Erika Lawler of Fitchburg, Mass., and Kelli Stack of Brooklyn Heights, Ohio, each netted a goal and an assist as the U.S. Women's National Team topped Finland 5-1 on Thursday in Team USA's final Qwest Tour game. Noora Raty, the Gophers' freshman goalie, made 52 saves for the Finns who were within 2-1 after two periods. Mark Johnson, head coach for Team USA. "It's been a very long journey since we started and the team should feel very good about the way they played tonight. Everyone's very excited and anxious for the Olympics to start."
"Tonight was a real positive way to finish the Qwest Tour," said
Team USA took an early 1-0 lead just 2:36 into the first period. After collecting the puck in the neutral zone, Kacey Bellamy of Westfield, Mass., fed a streaking Stack, who carried the puck down the left wing. Stack skated toward the net and faked a shot to her forehand before backhanding the puck past Raty.
Seven seconds after Team USA killed off its fourth penalty of the period, Finland netted a goal with 1 minute remaining in the frame to tie the score, 1-1. Venla Hovi cut toward the net and fired a shot that was turned aside by Jessie Vetter of Cottage Grove, Wis. A goalmouth scramble followed until Linda Valimaki picked up the loose puck and found the back of the net.
The U.S. wasted little time to retake the lead in the second period. While on the power play, Molly Engstrom of Siren, Wis., fired a shot from the right point that redirected off the stick of Jocelyne Lamoureux to a waiting Jenny Potter, who knocked the puck into the open net from the right of Raty at 1:23.
Team USA continued its early-period scoring trend with a goal at 2:49 of the final frame to take a 3-1 advantage. A Finnish clearing attempt was thwarted by Stack, who chipped the puck behind Finland's defense to Karen Thatcher of Blaine, Wash. Thatcher and Lawler skated in 2-on-0 before Thatcher slid a pass to Lawler, who scord on a one-timer.
The U.S. made 4-1 at 6:16 when Jocelyne's sister Monique, both are from Grand Forks, N.D.) passed to Lawler, who carried the puck down the left-wing boards before cutting toward the net. After her shot attempt was slowed down by a Finnish stick, Raty made a stick save while sliding in the opposite direction. The puck stopped near the goal line before Natalie Darwitz of Eagan slid the puck into the open net.
Less than two minutes later, defenseman Angela Ruggiero of Simi Valley, Calif., extended the U.S. lead to 5-1.
