Women’s Russian team earned the gold medal in hockey
Russia won the gold medal in the women's ice hockey competition. The Russian team defeated Canada at the final 0-3. Russians baffled Canadians, whose level did not match their previous Universiade's play.
In the first period, both teams displayed a well-balanced play. Although they both got close to the goal cage many times, Russia shot the puck 13 times and Canada 12 times on the net, but not scoring. The goaltenders and defencewomen saved the goal cage up to the last minute in this first period, and the scoreboard remained tied at 0-0.
Russia scored its first goal in the 22nd minute thanks to Anna Shokhina. In this second period, Canada tried to score their first goal unsuccessfully, while Russia maintained a constant high level. During this period, Canada got the puck to the goalie for 12 times, as compared to the Russian 10 times, and ended scoring 0-1.
In the third period, Canada intensely threw the puck on the net unsuccessfully. However, Russia scored two more goals, thus declaring themselves as the winning-team of the women's ice hockey at the Universiade Granada 2015.
The Russian player Anna Shokhina, who scored two of the three goals of her team, said: "we did not expect to win with this scoreboard, we thought they were very strong rivals, they believed in their victory, so this result has been a surprise. Russia's strongest point is our spirit and wish to win, and that have been key factors for the triumph".
Lineup
0 Canada: Rousseau-Sirois Elodie, Polci Bree, Fickel Jessica, Normore Alexa, Houstont Tess, Casoeso Sarah, Goslink Katelyn, Litchfield-Medd Maggie, Flinton Julia, Fouracres Britney, Visser Keirstin, Brooker Laura, Lanceleve Breanna, McHaffie Morgan, Barker Ariane, Mantha Elizabeth, Macknight Jenny, Oddy Daley, Kampjes Jessica and Kesteris Nicole.
3 Russia: Morozova Nadezda, Goncharenko Angelina, Vorontcova Natalia, Dyupina Evgenia, Gavrilova Iya, Vafina Alexandra, Belyakova Liudmila, Pechnikova Mariia, Ananina Ekaterina, Bulatova Diana, Pavlova Valeriina, Kirilenko Maria, Lebedeva Ekaterina, Sosina Olga, Shokhina Anna, Leskina Yulia, Shchukina Ann, Batalova Mariia, Silina Elena, Dergacheva Elena, Miltrofanova Elina and Nikolaeva Ekaterina.
Goals
0-1 (22) Shokhina Anna.
0-2 (43) Shokhina Anna.
0-3 (52) Pavlova Valeriia.
Notes: women's ice hockey final of Universiade 2015, held at the Sports Palace, 3,000 spectators.
