De Zaan women extend national title and give club 'double double'
De women of ZV De Zaan became Champions of the Netherlands for the ninth time in history on Sunday in Ede. Mick van den Bree's team extended the national title by defeating Polar Bears 9-12 in the third and decisive match in the best-of-3 series. Earlier this season, De Zaan was also the strongest in the cup final. Because the men of the Zaanse club also claimed both the KNZB Cup and the national title, it is a 'double double'. In water polo history, there is only one club that managed to achieve this feat: UZSC in the 2016-2017 season.
After two blood-curdling matches in Ede and Zaandam – both only decided in favor of the home club after penalties – the all-decisive match in Ede seemed to have been played after just one period. De Zaan started furiously and led 1-6 after eight minutes of clean playing time! After Takyiwa Sam even signed for 1-7 in the second period, no one cared about Polar Bears' chances.
As often in this series, the Bears managed to secure themselves after a wide however, to fight back the deficit. Aniek Roekevisch (twice) and Lola Moolhuijzen reduced the margin to three. After Bente Rogge had made it 4-8, Polar Bears crept a little closer via Moolhuijzen and Renée de Kleer.
After half-time, Moolhuijzen again scored the tying goal. Malissa van Rijn gave De Zaan some breathing space, but Roekevisch gave Petros Doudesis' team hope again: 8-9 at the start of the last period.
Whatever Polar Bears tried next , the equalizer failed to materialise. When Takyiwa Sam and Nerida Drewes successively lifted the difference to three halfway through the fourth period, the matter was settled. Polar Bears no longer really believed in it and had to force it, which only resulted in a late goal from Moolhuijzen. Drewes then scored the final score with her fourth goal: 9-12.
Britt van den Dobbelsteen concluded that her team had rightly won the title after three games. “On Friday we led the entire match, but Polar Bears came alongside in the final phase. The same thing actually happened on Saturday, but luckily we were able to finish it off with penalties. We were determined not to let it get to that point on Sunday,” the Zaan goalkeeper, who has excelled this series, explained the lightning start in Ede. “Fortunately, even though it shrank considerably, we were now able to hold on to the lead until the end.”
Polar Bears captain Iris Wolves resigned to the defeat. “If you are honest, De Zaan was slightly better in every match. We gave everything and fought for what we were worth, but unfortunately it was just not enough," said Wolves, who - like her teammate Lola Moolhuijzen and the Zaan players Britt van den Dobbelsteen, Bente and Lieke Rogge - started from 10 will prepare for the Paris Olympics with the Dutch selection in June. “I'm really looking forward to that too, so it won't take much effort to switch things up again.”
Finals play-offs for women's national championship (best-of-3)
Friday 31 May
Polar Bears – ZV De Zaan 10-10 (15-14 after penalties)
Period scores: 2-2, 2-4 , 4-4, 2-0 / 5-4
Goals Polar Bears (including penalty shootout): Lola Moolhuijzen 4, Iris Wolves 4, Storm Willemsen 3, Aniek Roekevisch 2, Laura Schinkel, Renée de Kleer.
Goals De Zaan (including penalty shootout): Bente Rogge 3, Nerida Drewes 3, Lieke Rogge 2, Lois den Ouden 2, Maud Koopman 2, Silvanne Slot, Malissa van Rijn.
Referees: Gransjean – Black. Head jury: Nieuwenhuizen. Delegates: Dutilh / v d Berg
Saturday June 1
ZV De Zaan – Polar Bears 12-12 (16 -14 after penalties)
Period scores: 2-2, 3-2, 4-4, 3-4 / 4-2
Goals De Zaan ( including penalty shootout): Maud Koopman 5, Takyiwa Sam 3, Bente Rogge 2, Lieke Rogge 2, Lois den Ouden 2, Nerida Drewes, Malissa van Rijn.
Goals Polar Bears (including penalty shootout): Lola Moolhuijzen 3, Storm Willemsen 3, Aniek Roekevisch 2, Tatum van der Elst 2, Nina van der Geijn 2, Laura Schinkel, Jill Oort.
Referees: Evers – Bijeman. Head jury: Van Rossum. Delegates: Hoepelman / Bervoets
Sunday June 2
Polar Bears - ZV De Zaan 9-12Period scores: 1-6, 5-2, 2-1, 1-3
Goals Polar Bears: Lola Moolhuijzen 4, Aniek Roekevisch 3, Iris Wolves, Renée de Kleer.
Goals De Zaan: Nerida Drewes 4, Takyiwa Sam 2, Bente Rogge, Lieke Rogge, Silvanne Slot, Lotte Happe, Maud Koopman, Malissa van Rijn.
Referees: Evers – Bijeman. Head jury: Dijkstra. Delegates: Hoepelman / Dutilh.
Previous national titles De Zaan women:
1989, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001 (all won by ZWV-Nereus, predecessor of De Zaan), 2023.
