In a women’s ice hockey rivalry that has seen medals turn from gold to silver in a matter of seconds, or a few centimeters, the US and Canada are just not sure what to make of the recent spate of blowouts.
Three days after the US won 5-2 in Quebec to open a seven-game pre-Olympic exhibition tour, Canada responded with a 5-1 victory on Wednesday that shocked the US and the sold-out crowd at Boston University’s Agganis Arena.
“We’re trying to get used to playing each other,” Canadian forward Natalie Spooner said, who scored twice. “We’re going to have to keep getting better, because I’m sure they’re going to keep getting better, too.”
Laura Fortino’s short-handed goal five minutes into the second period broke a 1-1 tie, before Spooner and Meghan Agosta scored 82 seconds apart at the end of the period to make it 4-1.
Spooner also scored in the first period, Marie-Philip Poulin added one in the third and Genevieve Lacasse stopped 37 shots for Canada.
Emily Pfalzer scored the only goal for the US team, tying the game midway through the first. Nicole Hensley stopped 12 of 16 shots before Alex Rigsby came on for the third period and stopped six of seven shots.
The only two real powers in women’s hockey, the US and Canada, have played in the gold medal game of every single world championship and all but one Olympics since the sport was added to the Winter Games in 1998.
Five of the last six world championships have been one-goal games; four of them needed overtime. At the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Canada took the US to overtime — and won — after a length-of-the-ice US shot at an empty net rolled into the post and bounced wide.
So it was a bit of a surprise when the US won the opener of the Olympic tuneup exhibition tour by three goals.
And perhaps even more shocking that Canada came back a few days later and dropped a 5-1 win on the hosts.
“It was almost the exact opposite,” US coach Robb Stauber said. “Except we only got one.”
Brazil has four teams, more than any other country, in the expanded Club World Cup that kicked off yesterday in the US, but for SE Palmeiras, the competition holds a special meaning: winning it would provide some redemption. Under coach Abel Ferreira since 2020, Palmeiras lifted two Copa Libertadores titles, plus Brazilian league, cup and state championships. Even before Ferreira, it boasted another South American crown and 11 league titles. The only major trophy missing is a world champions’ title. Other Brazilian clubs like Fluminense FC and Botafogo FR, also in the tournament, have never won it either, but the problem for Palmeiras
Lionel Messi drew vast crowds and showed flashes of his brilliance when his Inter Miami side were held to a goalless draw by African giants Al-Ahly as the revamped FIFA Club World Cup got off to a festive start on Saturday. Fans showed up en masse for the Group A clash at the Hard Rock Stadium, home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, but Messi could not fully deliver, his best chance coming through a last-second attempt that was deflected onto the crossbar. Inter Miami next face FC Porto on Thursday in Atlanta, while Al-Ahly, who benefited from raucous, massive support, are to
Sergio Ramos on Tuesday outfoxed two Inter players and artfully headed home the first goal for Monterrey at the FIFA Club World Cup. The 39-year-old Ramos slipped through the penalty area for the score just as he did for so many years in the shirts of Real Madrid and Spain’s national team, with whom he combined smarts, timing and physicality. Ramos’ clever goal and his overall defensive play at the Rose Bowl were major factors in Monterrey’s impressive 1-1 draw against the UEFA Champions League finalists in the clubs’ first match of the tournament. “There is always a joy to contribute to the
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani on Monday wobbled through a 28-pitch first inning at home against the San Diego Padres in his first appearance on the mound since August 2023. Scheduled to throw as many as two innings, Ohtani went a single frame while allowing one run on two hits. He did not issue a walk nor strike out a batter. “Not quite happy with the results overall, but the takeaway for me is that I feel good enough to be able to make the next outing,” Ohtani said of his pitching performance. Ohtani still wound up with a positive impact
RSS