Menu
Both teams started with good defence as nobody wanted to drop behind in the final. The Czechs had a great opportunity half way through the first period when Kvasnickova appeared in front of goal to finish a 2-on-1 rush. She put it on target but Bekkering managed to move across fast enough to deny her with an amazing save.
The Czechs then gave up a power play to the US right at the beginning of second and the Americans took the lead. Bronson found Kelly Foley with a saucer pass across the crease and she managed to tap it in with a nice volley. Home side got back with solo run from Denisa Krizova who went around the goalie to score with backhand.
Third period should decide then and the Czechs took inciative right away. With little more than one minute into it, Katerina Nemcova took a slap shot from behind blue line on power play and found the back of the net. USA replied in the very next shift when Danielle Strohmier finished off a passing play in the zone to tie it up at two.
Two minutes later, Lucie Kubinova broke free on right wing side and scored with a well placed shot to far post. That put the Czech Republic ahead again and the Americans were on the edge. They couldn’t cash on the next power play and as time went on, the hosts were close to gold. Until captain Tiffany Pfundt put her rebound in with one minute to go in regulation to send it into OT.
There it took just 55 seconds until Aneta Ledlova lifted the roof of Tipsport arena. Her shot went into the far post, off Bekkering and behind the goal line to end the game and win the Gold for the Czech Republic!
Reactions
Karel Manhart (coach of Czech Republic) : It’s amazing, we are the champions in front of these fantastic people! We got the medal at home, absolutely unbelievable. I think we realize this success during next days or weeks. I’am glad about my girls, it’s beautiful to see them.
Tiffany Pfundt (captain, Team USA): It was a crazy game. We played our hearts out, which is all we tried to do. Every shift was our focus, just one at a time. We battled and left it all out there. We really played for each other. We were right there today, but they got a lucky bounce at the end and that was the game. They’re a good team and I don’t take anything away from them, but we were in there every step of the way.
