Page 23 - ARUBA TODAY

A23
SPORTS Monday 10 February 2020

Canada goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe blocks a shot during the
first half of a CONCACAF women’s Olympic qualifying soccer
match against the United States Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, in Carson,
Calif.
Associated Press
U.S. women

Continued from Page 18 U.S. players celebrate Megan Bozek's overtime goal against Canada in a Rivalry Series hockey
game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020. The United States won 4-3 and won the series.
Associated Press
But the Americans were knocked out in the quarterfinals
by Sweden four years ago in Brazil, the team's earliest Women's hockey looks to keep
Olympic exit.
Canada has made the field in the past three Olympics, momentum after Rivalry Series
winning the bronze medal in the last two.
It was the fourth time the teams have met in the final of
the qualifying tournament, with the United States winning By JOE REEDY leave this game better than we entered it,"
all four. AP Sports Writer U.S. forward Kendall Coyne Schofield said.
U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski started Lynn Williams and ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Women's hockey "You soak in the moments you're together
Jessica McDonald, giving Tobin Heath the day off. Rapi- has been in the spotlight the past couple because more times than not you're alone
noe came in as a substitute. Other veterans on the bench weeks with the Rivalry Series and the NHL's and you're passing to the boards or you're
included defenders Becky Sauerbrunn and Kelley O'Hara. All-Star weekend. passing to a little rubber band that's pass-
Julir Ertz wore the captain's armband for her 99th appear- It's valuable exposure in a non-Olympic ing back to you."
ance with the team. Christen Press, who had scored in year, and the big challenge is trying to sus- While a new league might be at least a
the team's last six games, also started. Press was the fifth tain the momentum. couple years away, one way to increase
U.S. woman to score in six straight games, joining Mia With the five-game series between the exposure might be extending the length
Hamm, Michelle Akers, April Heinrichs and Carli Lloyd. It United States and Canada concluding of the Rivalry Series. It was three games
was the longest such streak for the U.S. since Lloyd scored on Saturday and progress toward a viable last year and five games this year. Players
in seven straight in 2014. league at a standstill, the next big event on both teams said they would welcome
As expected, Canada coach Kenneth Heiner-Moller em- won't happen until March 31, when the going to seven games next year.
phasized defense against his offensively proficient op- World Championships begin in Canada. Each of the games in this year's series were
ponent, starting five defenders. The approach worked "The last few weeks have been special for televised in the U.S. and Canada, which
through the first half. players and fans but hopefully these op- also helps with getting increased expo-
Jessie Fleming, who was a standout at UCLA, had a portunities continue to build," said U.S. for- sure.
chance for Canada that went over the goal and into the ward Hillary Knight, who had three goals in "We're definitely trying to make the most
netting. the series. "You can get on a treadmill and of the exposure," Canada forward Blayre
Press' blast in the 32nd minute hit the crossbar. A few mo- run until you are blue in the face or get on Turnbull said. "We only get on television
ments later, she caught Canada goalkeeper Stephanie a line and sprint back and forth but there three to five times a year and it is about
Labbe far out in front of her net, but the attempt from is nothing like playing in games and being finding more outlets. We don't get the lux-
distance sailed over the goal. in game shape. It's challenging but every ury of playing in a league or getting two or
Christine Sinclair's attempt on a breakaway in the 38th single day we know what our responsibili- three games a week."
minute was stopped by U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher. ties are." Saturday's finale at the Honda Center
Williams finally broke through Canada's defense with a The National Women's Hockey League has drew 13,320, which is the most to view the
blast into the upper corner for a 1-0 lead. Horan doubled five teams in the U.S., but the top Ameri- national team in the U.S. It surpassed the
it 10 minutes later when she dribbled around two defend- can and Canadian players are boycotting previous mark of 10,158 for a 2002 game
ers and finished with a perfectly placed shot that Labbe because they don't believe it is financially against Canada in Detroit.
couldn't reach. viable. The Professional Women's Hockey Molly Schaus — a former U.S. goaltender
After her late goal, Rapinoe struck her victory pose, Players Association was formed last year and two-time Olympian — was the driving
made famous last summer when the United States won and has held a couple showcases for force behind ticket sales and getting the
the World Cup. players to remain in game shape. One is game in Southern California.
Both teams went undefeated in the run-up to the final, scheduled for Philadelphia this month and Coyne Schofield said that the crowd and
with Canada scoring 23 goals and the United States scor- plans remain in the works for another in Ari- game, won by the U.S. 4-3 in overtime, was
ing 22. zona before the World Championships. a harbinger of future games on a bigger
Sinclair became the all-time leading international goal The players who took part in the NHL All- stage.
scorer during the group stage. She has 186 goals; retired Star Skills event and 3-on-3 exhibition "Tonight the Ducks set the tone and proved
U.S. star Abby Wambach had 184. game were all members of the PWHPA. to the rest of the NHL clubs that you can
Canada has won just three times in the 60-match series But NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has host a women's hockey game in your
against their North American rival. said he isn't interested in starting a wom- building and sell it," she said. "Molly proved
Attendance was announced at 17,489 at Dignity Health en's league while one is still operating. to a lot of people that didn't believe this
Sports Park, home of the LA Galaxy. The United States "We all love this game so much to not fig- building could hold 13,000 for women's
hasn't lost on home soil since July 2017.q ure it out and grind through this year to hockey."q