Struggles continue for Team USA
By Jason Olson
SportsPrepZone Editor
ST. PAUL –-The Blaine-based U.S. Women’s National hockey team saved its final ‘home’ game against arch rival Canada for Dec. 30 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
Team USA came up short in a 2-1 loss to Canada, its sixth loss in a row to the Canadians despite out shooting them 41-27. and having several scoring chances fall short of crossing the goal line between the pipes.
American supporters shouldn’t be too discouraged with the effort Wednesday night.
Canada made the most of its chances and remained calm in its own end especially in the closing minutes when Canada’s Player of the Game, Colleen Sostorics, took an interference penalty with 1:15 left in the game. Team USA pulled goalie Molly Schaus for a 6-on-4 advantage, but they couldn’t find their way past Charline Labonte.
Canada came out on the attack, scoring two minutes, nine seconds into the game as Colleen Sostonic’s blast from the point was redirected past U.S. goalie Molly Schaus by Haley Irwin for her sixth point against the US this season. Team USA scored the equalizer at the 11:10 mark of the second period only to have Canada retake the lead 3:09 later. USA’s goal was scored by Karen Thatcher with help from Jocelyne Lamoureaux and Erika Lawler.
As one of the final legs on the Qwest Tour, a primer before the Winter Olympics in Vancouver which begin in February, the stop at Xcel comes at an interesting time for the U.S. squad. The Americans began the long run-up to the winter games by capturing the title at the Hockey Canada Cup Labor Day weekend before starting the Qwest Tour with a 6-1 win against the WCHA All-Stars Sept. 25.
Wednesday’s game was the fifth in a series of six matches before the Olympics against Team USA’ hockey neighbors to the north. Canada holds the edge in games this year, including both previous Qwest Tour meetings, the last was a 6-2 decision Dec. 15 at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta. Canada handed the U.S. a 5-1 loss in the title game of the Four Nations Cup in early November.
The Canadians have won three straight over the Americans, dating back to a 3-2 decision Nov. 6 in the prelims of the Four Nations Cup in Finland.
Team USA will continue to train at the National Sports Center in Blaine until January 23.
