Japan edged Germany 1-0 in Group B action at the 2025 Women's Worlds and will face Canada in Thursday's quarter-finals.
photo: PHOTO: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / MATT ZAMBONIN
In a hard-fought Group B battle for quarter-final seeding, Japan blanked Germany 1-0 at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship on Tuesday. Japan finishes second in the group and will take on defending champion Canada. Germany is third and will face the U.S., the 2024 silver medalists.
Frustrating the Germans, Japanese goalie Miyuu Masuhara excelled with a 34-save shutout. It was the first time Germany has been shut out in Ceske Budejovice. German goalie Sandra Abstreiter had 24 saves.
"It was a tough game for us today," German captain Daria Gleissner said. "We need to play 60 minutes of good hockey. Otherwise, we can’t win games. We couldn’t score a goal. We need more shots."
Rui Ukita scored the second-period winner in the final preliminary round game for both sides.
Both teams face a daunting task with their quarter-final opponents. For context, Japan has never scored against Canada in Women's Worlds history. Germany has only two goals all-time versus the Americans (one in 2000, one in 2008).
"I guess we're the underdogs," said Japan's Akane Hosoyamada. "We've just got to stay positive. And you know, those chances will come, and maybe one of these days -- or even the next game, the quarter-finals -- we'll be able to put one in the net."
"It’s a quarter-final and we want to play good hockey," Gleissner said. "It’s going to be a challenge for us. We want to compete and do our best."
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In the scoreless first period, the Japanese carried the early play before the Germans regained some ground.
With 1:30 left in the frame, there was concern in the arena when Japanese star Akane Shiga was injured. Streaking down the left side with the puck, the Lulea forward cut to the net to test Abstreiter and fell into the boards. Shiga left the game and did not return.
Just after the three-minute mark of the second period, Japan nearly opened the scoring off the puck, but Yoshino Enomoto couldn’t corral the loose puck in behind Abstreiter, and it skittered through the crease.
At 5:11, the Japanese drew first blood off a faceoff in the German end. Makoto Ito won the draw back to Ukita, who cued up a great wrister that bulged the twine.
Japan nearly doubled its lead late in the second period when Remi Koyama dipsy-doodled around the German defence and set up Enomoto on the doorstep, but Abstreiter was there with the left pad.
In the third period, the Germans picked up their pace and intensity, outshooting Japan 17-2. But they came up short against the dialed-in Masuhara, a 2022 Olympian playing in her fourth Women's Worlds. Post-game, the Japanese were able to salute and bow to their fans with true satisfaction after a hard-won three points.
Hosoyamada hailed Masuhara's play: "She really sees the puck well. And I think just knowing that she'll stop the puck, we are able to be more aggressive in the defensive zone."
The loss dropped Germany’s all-time Women’s Worlds record versus Japan to six wins and five losses.
Looking ahead to the quarter-final against the Americans, German forward Nicola Hadraschek-Eisenschmid said: "We know it's a really, really good team. They skate a lot, they play physical. We know what to expect, but we'll try to play our best hockey, and we'll see. We're ready for it."
Frustrating the Germans, Japanese goalie Miyuu Masuhara excelled with a 34-save shutout. It was the first time Germany has been shut out in Ceske Budejovice. German goalie Sandra Abstreiter had 24 saves.
"It was a tough game for us today," German captain Daria Gleissner said. "We need to play 60 minutes of good hockey. Otherwise, we can’t win games. We couldn’t score a goal. We need more shots."
Rui Ukita scored the second-period winner in the final preliminary round game for both sides.
Both teams face a daunting task with their quarter-final opponents. For context, Japan has never scored against Canada in Women's Worlds history. Germany has only two goals all-time versus the Americans (one in 2000, one in 2008).
"I guess we're the underdogs," said Japan's Akane Hosoyamada. "We've just got to stay positive. And you know, those chances will come, and maybe one of these days -- or even the next game, the quarter-finals -- we'll be able to put one in the net."
"It’s a quarter-final and we want to play good hockey," Gleissner said. "It’s going to be a challenge for us. We want to compete and do our best."
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GERMANY V. JAPAN
GAME HIGHLIGHTS | CONDENSED GAME
In the scoreless first period, the Japanese carried the early play before the Germans regained some ground.
With 1:30 left in the frame, there was concern in the arena when Japanese star Akane Shiga was injured. Streaking down the left side with the puck, the Lulea forward cut to the net to test Abstreiter and fell into the boards. Shiga left the game and did not return.
Just after the three-minute mark of the second period, Japan nearly opened the scoring off the puck, but Yoshino Enomoto couldn’t corral the loose puck in behind Abstreiter, and it skittered through the crease.
At 5:11, the Japanese drew first blood off a faceoff in the German end. Makoto Ito won the draw back to Ukita, who cued up a great wrister that bulged the twine.
Japan nearly doubled its lead late in the second period when Remi Koyama dipsy-doodled around the German defence and set up Enomoto on the doorstep, but Abstreiter was there with the left pad.
In the third period, the Germans picked up their pace and intensity, outshooting Japan 17-2. But they came up short against the dialed-in Masuhara, a 2022 Olympian playing in her fourth Women's Worlds. Post-game, the Japanese were able to salute and bow to their fans with true satisfaction after a hard-won three points.
Hosoyamada hailed Masuhara's play: "She really sees the puck well. And I think just knowing that she'll stop the puck, we are able to be more aggressive in the defensive zone."
The loss dropped Germany’s all-time Women’s Worlds record versus Japan to six wins and five losses.
Looking ahead to the quarter-final against the Americans, German forward Nicola Hadraschek-Eisenschmid said: "We know it's a really, really good team. They skate a lot, they play physical. We know what to expect, but we'll try to play our best hockey, and we'll see. We're ready for it."