THE MOMENT: Finland @ Germany – Saturday, April 6

by Sarah Forgrave

OTTAWA, Ont. – In a game that would determine which team would advance to semifinals to face the United States, Germany found itself on the losing end, falling 1-0 to Finland in Saturday afternoon action at SBP Arena.

Nevertheless, the story of the game was German goaltender Jennifer Harrs. Harrs, the former assistant captain for the 2011-2012 University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, came into the game with a save percentage of 90.9 per cent in IIHF competition among goaltenders who had played 40 per cent or less of their teams total minutes (second only to Canada’s Charline Labonte’s perfect save percentage).

Harrs opened the game in dramatic fashion, as she made a succession of difficult saves in the early part of the game, putting the Finns on notice. By the end of the first period, she had faced 21 shots, with the only one getting past her at 4:33, when Michelle Karvinen scored on an unassisted goal.

In front of a crowd of more than 5,400, Harrs continued to impress, as she turned aside 42 shots to give the Germans every opportunity to stay in the game. Several of her saves were met with cheers and applause, as she acrobatically snapped the puck away or directed the puck out of harm on a cross-crease pass. Nonetheless, Germany had difficulty making it over the Finnish blue line for much of the game and was held to only 13 shots by the end of the game.

Finland advances to semis Monday, when the blue and white will look to avenge their preliminary round 4-2 loss to the Americans.

For the full game story, please visit www.worldwomen2013.com.

For the full game summary, including statistics, please CLICK HERE.