U.S. women's hockey team survives upset bid, beats Czechs

BEIJING (AP) — Lee Stecklein scored on a shot from the right point 6:49 into the third period, and the defending champion United States avoided an early exit by rallying to defeat the Czech Republic 4-1 in the quarterfinals of the Beijing Olympics on Friday.

The Americans survived what would have been a major upset in a game where their offense continued having difficulty finishing against a defensively sound Czech opponent making its Olympic debut.

The U.S., whose only losses in six previous Olympics have been against Canada (six times) and Sweden (once), managed just four goals on 59 shots and was required to overcome a 1-0 deficit.

Hilary Knight had a goal and assist, and Savannah Harmon and Kendall Coyne Schofield, with an empty-netter, also scored for the Americans. Alex Cavallini stopped five shots.

Czech goalie Klara Peslarova was the star of the game, stopping 55 shots, including the first 22 she faced. Michaela Pejzlova scored for the Czech Republic but also had Stecklein’s go-ahead goal deflect in off her stick.

With the game tied at 1, Stecklein scored as the U.S. buzzed around the Czech zone and after Peslarova lost her stick. Set up at the point, Stecklein's low shot deflected in off Pejzlova’s stick in the slot and dribbled in through Peslarova’s legs.

With the Americans celebrating, the Czech goalie flipped off her cage in disgust and left the net. Harmon sealed the win by scoring with 3:09 left.

The Czechs became the sixth women’s hockey team to be held without a shot in a period in the Olympics, after the U.S. had an 18-0 edge through 20 minutes, but still managed to open the scoring.

It came on their second shot on net 4:59 into the second period when Denisa Krizova dug the puck out at the left boards