OLYMPICS: Ice hockey-Swiss fight falls short, bronze up for grabs against Sweden

MILAN – Switzerland will have a chance to match their best-ever Olympic finish in women's ice hockey when they play for bronze, following a 2-1 defeat to defending champions Canada in Monday’s semi-final.

Despite a strong third-period effort, the Swiss could not build on the momentum from their quarter-final upset of Beijing bronze medallists Finland. Canada dominated the game with heavy shot pressure, but Switzerland remained in contention thanks to a standout performance by goaltender Andrea Braendli and a late goal.

"I'm pretty satisfied with our whole performance," Braendli said. "We never gave up and that's really something. We have to keep going now in the bronze medal game."

Switzerland will face Sweden for the bronze medal, led by 2014 Sochi bronze medallists Alina Muller and Lara Stalder. Muller, who became the youngest-ever Olympic hockey medallist during those Games, is now 27 and determined to return to the podium.

"I think we showed in the third period what we can do, that we can keep up, skate, and create turnovers and chances," Muller said, after assisting Rahel Enzler on Switzerland's lone goal. "It's time to win another medal. We have worked for this. We're in a really good spot. We know Sweden really well. If we play like in the third period, we have a really good chance."

Captain Stalder shared the same determination.

"We're definitely going for this medal," she said. "It's great memories from Sochi, but in the end, it was 12 years ago, so it's not going to help us when we step on the ice. We got to stay in the moment."

Monday’s semi-final defeat marked Switzerland’s third exit at that stage in four Olympic Games, but the team remains focused on the task ahead.

"We came here to win a medal," Swiss coach Colin Muller said. "A chance is in our hands to do that. I'm pretty positive that the team is going to come out strong on Thursday." -Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in MilanEditing by Toby Davis/Reuters