Phoebe Stanz (88) of Switzerland battles Aneta Tejralova of the Czech Republic.
Allen Douglas/KTW
The 2016 Women’s World Hockey Championship in Kamloops has recorded the first upset of the tourney as the Czech Republic defeated Switzerland on Tuesday afternoon by a score of 3-1.
The victory was just the second ever at the women’s world event the Czechs, while Switzerland won bronze at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.
Both teams are now 1-1, with Switzerland opening with a 4-2 win over Japan and the Czech Republic dropping a 3-2 decision to Sweden.
Following a scoreless opening period Tuesday on McArthur Island, the Czechs jumped to a 2-0 lead as Tereza Vanisova scored twice in the first three minutes of the second period,
Switzerland’s Alina Muller pulled her team to within a goal at the seven-minute mark, but a third-period goal by the Czech Republic’s Samantha Kolowratova sealed the victory.
Klara Peslarova earned the win in net for the Czechs, turning aside 22 of 23 shots. Florence Schelling was between the pipes for Switzerland and stopped 14 of 17 shots.
The Swiss will finish their preliminary round schedule on Thursday against Sweden, while the Czechs will face Japan on the same day to wrap up their prelim slate of games.