Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Friday 23 February 2018
U.S. women beat Canada for gold in a 3-2 shootout thriller

By TERESA M. WALKER
GANGNEUNG, South Korea
(AP) — Jocelyne Lamou-
reux-Davidson skated slow-
ly back and forth toward
the net, showing forehand,
then leaning quickly to the
left to fake a backhand
that pulled Canadian goal-
ie Shannon Szabados out
of the crease.
On the sport's biggest
stage, against the Ameri-
cans' greatest rival, with
all her teammates leaning
eagerly over the boards
watching her every move,
the three-time Olympian
came back to her fore-
hand to finish off a dazzling,
triple-deke move by sliding
the puck into the net past
the outstretched glove of
Szabados for the deciding
goal in the sixth round of a
shootout thriller.
"I knew when that went in
that Maddie was going to
stop the next one," Lamou-
reux-Davidson said.
That would be 20-year-old GOLDEN GIRLS: Untied States hockey team celebrate with their gold medals after beating Canada in the women's gold medal
goalie Maddie Rooney, hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018.
who stuffed the last two Associated Press
Canadian shooters to wrap
up a 3-2 victory Thursday Nothing was more incred- ing to stun the Americans in teammates like pointing at hands as the Americans
that snapped the Ameri- ible than the move by overtime. me, just one more," Rooney stood nearby awaiting their
cans' 20-year gold medal Lamoureux-Davidson, who Knight gave the U.S. a 1-0 said. "And to have their gold.
drought and ended Can- decided to use the deke lead with 25.4 seconds left support made it a whole lot "It's just hard," Larocque
ada's bid for a fifth straight called "Oops, I did it again in the first, redirecting a shot easier. I just reacted to her, said. "You work so hard. We
title in the first shootout in " — something she had from Sidney Morin through and then everything kind of wanted gold but didn't get
an Olympic women's final. practiced uncounted times Szabados' pads to give the went into a blur." it."
The Americans piled over in practice, skating around Americans a jolt of energy. It was sweet redemption The Canadians said they
the boards, throwing gloves tires set up on open ice to That lasted only 2 minutes for the 10 Americans who didn't like the shootout for-
in the air before piling on mimic defenders. into the second when Hal- watched the Canadians mat , preferring overtime to
top of Rooney on the ice — "I'm just thrilled beyond ey Irwin tipped a midair snatch gold away in So- settle a game of such mag-
20 years after their last gold words," the beaming pass from Blayre Turnbull chi. Not only did the Ameri- nitude.
medal in women's hockey Lamoureux-Davidson said over Rooney's left leg for cans end the Canadians' "We've trained so hard,"
and 38 years to the day af- with a U.S. flag draped Canada. And when Mo- stranglehold on Olympic Agosta said. "It's unfor-
ter the men's famous "Mira- around her shoulders and rin lost the puck, Melodie gold, they ended a skid of tunate this had to come
cle on Ice" victory over the gold hanging on her chest. Daoust grabbed it and five straight against their ri- down to a shootout. When
Soviet team in group play "I've butchered it a thou- passed to Meghan Agosta val coming into this game, it comes down to a shoot-
at Lake Placid. sand times, just ran into tires, who hit Marie-Philip Poulin including a 2-1 loss in the out it can be anybody's
"Joy's the only word that tripped over tires just work- for the wrister into the left tournament a week ago. game."
comes to mind," said Gigi ing on my hands. Just glad side of the net at 6:55 for a "It is everything for our Added Canada coach
Marvin, a three-time Olym- it worked out this time." 2-1 lead. country," U.S. coach Robb Laura Schuler: "There's not
pian and at 30 the oldest Her twin, Monique Lamou- Lamoureux-Morando tied Stauber said. "I am just so a lot of words that can de-
American on the roster. reux-Morando , said coach it up with a breakaway thankful for the outcome. scribe how you feel. It was
This victory capped a year Peter Elander, now at Ohio with 6:21 left in regulation . It was a thrilling final. It was a great game of hockey.
that started with the Ameri- State, had taught the sisters Knight also had a goal and unreal." It's what we expected:
cans threatening a boycott the shootout move when Rooney was spectacular, Poulin and Irwin each back and forth hockey."
of the world championships the three were at the Uni- making 29 saves for the scored goals for Canada. The Americans had domi-
to secure more money and versity of North Dakota. win. Rooney stopped the Agosta and Daoust scored nated the women's game
the same kind of treatment "Not everyone can take last two Canadian shooters in the shootout. in non-Olympic years, win-
that USA Hockey gives to the pressure like that, and in the shootout in Brianne The Canadians, who had ning the last four and eight
the men's team. she took it like a champ," Jenner and then Agosta on pushed the Americans of the last 10 world cham-
"They should make a movie she said. her second attempt. around for much of the pionships, including a 3-2
on it," forward Hilary Knight Marvin and Amanda Kessel Pressure? Rooney's grin was game and taken penal- overtime victory over Can-
said. "We had all the drama also scored in the shootout, clear to see throughout the ties for it, wept on the ice ada last spring. “Everything
and everything. It's sort of a another nail-biter ending shootout. as they accepted their got into a blur, seeing my
storybook ending to an in- four years after Canada "Right before she came silver medals. Jocelyne teammates sprinting at me
credible series of accom- won its fourth-straight gold down, I just looked over Larocque took hers off im- ,” Rooney said. “It’s an in-
plishments." medal in Sochi after rally- at the bench and saw my mediately and held it in her describable feeling.”q