URL:http://www.canoe.ca/HockeyWomen/apr1_fin_usa.html

Tuesday, April 1, 1997

LATE GOALS LIFT FINNS TO TIE WITH U.S.

BRANTFORD, Ontario (AP) -- Finland scored two goals in the final nine
minutes to earn a stunning 3-3 tie with the United States in the
Women's World Ice Hockey Championship on 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.

The United States, winners of the silver medal behind Canada in each
of the three previous world championships, has struggled recently with
Finland, the three-time bronze medalists. 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.

"Finland stuck to their game plan and they did a good job of 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 Finns were thrilled with the tie, produced on goals by Riika
Nieminen and Sari Krooks.

"The way the team feels right now, we are going to go out flying,"
Krooks said outside the Finnish locker room, from which music was
loudly playing and people were singing. "We sang the national anthem a
little while ago. Now there is music and dancing."

Nieminen's goal came on a partial breakaway at 11:56 of the third
period and started Finland's rally. Krooks beat goaltender Erin
Whitten with a 35-foot blast to the stick side at 14:36 for her second
goal of the game.

"For me to play a game like this in this kind of tournament is a huge
disappointment. Huge," Whitten said.

Tricia Dunn gave the United States the lead in the first period.
Finland tied it on Tiia Reima's power-play goal, but U.S. captain
Cammi Granato scored in the final minute of the period for a 2-1 lead.

Granato made it 3-1 with a power-play goal at 11:11 of the second
period.

"There was a lack of discipline, some retaliation penalties," Granato
said of her team's performance. "We've always had a tough battle (with
Finland). They're not a team to take lightly. We just got a little bit
comfortable."

In other games, Canada routed Russia 9-1, China did the same to
Switzerland 11-3, and Sweden tied Norway 2-2. China and Canada are
tied atop Pool A.
Action resumes Thursday, with Americans playing Sweden.

The top five teams advance to the Winter Olympics next February in
Nagano, Japan.

SLAM! 

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