URL:http://www.torstar.com/sportswire/amhockey/HKY-Women-Fin-USA.html SportsWire _________________________________________________________________ Late breaking SportsWire Story last updated on Wed Apr 2 23:40:19 EST 1997 _________________________________________________________________ Finland, USA struggle to tie in women's hockey Finland scored two goals in the final nine minutes to earn a 3-3 tie with the United States in a women's world hockey championship game Tuesday night. The tie left both teams with 1-0-1 records atop Pool B in the round-robin portion of the eight-team tournament. ``Finland stuck to their game plan and they did a good job it,'' said U.S. coach Ben Smith. ``We didn't want to tie. We wanted to win so when you don't win, you're not happy.'' The United States, winners of the silver medal behind Canada in each of the three previous world championships, have struggled recently with Finland, the three-time bronze medal winners. The Americans have won four games over the last six months, but two were decided by one goal and the other two by two goals. Tuesday was a similarly tight match. ``In the third period, we had a chance to put it away but their goalie (Tuula Puputti) made a big save,'' said Smith. ``We took too many penalties tonight. There was a lack of poise on our part.'' American captain Cammi Granato, who had two goals, agreed with her coach. ``There was a lack of discipline, some retaliation penalties. We've always had a tough battle (with Finland). They're not a team to take lightly. We just got a little bit comfortable.'' Tricia Dunn gave the U.S. the lead at 4:27 of the first period. Finland tied the score on Tiia Reima's power-play goal at 17:38 but Granato scored in the final minute to give the U.S. a 2-1 lead heading into the second period. Granato made it 3-1 with a power-play goal at 11:11 of the second period. Riika Nieminen's goal on a partial breakaway at 11:56 of the third period started Finland's rally. The Finns tied the score when Sari Krooks beat American goaltender Erin Whitten with a 35-foot blast to the stick side at 14:36. BRANTFORD, Ont. (CP) SportsWire