SALT LAKE CITY – The Big One that the small world of women’s hockey has been awaiting is the same one Sarah Tueting couldn’t wait to play.
But the woman who goaltended the U.S. past Canada in Nagano will be on the bench when the two teams meet again for the gold medal tonight, and not exactly thinking Olympian thoughts toward coach Ben Smith. Unlike in Nagano, when he broke his rotation to go with Tueting, Smith is using Sara DeCosta this time for the announced reason that it is her turn.
“It’s disappointing, but not surprising given the conversations I’ve had with the coach,” said Tueting.
Asked if she felt for the coach’s tough decision, Tueting said: “I have no sympathy for the coach. There are worse decisions to make than having two goalies.
“He doesn’t care about feelings. I can’t control him or what he thinks. It’s disappointing as an athlete not to be part of a game like that. I know I can do it, now it’s time for Sarah to step up and see if she can do it. She is probably feeling some pressure. I’ll support her 100 percent.”
Apparently Tueting didn’t take math at Dartmouth, where they teach that 100 percent is total. Meanwhile, no coach not 100 percent out of his mind would stick to an alternating arrangement just to be nice with the ultimate prize on the line.
So, Smith must have more confidence in DeCosta, even if it’s hard to tell who exactly has the, uh, hot hand coming in. In four games the two goalies have seen only 48 shots and given up one goal (by DeCosta).
“I think we’ve been very prepared as a team and we are very united,” said DeCosta.
Either her peripheral vision leaves this gold medal in jeopardy, or she means the ladies are together, sort of, with their determination to beat their only real rival.
The Americans, who were handled regularly by the Canadians until turning the tables with two wins in Nagano, have owned Canada, 8-0 in their pre-Olympic meetings. But the last few have been closer and, in Kim St. Pierre, the Canadians are strong in the requisite position to pull off what wouldn’t be a total shocker.