URL: http://www.canoe.ca/HockeyWomen/mar25_rus_usa.html

Tuesday, March 25, 1997

U.S. 7, RUSSIA 0

U.S. WOMEN STONE RUSSIANS IN EXHIBITION GAME


LAKE PLACID, N.Y. (AP) -- Karyn Bye and A.J. Mleczko scored goals
1:27 apart early in the second period Tuesday night to break open a
scoreless game and send the U.S. women's national ice hockey team to a
7-0 victory over Russia in an exhibition game at the Olympic Ice
Arena.

The game was the first ever between the teams as they prepare for the
Women's World Championship. The tournament gets underway Monday in
Kitchener, Ontario, with the United State playing Norway in its first
game.

The game started as a goaltending duel between Russia's Irina
Gashennikova and Erin Whitten of the United States. The duel ended
when Bye scored on a power play at 5:56 of the second period,
deflecting a goalmouth feed past Gashennikova.

Mleczko scored on a backhander at 7:23 to give the Americans a
two-goal lead as they continued to dominate the Russians at every
turn.

Lisa Brown-Miller won a faceoff deep in Russian territory, and
Stephanie O'Sullivan's shot through a partial screen sailed past
Gashennikova at 11:43 to make it 3-0.

Barb Gordon, an alternate on the team in case of injury, made it 4-0
on a wrist shot from 15 feet. O'Sullivan got her second goal of the
game on a power play just 42 seconds into the third period for a 5-0
lead. Katie King and Sandra Whyte completed the rout.

Laurie Baker had three assists for the U.S. team and Whitten made 14
saves.

Gashennikova, who finished with 49 saves, kept Russia in the game in
the scoreless first period with 21 stops, most from point-blank range.

Russia's best scoring opportunities came in the first period during a
power play. But Whitten stopped Ekaterina Pashkavich on a drive from
the right point and blocked Svetlana Gavrilova's rebound try.

_________________________________________________________________

CANOE home | We welcome your feedback.
Copyright (c) 1997, Canoe Limited Partnership.
All rights reserved.