LILLEHAMMER – The Swiss women’s ice hockey team at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics Games got its third win and remains in first place after beating Slovakia 4-2.

The Swiss got the lead in the second period and defended it against a Slovak team that didn’t give up but didn’t manage to come back.

“We had a good start but had our ups and downs throughout the whole game,” Swiss forward Noemi Rhyner said. “We thought that we were one of the favourites but that it’s going that well for us is great. It’s our goal to win every game.”

Switzerland outshot Slovakia 19-14 but in the first period it was the Slovaks, who had a shot advantage although without beating Swiss goaltender Saskia Maurer.

“We slept over in the first period. We were fighting especially in the second period but we should have shot more often,” Slovak captain Nikola Rumanova said.

Starting into the second period the Swiss showed an improved play and at 3:47 they were rewarded with a goal from Rahel Enzler on a quick rush. 24 seconds later the Swiss doubled the gap when a long shot from Lisa Ruedi that looked deflected went in on a power play to the joy of the loud, cowbell-ringing Swiss fans in the stands.

At 9:49 the Slovaks found back into the game when Michael Hana Hajnikova’s shot from behind the face-off circle went in. But with 83 seconds left in the second period the Swiss restored the two-goal lead when Sydney Berta capitalized on a rebound.

The Slovaks didn’t give up and when they managed to keep the puck in the Swiss zone for a while it was Nina Kucerkova who netted the puck for the 3-2 marker. The Slovaks’ joy didn’t last for long though as Rhyner scored the 4-2 goal with 3:24 left in regulation time.

Thanks to the win the Swiss can finish the preliminary round in first place. To do so they just need a win or a tie after 60 minutes in their last game on Thursday against the Czech Republic.

“I think we can win here and we will make every effort,” Rhyner said.

MARTIN MERK