OLYMPICS: Ice hockey-Italy go into quarters, US stay unbeaten, Germany beat France in overtime

MILAN – Hosts Italy reached the quarter-finals of the Olympic women’s ice hockey tournament with a 3-2 win over Japan on Monday. Meanwhile, the United States claimed their third victory in Milan, and Germany edged France 2-1 in overtime.

Sweden leads Group B with nine points, followed by Italy with six. Germany sits third with five points, Japan has three, and France finished the group stage with one point. Italy faces Germany on Tuesday, while Japan takes on Sweden in the final group games. The top three teams will advance to the quarter-finals.

Italy 3-2 Japan

Matilde Fantin scored twice in the opening period to give Italy an early advantage before Rui Ukita reduced the deficit for Japan in the second. Kristin Della Rovere added Italy’s third goal early in the final period. Akane Shiga scored for Japan late, creating a tense finish at the Milano Rho Arena.

Italy’s first goal came when Laura Lobis played the puck off the boards, allowing Fantin to wrist it into the net. Fantin’s second came on a power play, before Japan responded with Ukita’s one-timer. Italy defended fiercely late in the second period, and Della Rovere restored the two-goal lead with a rebound goal immediately after play resumed.

Shiga’s late goal was confirmed after a video review, but Italy held on to secure the victory.

U.S. 5-0 Switzerland

The United States maintained their unbeaten record at Santagiulia with a 5-0 win over Switzerland. Defender Haley Winn opened the scoring six minutes in, assisted by Caroline Harvey. Joy Dunne added another when her shot deflected off Swiss defender Stefanie Wetli.

Hannah Bilka scored a tip-in early in the third period, followed quickly by goals from Alex Carpenter and Caroline Harvey. The U.S. will meet Canada on Tuesday in what is expected to be a preview of the gold-medal game, while Switzerland faces Finland. All five teams from Group A advance, with quarter-final seeding determined by group standings.

Germany 2-1 France (OT)

Germany outshot France 46-14 in regular time but conceded a late equalizer from Estelle Duvin. Katarina Jobst-Smith scored the overtime winner after just over a minute. Germany capitalized on four power plays, including Laura Kluge’s goal in the opening period. The Welcke twin sisters, Luisa and Lilli, assisted Jobst-Smith’s decisive strike.

-Reporting by Trevor Stynes; additional reporting by Giulio Piovaccari; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne and Clare Fallon/Reuters