Coming into this year's tournament feeling that they should have beaten Finland in the 2010 World Championships in Drammen Norway, the U.S. entered the game against the Finns hoping to bounce back and even their record at 1-1. They quickly learned that this was not the team that they played in Norway. Far from it. Finland, the eventual Bronze medalist, came out fast, attacking the United States team, and putting them back on their heals right from the get go. Suzanne Lehosmaa would score three goals, and Pirjo Ahonen would add two more, as Finland downed the U.S. under the lights of Trud Stadium as a light snow fell, winning by a final score of 8-0.

 

The U.S. had a very tough first day at the World Bandy Championships, and they had their work cut out for them on day two, as they faced both Sweden and Russia, the teams that have finished one and two respectively in all five World Championship tournaments to date. The plan conceived by Head Coach Mikael Sandberg called for the U.S. to create a defensive shell, and take advantage of turnovers by the Russians for offensive scoring opportunities. In the first half, all went according to plan as the U.S. played tough defensive Bandy, and gave up only one goal in the twenty seventh minute of play. The second half was a different story though, as Russia finally cracked the Americans defensive shell, and put up a seven spot on their way to an 8-0 victory. For the tournament host Russians, it was Elena Rybakov with the hat trick, with Anna Igonina and Tatiana Gurinchik adding two scores each.

USA 0  Sweden 10

 

2 x 30 Minutes

 

Rekord Stadium

 

Spectators: 100 

 

Playing both Russia and Sweden is difficult enough, but playing them back to back on the same day is borderline ridiculous. Sweden is a smooth skating and hard shooting Bandy machine, and they imposed their will on the American team on this day at Rekord Stadium near the outskirts of Irkutsk. Sweden got balanced scoring as six different players put the ball in the net, including three goals from Johanna Pettersson, two goals from both Malin Andersson and Camilla Johansson, and a tally each from Anna Jepson, Anna Lundin and Lovisa Elovsson to win the match 10-0.

 

 

 

 

 

Much was at stake in the game that has come to be known as "the battle of North America" in Bandy circles, including a possible birth in the bronze medal game the following day. The United States and Canadian Women's Bandy teams have played evenly over the years, with the U.S. holding a slight advantage the first few years, but Canada gaining a bit of an edge in the last few. The two teams gathered in front of a sell out crowd at Shelekhov Stadium in the city of the same name, to see who would move on for a chance at bronze. After a spectacular pre-game celebration that would rival the opening ceremonies of the tournament, and included fireworks, a drum and bugle ensemble, skaters with colorful flags, and the release of hundreds of balloons, the Canadians would score twelve minutes into the match on a goal by Courtney Burns, and hold on to take the hard fought game by a final score of 1-0.

 

On February 26th there was a 6.8 magnitude earthquake in southwestern Siberia. The Irkutsk Hotel, where all of the teams stayed for the duration of the tournament, swayed as the earth shook, according to those that were there. Earlier in the day, another jolt was felt in the American Bandy community, as the USA Women avenged their opening game loss, beating Norway for the first time in their history by a final score of 2-1. As in their first game against Norway, the United States would score first on a goal from Annie Simons, her first in international play. The goal came eleven minutes into the game when Simons shot cleared just under the crossbar after a brilliant feed from co-Captain Sharon Cole. The U.S. would hold the lead as play between the two teams see-sawed back and forth. Then, in the sixty sixth minute of the match, Norway would be awarded a penalty shot on a questionable call deep in the American zone. Helle Lilleyord would convert on the shot, just past the outstretched glove of American goalkeeper Sarah Ahlquist. All of a sudden you got that sinking feeling, if you were the U.S. team, as the game felt all too familiar to the first game with the Norwegians, when the U.S. held the lead throughout most of the game, only to lose by one. But this time the Americans rebounded and scored ten minutes after Norway had tied it on a goal by Ashlan Lambert, her second of the tournament. The tally gave the U.S. a 2-1 lead with just over twelve minutes left in the match. Things looked grim in the eighty first minute, as Norway was again awarded a penalty shot. This time Ahlquist would come up with the save of the tournament for the USA, as she gloved the shot and held onto the ball to deprive the Norwegians of any rebound attempt. After that, the U.S. was able to hold off Norway the rest of the way for their first ever victory over the Norwegians, and a fifth place finish. For Ahlquist, it was her first international win, and after the game she gave most of the credit for the win to her teammates. "The team made it pretty easy for me by blocking shots, allowing me to see initial shots and clearing rebounds away. It feels so good to get this win".

In summation, the United States ended a relatively disappointing tournament on a high note with the win against Norway, and will use what they learned in this World Championship to improve their game. The team earned high praise for their improved play during the tournament from many of the teams, and under the tutelage of Head Coach Mikael Sandberg, have created a solid base to build on in preparation for the 2014 World Championships tentatively scheduled for February 2014, in Finland. 

 

All of the tournament follow up can be found at: www.baikal-bandy.ru  -or-  www.worldbandy.com/wcsw