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From the Olympics Toword Tomorrow
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U.S. downs Canada 3-1 for Olympic women's hockey gold
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(3,4)14:00 FIN 4-1 CHN
(Final)18:00 USA 3-1 CAN
U.S. downs Canada 3-1 for Olympic women's hockey gold
Sandra Whyte assisted on a pair of goals and netted her own at the end of the women's ice hockey gold medal final to give the United States a 3-1 victory over world champion Canada at the Nagano Olympic Winter Games.
The victory for the U.S. at the Big Hat ice arena in Nagano gives the Americans the first Olympic gold medal in women's ice hockey which made its Olympic debut as an official medal sport in Nagano.
After a scoreless first period, Gretchen Ulion fired a shot from the face-off circle into the top corner beating Canadian goalie Manon Rheaume on the glove side for the power-play goal at 2:38 of the second. Whyte and Suzanne Merz were given assists.
Ten minutes into the third period, Shelley Looney gave the U.S. a 2-0 lead, punching the puck past Rheaume off a pass from Whyte for another power-play tally.
With Canada desperately seeking to tie up the game in the closing seconds, Whyte picked up a lose puck at center ice, stepped around several Canadian players and fired a shot into an empty net with only eight seconds remaining to seal the victory for the Americans.
''In all my years coaching ice hockey I would have to say this is the No. 1 experience in my career. I've been so moved by the effort and dedication of our team. We've been chasing Canada for a long time and the games between the two teams have been like a tug-of-war,'' said Benjamin Smith, coach of the U.S. team.
For the four-time world champion Canadian team, who came in as the top gold medal favorites, the loss comes as a bitter disappointment.
''There is definitely a feeling of emptiness. Its been a long journey for us and we fell short of our goal but I am proud of our team. I just wish we could have scored earlier in the third period because I think that would have changed things,'' said Canada's head coach Shannon Miller.
Canada's lone goal came on a power play with just over four minutes remaining in the game.
Hayley Wickenheiser picked up a lose puck behind the net and fed it to Danielle Goyette in the slot who fired a low wrist shot past U.S. goalkeeper Sara Tueting.
But before turning up the gas in the third period, the Canadian women managed only four shots in the second period against 11 for the U.S. and were unable generate any attack against the solid U.S. defense.
The Canadians had their chances to tie the game in the second period when they had two power play situations. But the U.S. penalty killing unit did a good job of thwarting the Canadian attack.
Finland captures bronze with 4-1 win over China
Finland scored three goals in the second period on its way to a 4-1 victory over China in the bronze-medal game of the women's ice hockey tournament at the Nagano Olympic Winter Games on Tuesday.
Finland has placed third in the last four world championships and entered the women's ice hockey tournament, making its debut as an official medal sport, as potential gold medalists.
The Finnish women, however, had to settle for a berth in the bronze medal game after losses to Canada and the United States, leaving them third in the round-robin tournament.
Fourth-place China entered the bronze-medal game with victories over Sweden and Japan but was no match for the Finns and managed only 9 shots on goal in the game.
China, however, did get the first goal as Yang Xiuqing came down the left wing and cut in at the face-off circle to slip a backhand past Finland's goalkeeper Tuula Puputti low on the glove side at 9:27 of the first period.
Finland got rolling in the second period when Kristina Fisk beat Chinese goalie Guo Hong at 3:07 off a nice pass from Riikka Nieminen in the corner.
Johanna Ikonen took a pass at the point and fired a bullet past Guo low on the stick side for Finland's second tally and then Kristiina Lankosaari took a centering pass from Hannele Riipi and fired a low shot past the Chinese goalkeeper.
Nieminen scored into the empty net with only eight seconds left in the game to make the final score 4-1. (Kyodo News)
Final standings of ice hockey women's tournament at the conclusion of competition Tuesday at the 18th Nagano Olympic Games in Nagano.
1. United States
2. Canda
3. France
4. China
5. Sweden
6. Japan
No part of the article, photographs, or illustrations presented here may be printed or used without permission.
Copyright 1998 The Shinano Mainichi Shimbun