2024-04-06 06:14:29
The Czech women’s hockey players lost in the second match at the World Championship in Utica against the highly favored American women’s 0:6.
Alex Carpenter scored a hat trick for the victory of the reigning champions, Laila Edwards added two goals. Nicole Hensley kept the clean sheet. Czech goalkeeper Klára Peslarová scored 42 successful saves over six conceded goals.
“We played well, even though it didn’t translate much into the final score. After two quick goals at the end of the second period, the team didn’t stop playing, didn’t give up and kept trying. A big thank you to the players for that, they are really competitive. I’m proud of them for what they showed in both matches against the USA,” said coach Carla MacLeod on the Czech Hockey website.
Her team also played against the USA in preparation for the WC and lost 1:6 in Lake Placid.
In Utica, the Czech Republic started again without the injured striker Mrázová, one of the main stars of the team. As expected, from the start they were under pressure from opponents they had never beaten before. The American women overcame the weakening in the beginning without any major problems, and in the 7th minute Carpenter put them in the lead.
The central figure of the match was goalkeeper Peslarová, who made 14 successful saves in the first period. Hensley, on the other hand, was bored most of the time. However, she scored an important save in the 36th minute, when Mlýnková broke into a weakened position. But the Czech attacker could not equalize.
The Americans subsequently gained a reassuring lead. Eight seconds after the return of the suspended Křížová, Carpenterová, who was quickly on the move, made her second goal in the match, and 59 seconds later, Edwardsová added the third goal.
The same player was among the scorers for the second time in the final third, when she made her mark even in a weakened state.
The overseas players subsequently brought the duel to the winning end without any problems and increased their victory even more. Heise beat Peslar, Carpenter added her third goal in the 51st minute. In the end, the Czechs were close to an honorable goal, but Pejšová only hit the post in a power play.
“It’s always very challenging with these teams in the group. Of course, America, Canada are a level higher, but we tried to keep pace with them throughout the match, and I think that in terms of physical fitness, we did well the whole time. They were very nervous about it and sometimes tried to hit us back. They got penalties because of it, so I think it was good,” forward Michaela Pejzlová said.
The third match in Group A awaits the Czechs on Sunday, when they will face Canada from 21:00 CET.
“We have to continue our game and constantly improve. The next match will be only our second against Canada. We are new in group A, we are not used to regular matches with overseas teams. Of course, we will go on the ice and want to win. That is always our goal, but at the same time we respect that path and try to match our opponents,” MacLeod said.
Matches of Group A of the World Women’s Hockey Championship in Utica (USA):
USA – Czech Republic 6:0 (1:0, 2:0, 3:0)
Goals and assists: 7. Carpenter (Coyne-Schofield), 37. Carpenter (Harvey, Murphy), 38. Edwards (Curl), 44. Edwards (Coyne-Schofield, Harvey), 46. Heise, 51. Carpenter (Harvey, Barnes). Referees: Kainbergerová (Austria), Nurmiová (Fin.) – Gutauskasová (Can.), Hájková (Czech Republic). Exclusion: 6:4, plus Simmsová (USA) 5 min. and until the end of the match. Usage: 1:0. In weakening: 1:0. Viewers: 3880.
Table:
| 1. | USA | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10:0 | 6 |
| 2. | You have | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7:1 | 6 |
| 3. | Czechia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4:6 | 3 |
| 4. | Finland | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:8 | 0 |
| 5. | Switzerland | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0:7 | 0 |