Czech women are bronze!

The Czech women started the match better, but Procházková's two-on-one opportunity didn't pan out. On the other side, Caviston threatened but couldn't find a way past Hořínková's pads. The relentless pressure from the home team continued, but the score remained 0-0 for the first two periods. In the final period, Andrea Kantorová unleashed a shot from the right circle, finding the far top corner. Despite the Americans being outshot 51-10 in total, Oliva Gajor pushed forward and equalized with a precise shot under the crossbar shortly after. With the bronze duel deadlocked, the game went into overtime, where Kotlíková had a chance to decide right in the beginning but Bergeron made an excellent save. The winner was ultimately determined in a shootout, where Michaela Krásová shone with a winning shot into the top corner. Czechia secured third place and the bronze medals, USA finished fourth.

Svijanska Arena 1

2-1 (SO)

(0:0, 0:0, 1:1 - 0:0)

Czechia U21 - USA U21

Penalties

2:1

PPG

0:0

SHG

0:0

Shots on goal

51:10

Goals and assists

34. Kantorová (Škorpíková), 55. Krásová – 42. Gajorová (Grayová)

Referees

Deana Cuglietta, Meghan MacTavish

Official game sheet

Czechia U21

Hořínková – Svatošová, Petrášková, Šlemarová, Ondrová, Štěpková, Konečná, Kotyrová, Plecerová, Červíková (A) – Hasíková, Kantorová, Procházková (A), Škorpíková (C), Pangerlová, Mikulová, Kotlíková, Zavoralová, Becková, Landová, Krásová, Ištoková

USA U21

Bergeron – Walsh (A), O´Melia, Biagetti (A), Tedesco (C), Bish, Seymour – Simpson, Slovensky, Catanzaritti, Cunningham, Pushkar, Schubmehl, Caviston, Hucic, Gray, Gajor, Powell

COACHES´ REACTIONS

Michal Broulík (CZE): ¨A Medal from home championship is always priceless no matter if it is gold, silver or bronze. This one is even more worthy as the effort the girls had to put in it was huge. We were all over the place, had an insane amount of shots on goal, but we weren't able to score in time. From the third period we were definitely the better team on the rink, in the first two thirds we were a little bit nervous and did all sorts of mistakes. However, then we said something among us during the intermission and the performance changed for the better. Overtime was a little clunky from both sides. It was clear the Americans were exhausted as they were only defending.¨

Taylor Steadman (USA): ¨It was our best performance in a tournament. We have a young team that fought hard and gave it everything they had and could. The whole journey with this squad throughout the tournament was incredible. First games were tough, we lost to the Czechs 1-9, but we improved as the time went. We knew our girls could do it, they came together as a team we knew they were. I am super proud of them.¨