Coach Sarah Murray promised Korea would get over the jitters that came with their Olympic debut as the first combined team ever to play in any games. She was right. Switzerland was better in its 2-0 win on Sunday, but the gap nowhere near as wide as it was
Coach Sarah Murray promised Korea would get over the jitters that came with their Olympic debut as the first combined team ever to play in any games.
She was right.
Switzerland was better in its 2-0 win on Sunday, but the gap nowhere near as wide as it was the first time the teams met at the Pyeongchang Games — an 8-0 rout in an Olympic opener that had everyone’s attention one day after the opening ceremony.
Janine Alder made 19 saves for the shutout with Florence Schelling getting a day off after playing in a 6-2 loss to the Russians in the quarterfinals. Evelina Raselli also scored for the 2014 bronze medalists, who are trying to finish fifth in these games.
They will play Japan, a 2-1 winner over Sweden in the first overtime game of the women’s tournament.
Swiss defenseman Christine Meier said the first period was challenging after a tough loss. It didn’t help that the Koreans also played much better.
« They adjusted very well to the speed, » Meier said. « That was the main point, and I think they had a lot of pressure. It was their first Olympic game. »
Shin So Jung made 51 saves after giving up a hat trick to Alina Muller in the first period of the opener against Switzerland.
Even though the North Korean cheerleaders were not in attendance for the game featuring 12 North Korean players on the Korean roster, home fans brought the energy once again, waving flags and yelling every time a Korean got her stick on the puck or threatened to score.
