The USA team beat record Olympic champion Canada 3-2 (1-0,0-2,1-0,0-0,0-0,1-0,1-0,1-0) after penalty-shooting and thus added another defeat to the “maple leaves” after 24 Olympic games without bankruptcy. Most recently, Canada had lost to the USA in the 1998 final in Nagano.
After no decision had been made in 80 minutes, the USA, in 2010 and 2014, were defeated in the final by arch-rivals thanks to a successful penalty from Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson.
Meghan Agosta became a tragic figure in Canada. The striker, who had hoped to become Olympic gold medallist for the fourth time in a row, missed the decisive penalty and then sneaked away with tears in her eyes.
In a largely even match, the greater physical presence of the world champions prevailed over Team Canada’s speed and improved technique in front of 9000 spectators at the Gangneung Hockey Centre.
The winners danced over the ice rink to Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA”, while Canada’s head coach Laura Schuler disappeared in the cabin with a long face.
Haley Irwin (22nd) and Marie-Philip Poulin (27th) met for Canada in the regular season. Hilary Knight (20th) had led the US girls, Monique Lamoureux-Morando (54th) equalled.
The final took place at least partly under German leadership. One of the two main referees was Nicole Hertrich from Hagen. Lisa Linnek belonged to the line-judges.
Already on Wednesday, the Finnish team had secured the bronze medal by a 3:2 against the Olympic athletes from Russia.