MILAN, Italy — Swiss forward Ivana Wey scored in the eighth round of a shootout to seal a 4-3 win over the Czech Republic in Olympic women’s hockey preliminary round action at Santagiulia Arena on Friday, Feb. 6
In other action, Japan netted two goals late to hand France its second successive loss with a 3-2 victory.
The Czech team appeared en route to victory before Switzerland scored twice in the last 11 minutes of regulation, forcing overtime, and Wey thrust her fist in the air after whipping the puck past the Czech goalie for the Group A shootout win.
Forward Tereza Plosova provided a two-goal cushion for a Czech.
The two sides traded goals in rapid succession in an exciting first period, as forward Kristyna Kaltounkova slipped the puck through the legs of the diving Swiss goalie less than 90 seconds into the game.
Laura Zimmermann is a redshirt sophomore forward for the St. Cloud State women’s hockey team.
SCSU Athletics
Swiss forward Laura Zimmermann scored a goal in the eighth minute, but the Czech Republic regained the lead more than a minute later, when Natalie Mlynkova flipped in an easy wrist shot from close range off a fine assist from Katerina Mrazova. Zimmermann is a junior forward for
Goaltender Michaela Hesova pounced on the puck to keep the Czech lead late in the scoreless second period, before Plosova made it 3-1 just over six minutes into the third.
But Switzerland fought back as Alina Muller scored on the power play 10 minutes into the period and defender Lara Christen rifled the puck into the goal with less than three minutes left in regulation, pushing the game into overtime and the eventual shootout.
Goaltender Michaela Hesova pounced on the puck to keep the Czech lead late in the scoreless second period, before Plosova made it 3-1 just over six minutes into the third.
Switzerland fought back as Alina Muller scored on the power play 10 minutes into the period and defender Lara Christen rifled the puck into the goal with less than three minutes left in regulation, pushing the game into overtime and the eventual shootout.
“We always believed that we can play over 60 minutes, and that’s what we did. That’s why we came back and won that game,” Zimmermann said. “It’s always important to come back, even if you’re nervous, just play your best game, and that’s it. We never stopped believing.”
Former St. Cloud State forward Klára Hymlárová played in the game for Czechia.
France, making their first Olympics appearance in women’s ice hockey, came into the match at the Milano Rho Arena already under pressure after losing 5-1 to Italy in their opening game on Thursday, and their goal in the dying seconds was too little, too late against Japan.