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U.S. women's hockey team puts perfect record on the line
WEST VALLEY CITY — The U.S. women's ice hockey team will put its perfect Olympic (3-0) and season (34-0) records on the line against Team Sweden today at 4:30 p.m. at the E Center in one of two medal-round semifinal games.
The Americans have not lost to the Swedes (2-1) since sanctioned international play began in 1990, and at least one '98 Olympic veteran thinks Team USA is even better than it was when it claimed the gold medal in Nagano.
"We're stronger, we're faster. All around, we're a better team," Jenny Potter said.
The United States has outscored its first three opponents 27-1 and is favored to win gold. One reason why is 18-year-old forward Natalie Darwitz. The native of suburban Minneapolis, who hasn't even graduated from high school yet, is tied with Canadians Hayley Wickenheiser and Danielle Goyette for the Olympic-tournament lead in scoring. Darwitz has six goals and one assist.
"She is highly, highly skilled, and she's so good at every part of the game," U.S. team captain Cammi Granato said of Darwitz. "It's great to see her do so well because she deserves it."
Another young American, 16-year-old defenseman Lyndsay Wall, is tied for the lead in plus-minus percentage. That statistic reflects the number of times a player is on the ice when her team scores, minus the times an opponent scores when she is on the ice.
In the early semifinal game Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the E Center, top-seeded Canada (3-0) takes on third-seeded Finland (2-1).
Also today, China (0-3-1) plays Kazakhstan (0-4) for seventh place, 2 p.m. at the Peaks Ice Arena, and Russia (2-2) will battle Germany (1-2-1) for fifth place, 7 p.m. at the Peaks.
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February 19, 2002
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