Meghan Duggan and the United States women's national hockey team emerged from pool play at the Olympic Winter Games unblemished after a 6-0 decision over Finland yesterday in Vancouver.
Team USA advanced to the semi-finals against Sweden, held on Monday, in what will be a rematch of the 2006 Olympic semi that saw the Swedes pull the biggest upset in women's hockey history.
Duggan was just a senior at Cushing Academy then, but she knows how much this game, and the trip to next Thursday's gold medal game that's on the line, mean to America.
The pride of Danvers exerted herself yesterday against the Fins, scoring her third goal of these Olympics on a masterful backhand in the first period.
With Team USA ahead 2-0 and buzzing, Duggan parked herself at the top of the crease and began fighting off Finnish defender Heidi Pelttari. Linemate Natalie Darwitz got her the puck and with her back to net, Duggan flipped a backhand between her legs and through the legs of Finnish goalie Noora Raty for the goal.
The Americans scored four times in the decisive first period. Finland fought back in the second and third, but couldn't beat goalie Jessie Vetter. A teammate of Duggan's from the University of Wisconsin, Vetter stopped 23 shots and hasn't allowed a goal in two career Olympic starts.
The reigning "Patty Kaz" winner as college hockey's top player also stopped the first penalty shot in Olympic women's hockey history.
Darwitz paced the American offense with a goal and two assists while Molly Engstrom, Hilary Knight, Julie Chu and Karen Thatcher also scored. Angela Ruggerio added two assists.
A responsible two-way forward, Duggan was instrumental in holding Finland 0-for-6 on the power play as Team USA took too many penalties in the third. Duggan put a team-high five shots on net.
The Americans finish pool play 3-0 in Vancouver while outscoring their opponents 31-1. Sweden enters Monday's semi 1-2, having beaten Switzerland and Slovakia but with a one-sided loss to Canada.
