Randi Heesoo Griffin (second from right), a U.S.-born forward on the inter-Korean women’s ice hockey team, celebrates her first Olympic goal with her teammates in the third match in Group B against Japan, at the Kwandong Hockey Center in Gangneung on Feb. 14.
By Lee Kyoung Mi and Sohn JiAe
Photos = Yonhap News
The inter-Korean women’s ice hockey team scored its first historic Olympic goal in its third match in Group B against Japan, which ended with its loss.
On Feb. 14 at the Kwandong Hockey Center in Gangneung, Gangwon-do Province, the North-South Korean team achieved an Olympic goal at 9:31 in the second period.
With the joint team two points behind, the U.S.-born and naturalized Korean forward Randi Heesoo Griffin scored the team’s first and only Olympic Goal, shooting the puck into the back of the net after being set up with a perfect assist from Park Yoon-jung.
After the goal, the South and North Korean athletes rejoiced, embracing each other in joy. The cheering sound of the inter-Korean crows, chanting, “We are one,” and waving the unified Korea flag, amplified with a big round of applause.
Randi Heesoo Griffin on the inter-Korean women’s ice hockey team, in blue, shoots the puck to score the team’s first Olympic goal in the face-off against Japan on Feb. 14.
With an energized offense, the inter-Korean team attempted more shots on goal, but a sound Japanese defense didn’t let any of them go in.
The team conceded two more goals in the third period and was beaten by Japan 4-1 (2-0, 1-0, 2-0).
“The team showed its best performance today in the Olympic Games,” said coach Sarah Murray following the match. “When they might want to give up, with already two goals behind after just five minutes into the first period, they never gave up and continued, of which I’m so proud. The South and North Korean athletes proved to be one united team.”
The unified team is scheduled to have play-off matches starting on Feb. 18 to determine fifth to eighth places.
The inter-Korean women’s ice hockey team is encouraged by the chants and claps from the squad of North Korean cheerleaders and South Korean spectators, after their 4-1 loss to Japan in its third Olympic match of Group B on Feb. 14.
km137426@korea.kr
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