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
     
    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)
     
    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.
     
    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.
     
    The American players are now receiving their silver medals.
     
    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.
     
    Players of the Game:

    USA – Carli Bekkering, G
    CZE – Denisa Krizova, F
     
    Game over.
    45:55 Lédlová (CZE) - 4:3
     
    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.
     
    45:30
    Czechs once again to the attack . . .
     
    45:01
    Overtime began.
     
    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.
     
    45:00
    3rd period finished.
     
    44:49
    Icing USA.
     
    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.
     
    44:10
    Czechs go immediately to the attack . . .
    43:52 Pfundtová (USA) - 3:3
     
    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.
     
    43:30
    Long shot toward the empty net just misses, hits the side of the net.
     
    43:15
    Bekkering goes to the bench for a 6th attacker.
     
    43:05
    Dobson spins and fires, hits the side of the net.
     
    42:10
    Americans keep trying to break out of their zone, but the Czechs keep dumping the ball back in . . .
     
    40:11
    Offside USA on the long pass, faceoff back to their own zone.
     
    39:35
    Icing USA.
     
    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.
     
    39:13
    Ball bounces off the end boards to Bekkering, who covers.
     
    38:45
    The Americans trying to get some offence going but the Czechs keeping them hemmed in their own zone.
     
    36:48
    Icing USA, as this crowd is going nuts.
     
    36:26
    Horalkova's long low shot deflects just wide.
     
    35:48
    Czechs back at full strength just as Fade fires high from in close.
     
    34:30
    Slapper from the point by Harrington doesn't get through the crowd in front.
     
    33:41
    Penalty for Czech Republic (Katerina Nemcova – 2 min., Interference).
    33:35 Kubínová (CZE) - 3:2
     
    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.
     
    32:50
    End to end action now, Hyksova on the rush just misses the far post.
    31:50 Strohmierová (USA) - 2:2
     
    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.
     
    31:20
    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.
    31:04 Němcová (CZE) - 2:1
     
    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.
     
    30:42
    Penalty for USA (Liane Dixon – 2 min., Body checking).
     
    30:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    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.
     
    30:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    29:25
    Storhmeir's slapper from the point deflects dangerously on Zechovska.
     
    29:00
    Wrister from Stewart, save Zechovska.
     
    28:12
    Czechs with momentum now, Patockova's high shot hits Bekkering's shoulder.

    Icing USA.
     
    27:44
    Icing USA.
    27:11 Křížová (CZE) - 1:1
     
    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.
     
    25:19
    Icing USA.
     
    25:08
    Hand pass Czech Republic, faceoff outside the US zone.
    24:34
     
    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.
     
    24:22
    Shot from the point by Stewart through a crowd and deflected, hits Zechovska but she didn't see it. Then she covers.
     
    24:14
    Ball deflected out of play in the Czech zone, faceoff inside.
     
    23:58
    Icing USA.
     
    23:41
    Long slapper from centre caught and held by Bekkering.
     
    23:18
    Low wrister from the high slot by Horalkova, stick save Bekkering, and she covers.
     
    22:38
    Offside Czech Republic.
     
    22:16
    Icing Czech Republic.
     
    22:00
    Back to 5 on 5, play in the US zone . . .
     
    21:30
    Czechs pressing during 4 on 4 action, two players crash into the net and dislodge it. Faceoff outside.
     
    21:00
    Amber Moore with the wraparound attempt, ends up under Zechovska.
     
    19:53
    Coincidental penalty:
    Penalty for USA (Lindsay Wilde – 2 min., Kneeing).
    Penalty for Czech Republic (Pavlina Horalkova – 2 min., Kneeing).
     
    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.
     
    18:14
    Icing USA.
    16:28 Foleyová (USA) - 0:1
     
    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.
     
    16:03
    Penalty for Czech Republic (Denisa Krizova – 2 min., Cross-Checking).
     
    15:53
    Icing USA.
     
    15:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    The teams are back on the floor and the 2nd period will begin shortly.
     
    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.
     
    15:00
    1st period finished.
     
    14:31
    Goal crease violation USA, faceoff outside.
    14:07
     
    14:07
    Ball deflects out of play between the benches, faceoff outside the Czech blueline.
     
    13:19
    Wraparound attempt by Dobson, denied by Zechovska.
     
    12:40
    Long slapper by Stewart, pad save Zechovska.
     
    11:54
    Hand pass Czech Republic in the USA zone, faceoff outside.
     
    11:50
    Pribylova with a wrister from the top of the slot, Bekkering holds on again.
     
    11:09
    Shot from the boards by Horalkova, stopped and held by Bekkering.
     
    10:27
    Icing Czech Republic.
     
    09:24
    Stewart tries to find a teammate streaking to the net but misses and the pass goes right to Zechovska, who covers.
     
    08:53
    Hand pass USA in the neutral zone, faceoff at their blueline.
     
    07:03
    Giveaway in front of the Czech goal to Pfundt, Zechovska denies her quick shot.
    06:40
     
    06:40
    Another long shot on Zechovska and she covers again.
     
    05:40
    Centring pass to Kvasnickova, Bekkering slides across to make a huge blocker save.
     
    05:19
    Icing Czech Republic.
     
    04:11
    Now a long shot from the US blueline goes right on Zechovska, who covers.
     
    03:22
    Long shot by Pribylova, caught and held by Bekkering.
     
    01:58
    Icing USA.
     
    00:56
    Ball deflected out of play in the US zone, faceoff inside.
     
    00:08
    Offside USA.
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    The teams are now lined up on their respective bluelines, and the opening faceoff is moments away . . .
     
    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 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.
     
    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.
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 11:30 CEST, 05:30 EDT.
    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).