Elliott: US Women’s hockey defeats Czech Republic to advance to Olympic semifinals

The Defending Olympic Champion US Women’s hockey team held off an impressive quarterfinal challenge by the first-time Olympian Czech Republic on Friday, winning their quarterfinal 4-1 at the Wukesong Sports Center.

The Americans outshot the Czechs 59-6, but Czech goaltender Klara Peslarova was outstanding while keeping her underdog team in the game.

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The US Women’s semifinal opponent is to be determined because the teams are reseeded after the quarter-final round, which continues through Saturday.

The Czechs opened the scoring on their first official shot on goal, in the second period. Michaela Pejzlova, a two-time NCAA Champion at Clarkson University, scored off a scramble in front at 4:59 after Denisa Krizova – who played at Northeastern – had won a battle along the boards.

The US pulled even 48 seconds later when Hilary Knight crashed the net to convert the rebound of a shot by Kendall Coyne Schofield.

The Czechs had a chance to take the lead during a five-minute power play they gained during the second period, after Dani Cameranesi was penalized for boarding, but they couldn’t get their offense organized. And Peslarova was solid, stopping Alex Carpenter – the Americans’ top goal scorer in the tournament – on a Breakaway just over 17 minutes into the period.

Lee Stecklein’s long shot appeared to glance off a Czech player and into the net at 6:49 of the third period to give the Americans a 2-1 lead. Savannah Harmon increased that lead with a power-play goal at 16:51, and Coyne Schofield scored into an empty net with 5.6 seconds left for the final flourish.