USA upset by Sweden; will not make a gold medal match for the first time in U18 Women’s World History – The Rink Live
ÖSTERSUND, Sweden — For the first time in the history of the IIHF Women’s U18 World Championship, Team USA will not play in the gold medal game.
Sweden drew 2-1 last Saturday against the Americans and advances to the championship match. The team will get to play for gold on January 15 in front of a hometown crowd. Sweden has only played for gold once more in the tournament.
Team USA got on the board in the closing minutes of the first period.
(Whitefish, Mont. / Wisconsin) made a pass behind the net up to the teammate
(Woburn, Mass. / Princeton) who was right in front of the net and quickly turned and scored.
That was where the luck for the Americans ran out.
Team USA took five penalties in the second period, which helped give Sweden a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes.
The Swedes scored first on a five-on-three chance.
glove-side shot from the high slot for the game-clinching matchup.
scored on another power play chance just a few short minutes later to give Team Sweden a 2-1 lead.
In the third period, Team USA’s
(South Lyon, Mich. / Wisconsin) thought she scored but upon review the puck clearly hit the crossbar and did not cross the goal line; it was then ruled a no-goal.
In the final minutes of the match, Sweden scored an empty net but it was determined to be offside.
The Americans couldn’t score with the extra striker. Team USA outshoots the Swedes by a 38-27 margin.
Player of the game awards were given to each team’s respective goalkeeper;
(SWE) and
(USA).
The U.S. plays for bronze on Sunday against the loser of Canada and Finland. Sweden will play the winner of that match for gold.
Sweden has only been in the Gold Games one other time (2018) and won silver, but the squad has taken bronze several times.
Score for first period — 1. USA, Lucia DiGirolamo (Finley McCarthy) 17:16
punishment – USA, Molly Jordan (hooking) 1:52; SWE, Olivia Sohrner (tripping) 7:01; USA, DiGirolamo (tripping) 11:07; SWE, Ebba Hedqvist (illegal hit) 12:24
Score for the second period — 1. SWE, Mira Jungaker (Jenna Raunio, Hedqvist) 24:12 (5-against-3); 2. SWE, Astrid Lindeberg (Mira Markström) 26:44 (pp)
punishment – USA, Peyton Compton (cross checking) 22:50; USA, Ava Lindsay (hacking) 22:50; USA, Joy Dunne (illegal hit) 25:19; SWE, Ella Hellman (possession) 30:04; USA, Kendra Distad (bench less – too many players) 33:11; USA, Maggie Scannell (possession) 34:32; SWE, Raunio (Interference) 38:29
Third period score — No
punishment – USA, Lindzi Avar (loading) 44:07, SWE, Raunio (roughing) 44:57; USA, McCarthy (roughing) 44:57; SWE, Stella Lindell (possession) 48:43
Goalkeeper saves — USA, Annelies Bergmann 25/27 (2GA); SWE, Felicia Frank 37/38 (1GA)
Shots on goal – USA, 38 (13:13:12); SWE, 27 (10:13:4)
Three best players in each team — USA, Scannell, Dunne, Bergmann; SWE, Frank, Jungaker, Svensson
Best player of the game — USA, Bergmann; SWE, Frank
window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({
appId : '698101394832669',
xfbml : true, version : 'v2.9' }); };
(function(d, s, id){ var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) {return;} js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));