Slovakia's Nela Lopusanova (#12) opened the scoring and set up the winner in a 2-1 overtime victory over Switzerland at the 2024 IIHF U18 Women's Worlds.
photo: PHOTO: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / ANDREA CARDIN
Slovakia picked an excellent time to end its winless streak at the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women’s World Championship. Hana Krakorova scored the overtime winner as Slovakia edged Switzerland 2-1 to earn a quarter-final matchup with the Finns.
Nela Lopusanova, the 2023 tournament MVP, rushed down right wing and sent a perfect saucer pass to Krakorova on the doorstep, who converted at 1:01. It was Lopusanova's second point of the game.
"I just appeared there, and Nela passed it to me beautifully," said a breathless Krakorova. "So I just tapped in there. I'm pretty happy because it put us in the quarter-finals against Finland. I am very excited!"
The host Swiss lost three straight preliminary-round games and face daunting odds against two-time defending champion Canada in the quarter-finals. So far, the Canadians – powered offensively by all-star candidates Chloe Primerano (5+4=9) and Caitlin Kraemer (7+0=7) – have outscored their opponents 29-1.
"We know what's coming tomorrow and now we have to build back a good emotion in our team," said Swiss coach Melanie Haefliger. "Let's hope maybe we have a chance. Nobody knows. We are at home. It's not like it's an easy game. We know that the Canadians are a very good and strong team. They have pretty good individual players and so we can learn tomorrow, I think."
In regulation time, Lopusanova had the other Slovak goal. Sonja Inkamp replied for Switzerland.
"I'm really proud of the team," Inkamp said. "We really played well. The luck wasn't on our side. We gave it our all. And we can do a lot more than just hope for a better result next time. We need to change the scoring efficiency. I think that would help us a lot."
Nervous energy pervaded the Zug arena as this one played out. Final shots favoured Switzerland 31-27. Slovak starting goalie Livia Debnarova was stellar all night, and her Swiss counterpart Talia Benderer likewise delivered outstanding saves.
Lopusanova, who had a tournament-leading nine goals and 12 points in 2023, got off to a slow start this year with just one goal through two games. The 15-year-old ace, who plays for Bishop Kearney Selects in Rochester, New York, seemed due to break out.
Lopusanova drew first blood at 5:15, finishing off Alica Jurikova’s slick feed on a 2-on-1 break. She leaped into the glass as her teammates mobbed her.
With Swiss captain Naemi Herzig off for hooking, the Slovak power play mustered some pressure. But the partisan home crowd encouraged the red-and-white team with cheers and ringing cow bells, and the penalty-killers did their job.
Debnarova stood on her head during Switzerland’s first power play with Kristina Taricsova in the box for tripping. With the teams back at even strength, she stymied Xenia Balzarolo on a breakaway. The Slovak goalie stayed hot late in the first period, denying Elisa Dalessi on a 2-on-1 and – even more jaw-droppingly – with a left-pad follow-up save at the crease.
Early in the second period, the Swiss missed two golden chances back-to-back. On the rush, assistant captain Ivana Wey found Dalessi on the left side, but Debnarova got a piece of it with her glove. Wey then slid her follow-up right through the crease.
The Swiss persisted. At 10:05, Inkamp tied it up on the power play with a sizzling wrist shot that sailed over Debnarova's right shoulder. The 16-year-old rearguard, who plays for GCK Lions Zurich, also scored Switzerland's lone goal in the 8-1 loss to the Americans.
"I only score goals because my teammates screen really well and the goalie never sees anything," Inkamp said. "And then I only have to shoot high and it's in!"
To start off the third, with Herzig again in the box for cross-checking, Benderer twice dove to make spectacular glove grabs with the puck trickling near the goal line, and the Swiss weathered the storm.
Herzig praised Benderer: "She's amazing. We're very lucky to have her in our team. She's a great goaltender. In the end, it wasn't her fault."
Herzig tested Debnarova high on an exciting solo dash with about 6:00 left in regulation and again from the high slot a minute later. The physicality and stickwork ramped up as the clock ticked down.
Looking ahead to the quarter-finals, Slovak coach Gabriela Sabolova said: "It's our first victory here. Mentally you grow up. And now against Finland, we have nothing to lose. We played them in Chomutov a month ago and lost 3-2 in overtime. Maybe now it's our turn and we can surprise in the tournament."
With the result, Switzerland’s all-time U18 Women’s Worlds record against Slovakia now sits at three wins and three losses.
Nela Lopusanova, the 2023 tournament MVP, rushed down right wing and sent a perfect saucer pass to Krakorova on the doorstep, who converted at 1:01. It was Lopusanova's second point of the game.
"I just appeared there, and Nela passed it to me beautifully," said a breathless Krakorova. "So I just tapped in there. I'm pretty happy because it put us in the quarter-finals against Finland. I am very excited!"
The host Swiss lost three straight preliminary-round games and face daunting odds against two-time defending champion Canada in the quarter-finals. So far, the Canadians – powered offensively by all-star candidates Chloe Primerano (5+4=9) and Caitlin Kraemer (7+0=7) – have outscored their opponents 29-1.
"We know what's coming tomorrow and now we have to build back a good emotion in our team," said Swiss coach Melanie Haefliger. "Let's hope maybe we have a chance. Nobody knows. We are at home. It's not like it's an easy game. We know that the Canadians are a very good and strong team. They have pretty good individual players and so we can learn tomorrow, I think."
In regulation time, Lopusanova had the other Slovak goal. Sonja Inkamp replied for Switzerland.
"I'm really proud of the team," Inkamp said. "We really played well. The luck wasn't on our side. We gave it our all. And we can do a lot more than just hope for a better result next time. We need to change the scoring efficiency. I think that would help us a lot."
Nervous energy pervaded the Zug arena as this one played out. Final shots favoured Switzerland 31-27. Slovak starting goalie Livia Debnarova was stellar all night, and her Swiss counterpart Talia Benderer likewise delivered outstanding saves.
Lopusanova, who had a tournament-leading nine goals and 12 points in 2023, got off to a slow start this year with just one goal through two games. The 15-year-old ace, who plays for Bishop Kearney Selects in Rochester, New York, seemed due to break out.
Lopusanova drew first blood at 5:15, finishing off Alica Jurikova’s slick feed on a 2-on-1 break. She leaped into the glass as her teammates mobbed her.
With Swiss captain Naemi Herzig off for hooking, the Slovak power play mustered some pressure. But the partisan home crowd encouraged the red-and-white team with cheers and ringing cow bells, and the penalty-killers did their job.
Debnarova stood on her head during Switzerland’s first power play with Kristina Taricsova in the box for tripping. With the teams back at even strength, she stymied Xenia Balzarolo on a breakaway. The Slovak goalie stayed hot late in the first period, denying Elisa Dalessi on a 2-on-1 and – even more jaw-droppingly – with a left-pad follow-up save at the crease.
Early in the second period, the Swiss missed two golden chances back-to-back. On the rush, assistant captain Ivana Wey found Dalessi on the left side, but Debnarova got a piece of it with her glove. Wey then slid her follow-up right through the crease.
The Swiss persisted. At 10:05, Inkamp tied it up on the power play with a sizzling wrist shot that sailed over Debnarova's right shoulder. The 16-year-old rearguard, who plays for GCK Lions Zurich, also scored Switzerland's lone goal in the 8-1 loss to the Americans.
"I only score goals because my teammates screen really well and the goalie never sees anything," Inkamp said. "And then I only have to shoot high and it's in!"
To start off the third, with Herzig again in the box for cross-checking, Benderer twice dove to make spectacular glove grabs with the puck trickling near the goal line, and the Swiss weathered the storm.
Herzig praised Benderer: "She's amazing. We're very lucky to have her in our team. She's a great goaltender. In the end, it wasn't her fault."
Herzig tested Debnarova high on an exciting solo dash with about 6:00 left in regulation and again from the high slot a minute later. The physicality and stickwork ramped up as the clock ticked down.
Looking ahead to the quarter-finals, Slovak coach Gabriela Sabolova said: "It's our first victory here. Mentally you grow up. And now against Finland, we have nothing to lose. We played them in Chomutov a month ago and lost 3-2 in overtime. Maybe now it's our turn and we can surprise in the tournament."
With the result, Switzerland’s all-time U18 Women’s Worlds record against Slovakia now sits at three wins and three losses.
Switzerland vs Slovakia - 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women's World Championship
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