U-18 Women’s Semis: Sweden Stuns USA, Faces Canada for Gold
A thrilling set of semifinals highlighted the second-last day of the women’s U-18 World Championship.
In the first semifinal, host Sweden shocked the USA, winning 2-1 against the perennial powerhouse, which had played for gold for a decade straight. In the other semifinal, Finland gave Canada all they could handle and just missed out on guaranteeing a medal, bowing out in overtime 3-2.
Finally, not to be overshadowed by the medal round, Slovakia’s Nela Lopusanova again stole the show, scoring two incredible goals. She scored one batting a puck out of mid-air and the other between her legs while losing a placement game which saw Czechia finish fifth and Slovakia settle for sixth.
Here is a full recap of each game and the three stars for the day.
Host Sweden Beats USA, Will Play For Gold
It was an unbelievable scene in Ostersund, Sweden, as the Swedish host team defeated USA 2-1 in the semifinal to guarantee a medal and earn a chance to play for gold.
Off a hard forecheck by USA’s Finley McCarthy, the Americans got on the board first. McCarthy found Lucia DiGirolamo in tight, who spun to her backhand and beat Felicia Frank low.
In the second period, the USA took a pair of penalties in the same shift and put themselves down two players for a full two minutes. Sweden capitalized as Mira Jungaker ripped a shot from the slot through traffic on the 5-on-3 to beat Annelies Bergmann. Minutes later, Sweden took the lead, scoring another on the power play, this time off a point shot from Astrid Lindeberg.
Entering the third period with Sweden leading 2-1, Swedish netminder Felicia Frank came up big when it mattered. She smothered rebounds and fought for pucks in scrambles to hold onto the lead. Frank stopped 37 shots and was named Sweden’s top player in the game and one of Sweden’s three best players alongside Mira Jungaker and Hilda Svennson.
With the USA putting on the pressure late, it looked like Sweden scored an empty-netter, but the goal was called back for being inches offside. The excitement of the 2,122 in attendance peaked when the buzzer sounded, announcing Sweden would play for gold against the winner of Canada and Finland.
Canada Scores Overtime Win
Canada held on after Finland put out their best performance of the tournament. The Finns kept the game tied past the midway point and took the lead in the third. Canada, however, came from behind and won 3-2 in overtime.
Abby Stonehouse opened the scoring for Canada, tipping home an Emma Pais shot as she went to the net front.
Heading to the second period with Canada up 1-0, Finland showed a renewed fight. Sanni Vanhanen pulled Finland even when diving for a loose puck after Julia Schalin drove to the net, leaving a rebound on the doorstep.
To open the third period, Pauliina Salonen scored a power-play marker, with Sanhanen assisting, to give Finland the lead. It set up what looked like the second major upset of the day. With less than seven minutes to play, however, Alex Law tied the game 2-2, sending it to overtime.
In overtime, veteran defender Ava Murphy played hero. She scored for Canada to give them the 3-2 win and send them to the gold medal game.
Lopusanova Goes Out In Style
In the placement game, Czechia took fifth place beating Slovakia 6-3, but 14-year-old Slovakian phenom Nela Lopusanova continued to steal the show, scoring a pair of highlight-reel goals.
On a breakaway, Lopusanova drove to the net before pulling the puck back between her legs and lifting it to the top corner.
Lopusanova’s other goal came off her own rebound, where she batted a rising puck out of the air to score.
Czechia’s top player Adela Sapovalivova scored a pair for Czechia in the win.
In the other placement game, Switzerland sent Japan back to the Division 1-A tournament after sweeping their relegation series. Alessia Baechler, Switzerland’s top player, came up big in Game 2 of the series, scoring her team’s goals in a 2-1 win.
Three Stars From the Semifinals
First Star: Ava Murphy, F, Canada
Ava Murphy scored the overtime-winner for Canada and was a stalwart on the blueline. She’s been crucial to Canada’s transition game and catalyzing offense from their own zone. On the verge of a stunning upset, Murphy was the hero.
Second Star: Felicia Frank, G, Sweden
Frank made 37 saves, many on dangerous net front scrambles to hold off Team USA and lead her team into the gold medal game. With no goaltenders returning from last year’s U-18 tournament, Frank stepped into Sweden’s starting role and played spectacularly. In the semifinal, she challenged shooters from the top of her crease and held on to shots without leaving rebounds available. When there was a rebound, her control and quick covers slowed any momentum the USA tried to build. Frank is a contender to be named the top goaltender in the tournament.
Third Star: Mira Jungaker, Sweden, D
Jungaker showed off incredible mobility and puck control in Sweden’s 2-1 win but also played crucial minutes late in the third, holding off USA’s attack. On a 5-on-3 power play in the second, Jungaker scored the tying goal for Sweden by ripping a shot from the slot through traffic. On the other side of the puck, USA’s top players in the semifinal were also their blueliners, led by Molly Jordan and Gabrielle Kim, who each played more than 27 minutes.
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