URL:http://www.canoe.ca/HockeyWomen/apr1_nor_swe.html Tuesday, April 1, 1997 SWEDEN TIES NORWAY KITCHENER, Ont. (CP) -- The Swedish women's hockey team nearly committed a grave national offence Tuesday -- lose to the Norwegians. Gunilla Andersson's goal with two minutes remaining allowed Sweden to save face, forcing a 2-2 tie at the women's world hockey championship. The last time these two teams met, in a February exhibition game in Sweden, the Swedes won 9-1. "They surprised us this time," said Christian Yugve, the assistant Swedish coach. "They were strong defensively and we did not play up to our level." First-period goals by Tonje Larson and Brigitte Lersbryggen staked Norway to a 2-0 lead. Maria Rooth replied for Sweden in the second and the Swedes poured it on in the third, outshooting the Norwegians 10-2, to force the stalemate. "That was really disappointing," said Torbjorn Orskaug, Norway's coach. "We were in front the whole game so to give up that goal at the end made us disappointed with the result. "But our players showed they can play three good periods against a good team." Sweden outshot Norway 28-23 in the game, which got chippy towards the end. "It's always a tough game when we play Sweden," said Norwegian centre Nina Johansen. "When we play, I guess we hate each other." Sweden and Norway both are 0-1-1 in Pool B. There are four teams in two pools and the top five from this tournament qualify for the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. SLAM! _________________________________________________________________ CANOE home Copyright (c) 1997, Canoe Limited Partnership. All rights reserved.