U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team Downs Finland, 7-3
Team Advances to Semi-Final Against Sweden On Friday
TORINO, Italy -- Angela Ruggiero (Harper Woods, Mich.) scored two goals including the game-winner while Sarah Parsons (Dover, Mass.) had her second consecutive two-goal game as the U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team defeated Finland 7-3 at the Palasport Olimpico tonight. Team USA rebounded from an early deficit to record the win which sends the team to the semi-final game against Sweden on Friday (11 a.m. EST). 
Angela said on her blog:
In all of my years on the USA team (I am working on 11!) this was one of my most proud moments. We came from behind and scored 5 unanswered goals in the third to beat Finland and advance as the first place team in our pool. (If we had lost we would have played Canada in the semis)
She also slapped the Canadian women's team for running up the scores on their opponents. The Canadian press said this:American rips Canada For lopsided wins
A member of the U.S. women's hockey team says Canada's lopsided wins to date at the Turin Olympics are not helping the sport.
And defenceman Angela Ruggiero questions why the Canadian women put 16 goals past Italy and 12 past Russia.
''I'm upset that Canada has been running up the score, especially against the host nation,'' Ruggiero was quoted Monday on SI.com, Sports illustrated's website. ''There was no need for that. They're trying to pad their stats . . . Canada is running up the score for whatever reasons - personal, short-term.''
Canadian Coach fires back:
TURIN, Italy -- Canadian women's hockey team coach Melody Davidson says e-mails from home, accusing her team of running up the score against host Italy at the Olympics, bother her more than the same assertion by American defenceman Angela Ruggiero.
While Davidson has received e-mails from Canada praising the team's performance, there have been others critical of the 16-0 shellacking of Italy to open the tournament.
"Your character is being called into play," Davidson said yesterday. "That group of girls in our dressing room is a tremendously professional group and I know deep down it bothers them that people think they would do that.
"There's been no malice meant and no intent to disrespect. We're just going about our business and getting ourselves in a position to be in a medal game."
Canada followed up the win against Italy with a 12-0 victory over Russia on Sunday.
I think I'll work the USA-Canada game into my schedule.
links:
Team USA's Ruggiero upset Canadians running it up [SI.com, Feb. 13, 2006]
Yank rips Canucks for running up the score [Toronto Star]
Angela Ruggiero [RP]
4 goals in two games why can't the Rangers get "defensemen" like that!