Great Start for the Women at the World Championships!

So far at the 2015 World Floorball Championships, it has been a tale of one city, two venues, and six periods in which the US Women's National Team has seen the best of times and the worst of times. But we shouldn't let one bad period overshadow the other 100 minutes of truly exciting, highly competitive floorball.

In their opening match of the tournament, Team USA overcame a highly organized and literally massive (their goalkeeper is 6'3″) Dutch defense to record an impressive 7-4 victory. After falling behind in the second minute, the US Women had to equalize three times before finally pulling away from their tenacious opponents. The suspense of the game play combined with exuberant support from fans of both teams produced a truly thrilling atmosphere.

Highlights from USA-NED:

- 17-year-old Adelia Pennisi (career: 1+1) scored a goal and made an assist in her debut with Team USA

- Player/Coach Anne Jumppanen (career: 6+13) scored a goal, which means she has now scored in four out of the six World Championships the US has qualified for and participated in all of them

- Natascha Hansen (career: 3+4) and Marie Häggström (career: 19+12) both scored braces; Marie also assisted on Natascha's first goal

- Player of the match Michelle Linhart (career: 7+9) scored one and assisted two

In their second match at WFC 2015, Team USA trailed Slovakia by just one goal, as the first period ended 3-2. The US Women managed to stay highly competitive with tight defense throughout the second period, before finally running out of steam in a lopsided third period that was not representative of the match as a whole. Final score: 15-2.

Highlights from SVK-USA:
- Neutrals excluded, Team USA enjoyed the majority of support from the crowd of 517; including around 50 dressed in custom team jerseys provided by North Side Sport AB.

- With her first goal of WFC2015, assisted by Laura Nurmia (career: 3+6), Tiffany Gerber (career: 15+7) has now scored in every international competition in which the US has played (including WFC and WFCQ; totaling 9 competitions since 2003)

- Marie Häggström (career: 20+12) scored her 20th career goal for the US, assisted by Denise Henry (career: 2+3)

- Goalkeeper Brandee Gomez recorded 14 saves in a valiant effort that kept the US in the game for the first two periods

- Goalkeeper Chelsea Dolan recorded 5 saves in her World Floorball Championships debut

/Matt Williams

All photos by Ville Vuorinen (IFF)