Great Britain – Italy 0:2 (end) | Canada – Slovakia 5:0 (end) | Czech Republic – USA 4:3 (after OT)
final/OT
Czech Republic
4:3 (0:0, 1:1, 2:2 - 1:0)
USA
Saturday 10.06.2017, 11:30 • World Cup (women) • Final
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 11:30 CEST, 05:30 EDT.
     
    The Women's Ball Hockey World Championship will have a new champion in 2017, as neither the Czech Republic or USA have ever won the gold medal before. The Czechs won silver in 2015 -- prior to that, they had won 4 bronze medals. The USA has never medalled in the women's tournament.

    During the round-robin portion of the tournament, the Czechs defeated the Americans 3-0, with all three goals coming in a span of eight minutes late in the second period. However, the game is best remembered for the injury to US defender Kayla McCuean, who had to be taken from the rink on a stretcher and to the hospital, but was back playing again the next day.

    The Czech Republic finished 2nd in the round-robin and faced Slovakia in the semi-final, winning 2-0. The USA finished 4th and upset 1st-placed Canada in the semis 3-2 on a last-minute goal by Rebecca Dobson.
     
    The teams are on the floor now for pre-game warmups.

    As the higher seed, the Czech Republic is the home team for this game and is wearing red jerseys with white trim, royal blue shorts, white socks, royal blue helmets. The USA is designated as the visiting team and is weraing white jerseys with navy blue and red trim, navy blue shorts, socks and helmets.

     
    Starting lineups:

    Czech Republic: Zechovská (Teplá) – Herzigová, Kosinová, Němcová, Rejlová, Volková, Fričová, Držmíšková – Horálková, Topičová, Křížová, Patočková, Rullová, Kvasničková, Kubínová, Palová, Lédlová, Kábrtová, Manhartová, Přibylová, Hyksová, Kaltounková.

    USA: Bekkering (Glista) – Moore, Wilde, Caban, Levin, Meslar, Harrington, K. McCuean, Gnozzio, L. McCuean – Pfundt, Foley, Dobson, Frade, Aidonoidis, Stewart, Bitler, Bronson, Dixon, Simpson, Steadman, Strohmier, Reddington.

    Referees: Lamont, Keller (both CAN).
     
    The teams are now lined up on their respective bluelines, and the opening faceoff is moments away . . .
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    00:08
    Offside USA.
     
    00:56
    Ball deflected out of play in the US zone, faceoff inside.
     
    01:58
    Icing USA.
     
    03:22
    Long shot by Pribylova, caught and held by Bekkering.
     
    04:11
    Now a long shot from the US blueline goes right on Zechovska, who covers.
     
    05:19
    Icing Czech Republic.
     
    05:40
    Centring pass to Kvasnickova, Bekkering slides across to make a huge blocker save.
     
    06:40
    Another long shot on Zechovska and she covers again.
    06:40
     
    07:03
    Giveaway in front of the Czech goal to Pfundt, Zechovska denies her quick shot.
     
    08:53
    Hand pass USA in the neutral zone, faceoff at their blueline.
     
    09:24
    Stewart tries to find a teammate streaking to the net but misses and the pass goes right to Zechovska, who covers.
     
    10:27
    Icing Czech Republic.
     
    11:09
    Shot from the boards by Horalkova, stopped and held by Bekkering.
     
    11:50
    Pribylova with a wrister from the top of the slot, Bekkering holds on again.
     
    11:54
    Hand pass Czech Republic in the USA zone, faceoff outside.
     
    12:40
    Long slapper by Stewart, pad save Zechovska.
     
    13:19
    Wraparound attempt by Dobson, denied by Zechovska.
     
    14:07
    Ball deflects out of play between the benches, faceoff outside the Czech blueline.
    14:07
     
    14:31
    Goal crease violation USA, faceoff outside.
     
    15:00
    1st period finished.
     
    A rather conservatively played opening period, which plays into the hands of the Americans, who would prefer a defensive game. The Czechs will probably try to open it up a bit more in the second. Each team did get one good chance to score that period, though.

    Shots on goal in 1st period: CZE 5, USA 5.

    Quality scoring chances: CZE 1, USA 1.

    2nd period begins at 12:04 CEST, 06:04 EDT.
     
    The teams are back on the floor and the 2nd period will begin shortly.
     
    15:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    15:53
    Icing USA.
     
    16:03
    Penalty for Czech Republic (Denisa Krizova – 2 min., Cross-Checking).
     
    16:28
    Goal for Team USA!
    They execute on the power play perectly, takingonly 15 seconds to score. From the corner, Bronson finds KELLY FOLEY streaking to the far post and she one-times it in the open side.
    Assists: Julia Bronson, Haley Frade.
    16:28 Foleyová (USA) - 0:1
     
    18:14
    Icing USA.
     
    18:25
    Liane Dixon wins the race for the ball in the Czech zone but by the time she catches up she can only get a shot away from a weak angle.
     
    19:53
    Coincidental penalty:
    Penalty for USA (Lindsay Wilde – 2 min., Kneeing).
    Penalty for Czech Republic (Pavlina Horalkova – 2 min., Kneeing).
     
    21:00
    Amber Moore with the wraparound attempt, ends up under Zechovska.
     
    21:30
    Czechs pressing during 4 on 4 action, two players crash into the net and dislodge it. Faceoff outside.
     
    22:00
    Back to 5 on 5, play in the US zone . . .
     
    22:16
    Icing Czech Republic.
     
    22:38
    Offside Czech Republic.
     
    23:18
    Low wrister from the high slot by Horalkova, stick save Bekkering, and she covers.
     
    23:41
    Long slapper from centre caught and held by Bekkering.
     
    23:58
    Icing USA.
     
    24:14
    Ball deflected out of play in the Czech zone, faceoff inside.
     
    24:22
    Shot from the point by Stewart through a crowd and deflected, hits Zechovska but she didn't see it. Then she covers.
     
    24:34
    The Czechs go up the floor quickly, Krizova's shot is deflected on Bekkering, the ball is loose in the crease with the goalie down and sprawling, finally covered.
    24:34
     
    25:08
    Hand pass Czech Republic, faceoff outside the US zone.
     
    25:19
    Icing USA.
     
    27:11
    Goal for Team Czech Republic!
    What an amazing goal by DENISA KRIZOVA, getting the ball in the corner and using her speed to cut in front, beating the poke-check attempt by Bekkering and backhanding it into the open net.
    27:11 Křížová (CZE) - 1:1
     
    27:44
    Icing USA.
     
    28:12
    Czechs with momentum now, Patockova's high shot hits Bekkering's shoulder.

    Icing USA.
     
    29:00
    Wrister from Stewart, save Zechovska.
     
    29:25
    Storhmeir's slapper from the point deflects dangerously on Zechovska.
     
    30:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    Each team scores a goal that period, which was a lot more wide-open than the first with more chances at both ends. After the Americans took the lead, the Czechs pressed hard and finally managed to tie it. Then in the last couple minutes the Americans went back to the attack and nearly retook the lead, but didn't.

    Shots on goal in 2nd period (and game): CZE 12 (17), USA 7 (12).

    Quality scoring chances: CZE 3 (4), USA 4 (5).

    3rd period begins at 12:42 CEST, 06:42 EDT.
     
    30:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    30:42
    Penalty for USA (Liane Dixon – 2 min., Body checking).
     
    31:04
    Goal for Team Czech Republic!
    They take their first lead of the game and it's even quicker than the US power-play goal earlier in the game at 13 seconds. KATERINA NEMCOVA's shot from the point appears to change direction and Bekkering was definitely screened.
    Assist: Aneta Ledlova.
    31:04 Němcová (CZE) - 2:1
     
    31:20
    And the Czechs go right back to the attack and nearly get another one, with Kaltounkova going hard to the net but Bekkering stands her ground.
     
    31:50
    Goal for Team USA!
    They answer right back. The play is at the net and DANIELLE STROHMIER finishes the play.
    Assists: Haley Frade, Cherie Stewart.
    31:50 Strohmierová (USA) - 2:2
     
    32:50
    End to end action now, Hyksova on the rush just misses the far post.
     
    33:35
    Goal for Team Czech Republic!
    What a third period this is! The teams just going back and forth, and on this rush LUCIE KUBINOVA carried it down the right wing and fired a shot that beat Bekkering to the stick side just inside the post.
    Assist: Barbora Patockova.
    33:35 Kubínová (CZE) - 3:2
     
    33:41
    Penalty for Czech Republic (Katerina Nemcova – 2 min., Interference).
     
    34:30
    Slapper from the point by Harrington doesn't get through the crowd in front.
     
    35:48
    Czechs back at full strength just as Fade fires high from in close.
     
    36:26
    Horalkova's long low shot deflects just wide.
     
    36:48
    Icing USA, as this crowd is going nuts.
     
    38:45
    The Americans trying to get some offence going but the Czechs keeping them hemmed in their own zone.
     
    39:13
    Ball bounces off the end boards to Bekkering, who covers.
     
    Attendance: 3,256.

    That's a new record for women's ball hockey, slightly larger than the crowd to watch yesterday's CZE-SVK semi-final.
     
    39:35
    Icing USA.
     
    40:11
    Offside USA on the long pass, faceoff back to their own zone.
     
    42:10
    Americans keep trying to break out of their zone, but the Czechs keep dumping the ball back in . . .
     
    43:05
    Dobson spins and fires, hits the side of the net.
     
    43:15
    Bekkering goes to the bench for a 6th attacker.
     
    43:30
    Long shot toward the empty net just misses, hits the side of the net.
     
    43:52
    Goal for Team USA!
    They rush into the zone, Zechova stopped the initial shot, but TIFFANY PFUNDT was there to put in the rebound.
    43:52 Pfundtová (USA) - 3:3
     
    44:10
    Czechs go immediately to the attack . . .
     
    44:29
    Scramble in front of the US goal, the ball is eventually covered by Bekkering. Americans arguing the faceoff should be outside because a Czech closed her hand on the ball, but it will stay in.
     
    44:49
    Icing USA.
     
    45:00
    3rd period finished.
     
    What a third period that was! Twice the Czechs scored, twice the Americans tied it up, but by far the Czechs had the better chances. The Americans really only got two good chances to score and buried them both, including Pfundt's late equalizer.

    So the final game of the Women's Ball Hockey World Championship will be determined in overtime. If nobody scores in the 10-minute sudden-death period, it will go to a shootout.

    Shots on goal in 3rd period (and game): CZE 18 (35), USA 4 (16).

    Quality scoring chances: CZE 6 (9), USA 2 (6).

    Overtime begins at 13:13 CEST, 07:13 EDT.
     
    45:01
    Overtime began.
     
    45:30
    Czechs once again to the attack . . .
     
    45:55
    Goal for Team Czech Republic!
    What a weird goal! The shot from ANETA LEDLOVA hit the goal post, came back and hit Bekkering, who tried to rescue it before it dribbled across the line but just couldn't reach it. And the Czechs pour off the bench and mob Ledlova behind the net against the glass.
    Assist: Karolina Kosinova.
    45:55 Lédlová (CZE) - 4:3
     
    Game over.
     
    Players of the Game:

    USA – Carli Bekkering, G
    CZE – Denisa Krizova, F
     
    They've now got the podium on the rink full of hardware to give out to these two teams, as the fans continue to cheer and wave flags.
     
    The American players are now receiving their silver medals.
     
    A nice gesture from the Czech fans here, chanting "USA! USA!" as the last of their players and staff receive their medals. What a great game of women's ball hockey.
     
    This is the first ever medal for the USA at the Women's Ball Hockey World Championships, and it's a silver one. And now coming up, Team Czech Republic start to receive their gold medals to a thunderous ovation. They've medalled at every championship to date, but this is the first time they've taken gold.
     
    So that does it for the women's tournament, but there are still two more men's games to go: First it will be the Czech Republic vs Greece for 3rd place, followed by the grand finale at 17:00 CEST, 11:00 EDT between Slovakia and Canada. (13:26:59)
    Commentary by

    Derek OBrien

    CZ@@Djob76

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 28. Krizova, 32. Nemcova (Ledlova), 34. Kubinova (Patockova), 46. Ledlova (Kosinova) – 17. Foley (Bronson, Frade), 32. Strohmier (Frade, Stewart), 44. Pfundt

    Czech Republic: Zechovská (Teplá) – Herzigová, Kosinová, Němcová, Rejlová, Volková, Fričová, Držmíšková – Horálková, Topičová, Křížová, Patočková, Rullová, Kvasničková, Kubínová, Palová, Lédlová, Kábrtová, Manhartová, Přibylová, Hyksová, Kaltounková.
    USA: Bekkering (Glista) – Moore, Wilde, Caban, Levin, Meslar, Harrington, K. McCuean, Gnozzio, L. McCuean – Pfundt, Foley, Dobson, Frade, Aidonoidis, Stewart, Bitler, Bronson, Dixon, Simpson, Steadman, Strohmier, Reddington.
    Referees: Lamont, Keller (both CAN).