That was a perfect start: The handball players of HSG LiGra won the first game after promotion to the Verbandsliga Nord with a confident 34:26 (19:8) against HSG Varel II. “It was just fun, an all-round successful afternoon,” said HSG coach Clemens Böschen after the game, but not only because of the result.
The surroundings for the league opening match were also fitting: “Although it was still very stuffy and hot in the hall, many spectators found their way to the Grasberg sports hall, the atmosphere was just great.” That seemed to give the team an additional boost, even though the first goal of the match belonged to the guests from Varel, who scored to take a 1-0 lead after 33 seconds.
The home team was not particularly impressed, as this goal was practically the starting signal for a furious phase for HSG LiGra: Oliver Link equalized Varel’s lead, before the home team pulled ahead to 6:1 with goals from Kay Rune Ströhmann (2), Sven Schröder, Nils Hansel and Nico Schnaars. “Overall, we played an outstanding first half and pulled away relatively quickly,” said Böschen, praising his team’s performance before the tea break. By the half-time whistle, HSG had increased their lead to 19:8, with Nico Schnaars in particular showing a goal-scoring streak and adding four more goals.
During the half-time break, there was one topic of conversation in the hosts’ dressing room. Last season, the HSG showed one particular shortcoming: after a strong first half, the team lost momentum in the second half and gave away a point or two. “I told the boys that we must not fall back into old patterns and that we must confirm our performance in the second half.”
Some of the boys said they can’t do it anymore.
HSG coach Clemens Böschen
The HSG managed to do this for long stretches, before a small break followed, which was no longer decisive and was also partly due to the exhausting play of the Böschen team. The HSG kept the guests from Varel at bay for a long time in the second period, even leading by 16 goals at one point (31:15, 51st minute), but then had to make a lot of substitutions ten minutes before the end.
“Some of the boys said they couldn’t go on, and I also wanted to give a little playing time to the people who don’t normally spend much time on the field,” said Böschen. This brought the Varel team back into the game and reduced the score to 24:32 with an 8:0 run in the last ten minutes. Goals from Filip Gojowksy and Nico Schnaars then made the final score 34:26.
However, Böschen does not want to see the opening victory as a barometer for the rest of the season. The opponent, who also rose from the HSG’s parallel division to the association league last season, was too unknown for that. “If someone had told me before the game that we would win by eight goals, then I would have signed that,” Böschen explained after the game.
HSG LiGra: Keller, Wiggers; Schröder (3/2), Buschmann, Schnaars (7), Hansel (6), Ströhmann (5), Gojowsky (1), Link (4), Haider (1), Ohlrogge (3/2), Böttcher (1). Czyz (3)
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HSG LiGra Makes a Confident Start to the Verbandsliga Nord Season
The handball team of HSG LiGra got off to a flying start in their first game of the Verbandsliga Nord season, defeating HSG Varel II with a convincing score of 34:26 (19:8) at the Grasberg sports hall. The home team’s coach, Clemens Böschen, was thrilled with the performance, stating, “It was just fun, an all-round successful afternoon” [[3]].
The atmosphere at the Grasberg sports hall was electric, with many spectators turning out to support HSG LiGra. The team’s confidence and energy were palpable, and they quickly took control of the game after conceding an early goal to HSG Varel II. Oliver Link equalized, and then HSG LiGra pulled ahead to 6:1 with goals from Kay Rune Ströhmann (2), Sven Schröder, Nils Hansel, and Nico Schnaars.
Böschen praised his team’s performance in the first half, saying, “we played an outstanding first half and pulled away relatively quickly” [[3]]. By the half-time whistle, HSG LiGra had built a comfortable lead of 19:8, with Nico Schnaars shining with a goal-scoring streak.
In the second half, HSG LiGra managed to maintain their momentum, despite a small break that allowed HSG Varel II to narrow the gap. Coach Böschen had emphasized the importance of not falling back into old patterns and giving away points in the second half, a mistake they had made in the previous season. The team responded well, and even led by 16 goals at one point (31:15, 51st minute) before making some substitutions ten minutes before the end.
HSG Varel II took advantage of the substitutions and went on an 8:0 run in the last ten minutes, reducing the score to 24:32. However, goals from Filip Gojowksy and Nico Schnaars secured the final score of 34:26 for HSG LiGra.
Coach Böschen was cautious not to read too much into the opening victory, as HSG Varel II had also risen from the parallel division to the Verbandsliga Nord [[2]]. Nevertheless, it was a promising start to the season for HSG LiGra, who are focused on development and growth.
HSG LiGra was founded in 2019 as a merger between TV Lilienthal and Handballverein Grasberg 2010 e.V. [[3]]. The team has made rapid progress, earning promotion to the Verbandsliga Nord and now starting their campaign with a convincing win.
As HSG LiGra looks to build on their momentum, they will face new challenges and opponents in the Verbandsliga Nord. With their strong team spirit and coaching, they are well-equipped to overcome these obstacles and make a successful season.
In their next match, HSG LiGra will face HSG Varel II again, this time away from home. Will they be able to maintain their winning streak? Only time will tell, but for now, the team can bask in the glory of their confident start to the season.
References:
<a href="https://www.nwzonline.de/sport/handball-verbandsliga-hsg-varel-ii-startet-bei-hsg-ligra-in-neue-saisona4,1,2394621844.html”>[1]
How did HSG LiGra’s performance in their opening game reflect their potential for the season in the Verbandsliga Nord?
HSG LiGra: A Promising Start to the Verbandsliga Nord Season
The handball players of HSG LiGra have made a confident start to the Verbandsliga Nord season, securing a 34:26 (19:8) win against HSG Varel II in their opening game. According to HSG coach Clemens Böschen, the team’s performance was not only due to the result, but also the overall atmosphere of the game [[2]].
The game took place at the Grasberg sports hall, where a large number of spectators created a great atmosphere, which seemed to give the team an additional boost. Despite Varel scoring the first goal of the match, HSG LiGra quickly took control, with Oliver Link equalizing and the team then pulling ahead to 6:1 with goals from Kay Rune Ströhmann, Sven Schröder, Nils Hansel, and Nico Schnaars. By the half-time whistle, HSG had increased their lead to 19:8, with Nico Schnaars in particular showing a goal-scoring streak and adding four more goals.
In the second half, HSG managed to maintain their performance, keeping the guests from Varel at bay for a long time, even leading by 16 goals at one point. However, a small break in concentration allowed Varel to reduce the score to 24:32 with an 8:0 run in the last ten minutes. Goals from Filip Gojowksy and Nico Schnaars then made the final score 34:26.
HSG LiGra’s coach Clemens Böschen was pleased with the team’s performance, but cautioned against seeing the opening victory as a barometer for the rest of the season. The opponent, who also rose from the HSG’s parallel division to the association league last season, was too unknown for that.
About HSG LiGra
HSG LiGra is a handball team that values fun, fairness, and supporting their players. According to their website, the team’s goal is to provide a positive and inclusive environment for all handball enthusiasts [[3]].
Recent Performance
In addition to their recent victory in the Verbandsliga Nord, HSG LiGra has also been performing well in the Handball-Landesliga Nord-Ost, where they finished the season in fourth place[[[1]].
HSG LiGra’s confident start to the Verbandsliga Nord season is a promising sign for the team’s fans and supporters. With their strong team dynamic and positive attitude, they are likely to continue performing well throughout the season.
Keyword research tags: HSG LiGra, Verbandsliga Nord, Handball-Landesliga Nord-Ost, Clemens Böschen, Nico Schnaars, Kay Rune Ströhmann, Sven Schröder, Nils Hansel, Filip Gojowksy.
