Great Britain recorded its first victory with timely goals and a shutout performance by Nicole Jackson.
Italy took a step closer to winning gold and Slovenia gave Korea a scare before losing a third successive game.
“That win feels so amazing. After two games where we came so close and not being able to get the win, to finally be able to produce a hard sixty-minute performance and get the win feels great.”
“I just jumped off the bench and skated to the net and luckily Katie Marsden put it on the net and I was on hand to score on the rebound.” – Chamonix Jackson.
“It’s a good feeling. In the last two games I thought we played well in spells but tonight we put a good sixty-minute shift in and the result speaks for itself. I didn’t really mind when the first goal came just as long as we scored it. Getting that first one was crucial after losing the last two [games]. It was key.”
“I felt we were giving away free cheap turnovers and it was costing us rather than being a bit more disciplined and getting pucks deep. We were a bit hemmed a little bit in the second period as you say but out of the three games so far that was our best middle frame as in the other games that’s what ultimately let us down.”
“Now that we’ve got one win under the belt it should settle the nerves and take a bit of pressure off in terms of being frightened to make mistakes. It’s a huge win for us.” – Sean Alderson.
“I think Nicole was more determined tonight as she wasn’t happy that she didn’t play in game two. She’s come out firing into training this morning and taken that into the game. She made some fantastic saves.” – Sean Alderson on Nicole Jackson’s performance.
“She was unreal. She stood on her head for us today.” – Chamonix Jackson on Nicole Jackson’s performance.
Great Britain 2-0 Kazakhstan
FIRST PERIOD
It was clear that nerves were high from the start as Great Britain looked to get a first win to ease any relegation fears.
In a tentative beginning, the hosts struggled with breakouts bar for one surging effort from Ruby Newlands.
Chamonix Jackson followed that up with a burst through the middle at the six-minute mark and the resulting rising shot handcuffed the Kazakhstan netminder who produced a rebound GB couldn’t seize on.
Scoring first was always going to be vital with little to separate the nations. GB broke the deadlock with a little under three minutes remaining. Laura Horwood rounded the net and teed up Ellie Wallace to score from the slot. It was a first senior goal for Wallace. A fact not lost on her teammates who could not have been more delighted for the towering forward.
SECOND PERIOD
The middle frame saw Great Britain bend but not break as Kazakhstan pushed to tie the game.
The hosts generated the first scoring chance through Lucy Beal. The defender rounded the net with speed and attempted to score on a backhand wraparound attempt only to be thwarted by a decent save.
Kazakhstan was first to the power play but was thwarted by one fine save from Nicole Jackson, who parried a shot onto the roof of the net and thankfully the puck rested on top of the twine.
Lily Endicott and Ellie Wakeling went close for GB after a good play down low resulted in a scramble in front during rare 5v5 opportunities for the hosts.
Ellin Rees was robbed of scoring her second goal of the tournament by a fantastic save on GB’s first power play.
In between times, it was a case of hanging on and defending as a unit as Great Britain struggled to break out under intense pressure. When called upon, Nicole Jackson produced five high-quality saves and was helped out by one blocked shot as GB rallied around their netminder.
The hosts could have made life easier for themselves by scoring another late-period goal. A horrific error by the Kazakhstan goaltender presented Aimee Headland with an empty net to aim at from the hash marks but the forward agonisingly sent her shot wide.
THIRD PERIOD
It wouldn’t be Great Britain if they didn’t make life difficult!
The hosts were almost caught out inside the opening five minutes as Nicole Jackson was left scrambling to make a big save. GB attacked in transition, creating a 2v1 situation but the eventual shot was fired high over the net.
The insurance marker desired by the team and a raucous home crowd arrived at 6:36.
Louise Adams went close to scoring but stayed with the play as GB created pressure down low.
Katie Marsden sent a snapshot toward the net producing a rebound which fell to Chamonix Jackson roaring down the heart of the slot. The high-energy forward delivered a telling finish to the delight of the home crowd.
Great Britain earned consecutive power plays but could not convert on either despite some good puck movement.
A debatable illegal hit call on Abbie Sylvester put Kazakhstan on the power play. That turned into a 5-on-3 when Ellie Wakeling joined the defender in the box.
It was a critical 39 seconds for the host nation and Sean Alderson sent out Headland, Beal and Rees. Those three ladies, along with Nicole Jackson, produced a vital kill before Sylvester rejoined the fray. The host nation continued to kill off the remaining time with the aid of a huge shot block by Adams.
For Kazakhstan, it was the straw that broke the camel’s back and they couldn’t solve Nicole Jackson despite earning another late power play.
POSTGAME NOTES
Sean Alderson’s decision to shake the cookie bag with the line-up paid dividends. It gives him plenty to ponder ahead of facing Slovenia on Sunday evening.
No player deserved a spot higher up the line-up than Chamonix Jackson. She rewarded the faith with an insurance marker and a performance full of intensity, work rate and sheer bloody-mindedness.
Ellie Wallace recorded her first senior GB goal and point in her 13th world championship game.
If she wasn’t pleased with her performance in game one, Nicole Jackson bounced back in a big way. A 20-save shutout was just what the doctor ordered and she will likely get the start on Sunday against Slovenia.
Line-up
Marsden – Adams – Newlands
Alderson/Smith – Horwood – C. Jackson
Lamberton – Mullen – Headland
Cartwright – Wallace – Culshaw
Wakeling – Rees
Hill – Sylvester
Beal – Trail
Needham/Potts
N.Jackson/Howard
Korea 6-3 Slovenia
Slovenia produced its best performance of the tournament and stayed in the game until late in the third period.
Conversely, Korea continues to be a mystery, with moments of brilliance interspersed with phases of play which make you shake your head in disbelief.
FIRST PERIOD
Slovenia’s propensity to make individual errors reared its head 18 seconds in. They escaped without damage as Yuan Han’s effort was blocked from the high slot.
Slovenia then shook the Dumfries crowd by scoring inside the opening minute. The lowest-ranked team whacked and hacked at a loose puck in the crease with
Arwen Nylaander was credited with delivering the final touch to send the puck over the goal line.
The lead lasted ninety seconds as Slovenia were punished for a turnover. Juyeon Park scored after Jongah Park had been initially denied as Korea righted the ship.
Slovenia’s inability to break out cleanly and needless giveaways allowed Korea to build pressure with wave after wave of attack.
It told as Korea struck on the power play through Taeyeon Kim.
SECOND PERIOD
Slovenia should have tied the game inside the first minute of the second period.
Pia Pren led a 2v1 and sent over a perfect pass but Klara Kokolj whiffed on the puck.
Slovenia weren’t able to get anything going on the power play but were gifted another Grade-A chance with 7:30 on the clock.
Julija Blazinsek was the recipient of a giveaway but the Korean netminder robbed her with a sprawling save.
Korea scored an insurance marker 83 seconds past the midway mark. A shot off the backboards rebounded into the crease and Soojin Han responded first to score.
Slovenia would not go away however and drew within one inside two minutes. Sara Confidenti’s wrist shot wasn’t especially powerful but the Korean netminder only got a piece of the puck with her glove and watched in horror as the biscuit crossed the goal line.
Slovenia’s power play continued to struggle and Korea showed them how it’s done by striking late with the extra skater.
Soojin Han scored with a chipped finish in a rebound from point-blank range to put the top seeds ahead 4-2.
THIRD PERIOD
The Dumfries crowd were left stunned when Slovenia struck early in the middle frame to draw within a single goal once more.
It was a beautiful move as Julija Blazinsek cut inside an opponent from the left circle and rifled a shot into the far top corner of the net.
There would be no memorable comeback as the Korean power play struck again with ten minutes remaining.
Yaeyon Kim’s low point shot weaved its way through traffic, reestablishing a two-goal lead.
Sojung Lee made the three points safe with a sixth goal as Korea clinched another unconvincing victory in this tournament.
Italy 6-0 Latvia
In the game between the two nations with perfect records, Italy firmly put their stamp on the tournament with an emphatic victory as they shut down Latvia.
FIRST PERIOD
Italy set their stall early, flying out of the blocks and dominating the first 75 seconds.
All that was lacking was a killer touch in the first half of the frame.
Matilde Fantin couldn’t bury two chances from the slot and Kristin Della Rovere made a hash of a 2v1 break.
Latvia earned the first power play but it was a forlorn effort. Seconds after a successful kill, Italy struck the opening goal. Fantin scored a brilliant individual goal, surging down the left wing before cutting across the crease and netting with a neat backhand finish.
Latvia struggled on their second attempt with the skater advantage and registered just three shots in the first period.
With eight seconds remaining, Italy sent a dagger into the heart of the Latvia team by doubling its lead.
Anna Caumo led a 2v1 rush and opted to shoot, comprehensively scoring far side on a netminder who didn’t commit to either the shot or the pass.
SECOND PERIOD
The middle frame began in a frantic fashion.
Italy took another penalty but again killed it off with ease.
Mattivi Nadia was robbed by a fantastic save after a great set-up by Della Rovere but Latvia was able to hit back in transition.
STRAUSE Hanna Strause looked set to score but rang her shot off the post to the disappointment of the Latvian bench.
Italy made sure that was a blip by scoring their third goal at the five-minute mark through Amie Varano.
Latvia’s goaltender kept the score respectable with a string of fine saves before Italy sealed the deal with a fourth goal.
Franziska Stocker’s power play strike beat the netminder low and the tournament favourites were in cruise control heading into the second intermission.
THIRD PERIOD
The final frame featured six penalties but more on the Italian’s minds was keeping a perfect slate and recording a third consecutive shutout.
They achieved that and added a couple of goals to boot.
Della Rovere scored a second goal on a feed from Fantin and Fantin duly made it 6-0 with a delightful redirect on Maddalena’s slap pass.
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