US women’s hockey team holds off Czech Republic to reach semifinals

It was extra of a problem than the USA, and greater than it regarded like they might get after a primary interval by which the Individuals outshot the Czech Republic 18-0.

However the U.S. ladies’s hockey crew is on to the semifinals of the Olympics after a 4-1 win over the Czech Republic on Friday afternoon in Beijing. They are going to play the winner of Finland-Japan within the semifinal.

“We're getting loads of pictures, however not loads of targets,” coach Joel Johnson mentioned. “I wouldn’t name it struggling to attain, we're simply not producing the very best high quality scoring probabilities in comparison with settling for some pictures which are pretty straightforward to save lots of.”

The win didn’t come with no scare — the Czechs went up 1-0 proper after their first shot on aim of the sport, when Michaela Pajzlova put dwelling a rebound at 4:59 of the second interval. The Individuals weren’t on the again foot for lengthy, although. Hillary Knight tied it at one, crashing the online off Kendall Coyle Schofield’s shot, simply 48 seconds after the Czech Republic had taken the lead.

Savannah Harmon (left) hugs a teammate after scoring a goal in the United States' 4-1 victory over the Czeh Republic.
Savannah Harmon (left) hugs a teammate after scoring a aim in the USA’ 4-1 victory over the Czech Republic.
EPA

The U.S. performed many of the recreation of their offensive zone, dominating possession and shot margin — which completed 59-6 — however struggled to get something by Czech goaltender Klara Peslarova, who had 54 saves. Even when Dani Cameronesi took a five-minute main for boarding within the second interval, the US had one of the best likelihood of the following energy play, with Peslarova stonewalling Alex Carpenter on a breakaway.

Due to their goaltender’s play, the Czechs got here into the final 20 minutes on even footing. However that didn’t final.


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At 6:49 of the third, the U.S. lastly broke by way of, with Lee Stecklein’s shot from the purpose deflecting off a Czech stick and previous Peslarova to offer the Individuals a 2-1 lead. Savannah Harmon prolonged the result in 3-1 with an influence play aim on a rebound with 3:09 to go within the recreation, sealing the win. An empty-net aim from Schofield made it 4-1.

“We knew we needed to flip it up and preserve going,” Stecklein instructed reporters. “Irrespective of what number of pictures we're getting, we've got to discover a approach to put the puck within the internet. It’s for our lives right here, not a lot actually wanted to be mentioned as a result of everybody feels it.”

It wasn’t as dominant a victory because it may have been for the US so far as the scoreline goes. Hardly ever, although, was the lead to doubt, and the Individuals marched on to the semifinals in what they hope can be a repeat of their gold medal run in 2018.

They’re now 4-1 within the event, the lone blemish coming in a loss to Canada on the finish of the group stage. The 2 nations may meet once more within the finals.

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