It's about time

Inevitable gold medal matchup should be a good one

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (AP) -- Defenseman Angela Ruggiero took two years off from Harvard to play on the U.S. women's hockey team.

"For one game," she said.

That game is here: The Americans face Canada for the Olympic gold medal Thursday in a rematch of the 1998 game won by the United States.

It's a matchup that's been inevitable since they skated off the ice in Nagano, anticipated through the intervening seasons and presumed through a preliminary round in which both teams barely broke a sweat.

"The two best teams have proven they belong in this game, and I guess I'm glad that's the way it is," U.S. coach Ben Smith said when asked if he would have been disappointed to face anyone else in the final.

"We're both dependent on each other to bring out the best in the other. But we're both trying to occupy the same spot, and there's only room for one."

The bronze medal game pitted Finland against Sweden.

The Americans have never lost to anyone but the Canadians. Canada has never lost to any team but the United States. When the North Americans are in a tournament, every other country is fighting for third.

"I know Finland would have given us a game, but the U.S. and Canada -- it's an intense rivalry," Ruggiero said. "It's so much fun to be part of."

Canada has won all seven world championships, but the United States took the gold in the '98 Olympics. And since losing in the 2001 world championships, the Americans have beaten Canada in eight consecutive exhibitions during a 35-game winning streak.

Being the underdog is an unusual position for Canada, considering that it has lost only one meaningful game in the history of the sport.

"I like our position," Canadian defenseman Therese Brisson said. "I'd rather be the hunter than the hunted."

Finland did take a short-lived lead in the semifinals before Canada scored five third-period goals. The U.S. women have never trailed in Salt Lake City, and the only goal against them was a fluke from the center line that caught Sarah Tueting napping.

For the final, Sara DeCosta will start in net because Smith has rotated his goalies all year and it's her turn.

"She's played well all year, as has Sarah Tueting," Smith said after practice Wednesday. "I don't think anyone's missed a step, so I just thought I'd continue along."

The Americans have 14 players back from the team that won in Nagano. DeCosta was on that team, but she sat for the finals when Smith chose to go with Tueting.

Now, it's DeCosta's turn.

"They have two goaltenders who could be No. 1," said Canadian coach Daniele Sauvageau, who has 12 silver medalists from '98 back for another try.

A hot goalie can dominate a game and make up for whatever mistakes her teammates make; no one in this rivalry needs to be reminded of that. At the 2001 worlds, the Americans felt they outplayed Canada only to run into the brick wall of Kim St-Pierre.

"Goaltending is our strength," Canadian forward Hayley Wickenheiser said. "She's kept us in a lot of games this year."

But now there's only one game left. The only game that ever mattered.

"This is kind of what you dream about. This is what you work for," U.S. forward Karyn Bye said. "We've been waiting for one game for the past four years. This is where we want to be. This is where Canada wants to be."

 

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