCD Ladies in fourth place, one game and three points behind third-placed ZSC.

With Evelina Raselli and Livia Altmann, the HCD has two new faces behind the bench – Raselli as head coach for the first time and Altmann in her new role as trainer. There have also been some changes to the Davos roster over the summer, with eight new players joining the team.