Orizzonte and SIS Roma sweep into Serie A1 final

Ekipe Orizzonte and SIS Roma will contest the Italian women’s Serie A1 final after completing 2–0 semifinal series victories over Rapallo and Trieste respectively.

Orizzonte secured their tenth consecutive appearance in the Scudetto final with a convincing 15–9 victory in Rapallo, while SIS Roma reached the championship series for the second year running after defeating Trieste 13–9.

The best-of-five final series is scheduled to begin on June 24, with Orizzonte continuing their pursuit of a record-extending 26th Italian title.

Halligan inspires Orizzonte comeback

Rapallo 9–15 Ekipe Orizzonte
(3–3, 0–4, 4–3, 2–5)

Rapallo made an energetic start in front of approximately 500 home supporters and moved 3–1 ahead through former Orizzonte player Jelena Vukovic.

However, the visitors soon imposed themselves on the contest.

Australian international Alice Halligan scored the first three goals of a decisive 6–0 run as Orizzonte transformed a two-goal deficit into a 7–3 advantage between the seventh and 15th minutes.

Rapallo failed to score throughout the second quarter, allowing Martina Miceli’s side to take a 7–3 lead into half-time.

Sofia Cabona ended the hosts’ scoring drought early in the third period, but Orizzonte continued to find openings in the Rapallo defence. Claudia Leone was particularly influential, finishing with four goals as the Sicilian side maintained control.

The decisive blow arrived midway through the final quarter. Goals from Simone van de Kraats Sevenich, Halligan and Dafne Bettini completed another 3–0 run and extended Orizzonte’s advantage to 13–7.

Halligan finished as the game’s leading scorer with five goals, while Leone added four and Claudia Marletta scored twice.

Rapallo converted only two of their 14 extra-player opportunities, compared with Orizzonte’s five goals from seven power plays.

The result ended Rapallo’s season with a third-place finish and qualification for the Champions League for a third consecutive year.

“It is never easy to play after such a great match as the one we had in Catania in Game 1,” Miceli said.

“I expected a slow start, but I really liked my team’s reaction to the environment, the difficulties and the less-than-perfect opening. Reaching the final is never something that can be taken for granted.”

Rapallo coach Luca Antonucci admitted Orizzonte had demonstrated their greater experience during the decisive stage of the season.

“Credit to Orizzonte, who showed they had something extra,” he said. “We are disappointed because the group believed so much, but we should also be proud of the path we have taken.”

Rapallo captain Roberta Bianconi added that the team would attempt to use the disappointment as motivation for next season.

“We hoped to take another step forward compared with last year, but finishing among the top four teams in Italy is still a significant achievement,” Bianconi said.

SIS Roma hold off Trieste

Trieste 9–13 SIS Roma
(2–3, 3–4, 2–3, 2–3)

SIS Roma produced a composed attacking performance to defeat Trieste and secure their second consecutive appearance in the Serie A1 final.

The visitors moved ahead late in the opening quarter after Camilla Sesena saved a penalty from Emilia Klatowski before Sofia Ranalli converted from five metres at the opposite end.

Trieste remained within touching distance and reduced the deficit to 6–5 through Tilly Allen with 22 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

However, Roma responded immediately. Silvia Minuto found the net with a powerful long-range effort just three seconds before half-time, restoring the visitors’ two-goal advantage at 7–5.

SIS began to take control during the third quarter, with goals from Vivian Schaap and Domitilla Centanni extending the lead to 9–6.

Trieste continued to compete and prevented the visitors from putting the game beyond reach, but Roma maintained their composure during the final period.

Chiara Chiappini made it 11–7 before Sesena produced another important penalty save, this time denying Caterina De March with SIS leading 12–8.

Agnese Cocchiere then converted from five metres to confirm Roma’s place in the final.

Ranalli led SIS with three goals, while Chiappini and Centanni scored twice each. De March finished as Trieste’s top scorer with three.

Roma’s efficiency with the extra player proved decisive, with the visitors converting six of their 12 opportunities. Trieste scored three times from seven power plays and converted only two of their four penalties.

“We gave everything, with sacrifice and determination, and we continued trying until the end,” Trieste coach Paolo Zizza said.

“They were able to take advantage of their longer rotation. Now we have to think about the future, and matches like these will certainly help us continue aiming high.”