Madeline Hubbard ‘19
Sports Editor
Nothing fires a team up more than working endlessly towards a goal only to fall a little short. The US Women’s Ice Hockey team has had their share of losses but they always come back fired up to win. Pyeongchang was no exception. For four years, the players struggled and trained, waiting for their shot at redemption after a crushing defeat to the Canadians in Sochi.
The roster at this 2018 Olympics included some returners Hilary Knight, Meghan Duggan, Monique Lamoureux and Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson – all key players in last Wednesday’s game. The team has been through a lot together from a battle for equal pay earlier in the season to a major coaching staff change and even a hurricane. These women went to Pyeongchang hungry and ready to fight for the gold.
The game started and immediately, the Canadian team showed they were there to play a physical game with an illegal hit resulting in a penalty. Knight took advantage of the power play to put one in behind the Canadian goalie, Szabados, with 25 seconds left in first period regulation.
The US team hoped to ride this momentum all the way, scoring early and often, but the Canadian team had other plans. Early in the second period, the team beat defender Stecklein in a 2 on 1 to net and buried it deep to even the score 1-1. Later in the second, Agnosta on the Canadian team brought a puck deep into the offensive blue line and connected with her teammate Poulin out front who sent if flying top shelf past the 20-year-old goalie Rooney.
Having lost their lead, the US team had to shift into next gear to make up for the goal. They were unable to find the net in the second period just trying to match Canada’s aggressive and powerful play.
10 minutes left in the game, the US was desperate to even the score. Lamoureux-Morando snagged the puck on a line change and raced to put a wrister on net past Szabados. Regulation time came to an end with the teams tied 2-2 and a whopping 5 penalties for the Canadian team and just 3 for the US.
Overtime was the US’ time to shine. The 4 on 4 play allowed the US team to use their speed to avoid an overly physical game and play the game they had trained for. Despite the extra space and passing lanes on the ice, neither team was able to finish the game.
With two minutes left, Duggan was sent to the box for an illegal hit and the game became an intense 4 on 3. Fans were tense as a frantic overtime came to an end with Canada unable to capitalize.
Shootouts were next and the pressure was on as the teams and fans prayed. Canada missed the first shot. Marvin snuck one behind Szabados. Canada’s Agosta sent one past Rooney, keeping Canada in the game.
Finally, Knight, one of the US team’s top scorers, missed her shot. The round was over and sudden death penalty shots were up.
Lamoureux-Davidson came down and pulled it across the cage twice leaving Szabados on her back and the net wide open. It was all up to Rooney to end it there.
Agnosta came down attempting to generate some movement from Rooney. The shot hit her left pad and Rooney scooped up the puck and threw it out. The scene that followed was an emotional one.
The US team had one God for the first time in 20 years and Rooney’s teammates charged the ice to pile on her cheering and smiling. They had finally made it.
