Euro Cup Women: Padova, BVSC, Trieste and Ethnikos secure victories on opening day
BVSC Manna ABC, Antenore Plebiscito Padova and Pallanuoto Trieste were all made to work hard for their opening wins in the women’s Euro Cup Group Stage, digging deep to see off spirited opposition. In contrast, Ethnikos OFPF made light work of their trip to northern France, sweeping past Lille UC in style.
2025/26 Euro Cup Women
Group Stage, Day 1
Saturday 8 November 2025
Group A
Lille UC (FRA) 6-17 Ethnikos OFPF (GRE)
Group B
BVSC Manna ABC (HUN) 15-12 Hapoel Yoqneam (ISR)
Group C
Antenore Plebiscito Padova (ITA) 13-11 Zodiac CNAB (ESP)
Group D
EPlus CN Catalunya (ESP) 13-15 Pallanuoto Trieste (ITA)
Group A
Lille UC (FRA) 6-17 Ethnikos OFPF (GRE)
Six goals without reply got Ethnikos off to the perfect start in northern France, as Lille were powerless to stop the early onslaught.
The hosts stemmed the tide a little in the second quarter, scoring twice – through French Olympian Lily Vernoux and Lara Andres – but the Greeks struck three times to take a commanding 2-8 lead into half-time.
With the goals being spread throughout the team, Ethnikos were cruising, and although they also only edged the third quarter 3-1, they stepped back on the gas a little in the fourth, hitting six to add some extra gloss to the scoreline.
It was an emphatic win for the visitors, with Androniki Karagianni leading the scoring with four, while nine of her team-mates were also among the goals.
Group B
BVSC Manna ABC (HUN) 15-12 Hapoel Yoqneam (ISR)
After edging past Hungarian opposition – Kerulet – in the qualifiers, Hapoel Yoqneam came unstuck this time, suffering a 5-2 opening quarter against BVSC Manna ABC that forced them to chase the game from there.
The Israelis led twice (0-1 and 1-2), but a 5-0 surge from the hosts put BVSC on the road to victory at 6-2, just 32 seconds into the second quarter.
Hapoel’s Yahav Farkash halted BVSC’s momentum, and another goal from Dar Menakerman helped keep the visitors in contention at half-time (7-4).
In the third, Hapoel began to find some real rhythm, but only after BVSC had gone 10-5 up. They could have done even better had their six-on-fives been sharper.
Three unanswered goals – from Nofar Hochberg, Menakerman and captain Shunit Strugo – made it 10-8 at the last break, giving them fresh hope heading into the final eight minutes.
BVSC’s response was emphatic, though, as a 4-0 burst put them out of sight at 14-8 with 5:38 left to play.
Hapoel added four more to their total, including Strugo’s fourth and fifth of the afternoon, but they were mere consolation strikes as the hosts were already home and dry.
Panna Pocze led the scoring for the Magyars with four, while Pien Gorter, Dorina Dobi, Zoe Lendvay, Anna Mucsy and captain Dalma Domsodi all struck twice, and Fruzsina Toth was also on target.
Group C
Antenore Plebiscito Padova (ITA) 13-11 Zodiac CNAB (ESP)
Padova’s clash with newcomers Zodiac CNAB was a battle from start to finish, with the young Italians emerging victorious late on thanks to strikes from Amelie Perkins and Federica Bozzolan, which finally pushed them over the line after an entertaining, end-to-end encounter.
It was the Spaniards who started better, establishing a 0-2 lead inside the first 90 seconds, but Padova hit back through Alessia Millo’s goal – and they could have been ahead had they not wasted three six-on-fives.
The first break – and a team talk – appeared to do the trick, as Padova buried their next extra to level at 2-2 early in the second.
After a tight opening quarter, both defences gave way, as 10 goals flew in before half-time – 6-4 in the hosts’ favour to nudge them 7-6 ahead.
Two Alejandra Aznar strikes put the visitors back in front in the third, but Padova quickly levelled and were never behind again, as three goals from Emma Bacelle and one from Perkins put them 11-9 up at the last break.
CNAB’s Spanish Olympic gold medallist Paula Leiton struck 30 seconds into the fourth, then Itziar Martinez equalised with 5:14 left to play, setting up a tense finale.
Padova coach Stefano Posterivo called a time-out to steady any nerves, and his words had the desired effect. Perkins finished off a six-on-five, and when Bozzolan converted their next extra, the points were safe.
Group D
EPlus CN Catalunya (ESP) 13-15 Pallanuoto Trieste (ITA)
After falling 3-0 behind in the opening quarter, Pallanuoto Trieste responded brilliantly, taking the lead (3-4) early in the second – and they never trailed again.
British star Toula Falvey had opened the scoring, converting two six-on-fives, and when Julia Frigola added another for 3-0, the Spaniards seemed to have a solid foundation – but they failed to build on it.
The Italians hit five unanswered goals to seize control, and although Catalunya managed to level at 6-6 before half-time, then 7-7 and 8-8 midway through the third, they crucially couldn’t find a way to get back in front.
Summer signings Malia Allen (once) and Morgan McDowall (twice) struck to restore Trieste’s lead at 8-11, and they maintained their three-goal advantage heading into the fourth (9-12).
Catalunya still had some energy left and came out fighting, with Lucia Gomez and Emmerson Houghton both scoring to make it 11-12 and get the home crowd on their feet again.
However, there was to be no further twist, as Trieste’s Veronica Gant and Emma De March both fired in to extend the lead to 11-14 with 3:11 on the clock.
Gomez tried to spark one final push from the hosts by making it 12-14, but when McDowall hammered in her fifth of the afternoon, it ensured Trieste would return home victorious.
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Andy Rollé for European Aquatics
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