LILLEHAMMER – Switzerland lost its first game at the women’s ice hockey tournament of the 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games. After the Czechs’ 2-1 win the two teams finish second and third respectively in the group stage and will play a rematch in the semi-finals tomorrow.

It was a deserved win for the Czechs, who outshot Switzerland 21-11 throughout the game but decided the game with a late game-winning goal from Barbora Machalova.

“We were the better team but didn’t score so long. I’m glad that in the end we scored the second goal and became more confident,” Machalova said.

Midway through the first period Anna Kotounova came closest to scoring a goal with her long shot during a power play.

The first goal was scored at 12:01 while the Swiss were on a power play – but on the opposite site. Natalie Mlynkova netted the puck on a counter-attack with a nice trick from the right side to beat Swiss goaltender Saskia Maurer for the shorthanded goal. But with 42.9 seconds left in the period Rahel Enzler tied it up for Switzerland.

After a scoreless middle frame the game got its next turn at 3:37 of the third period when a deflected long shot from Machalova surprised the Swiss goalie and went in for the Czech 2-1 lead. Only after that goal did the Swiss create their first scoring chances of the period but they didn’t produce much more in the late stage of the game.

With over three minutes left the Swiss were awarded a power play and took their time-out for another comeback attempt but the Czechs had the best chance with a breakaway for Machalova, who was illegally stopped by Stefanie Wetli, which ended the Swiss power play prematurely.

“It was our goal to win and become first. Now we lost and will play against the Czechs in the semi-final. We know the opponent. It was a tight game at a high level and very fast. We have to recover and stick to our game plan,” Swiss head coach Andreas Kroni said.

The Czech Republic and Switzerland will meet tomorrow at 14:00 at the Youth Hall for the semi-finals while Sweden and Slovakia will play the other semi-final game at the same time at Kristins Hall.

“I’m glad that we play against Switzerland. That’s better for us than playing Slovakia,” said Machalova about tomorrow’s semi-final.

MARTIN MERK