Reigning champions SB-Pro started the F-liiga finals strong with a 8-4 victory over PSS. Four wins are needed for the title and Game 2 will be played in Porvoo today.
In the opener, it was SB-Pro’s second line with Aada Isometsä, Meri-Helmi Höynälä and Aino Tuokkola and Ina Leminen and Anu Raatevaara as defenders that took the leading role scoring three goals against PSS’ third line. No coincidence there as SB-Pro who had the final change as the home team kept playing them exactly so. Two of their goals came after succesful forechecking and a robbed ball and the third one after a speedy counterattack.
“We had quality in our performance and especially in scoring”, two-goal Karoliina Kujala put it in an interview. “In the beginning, there was some nervousness but that thinned out as the game progressed.”
In the F-liiga bronze medal game, SSRA beat Classic 8-4 for their first ever highest league medal. The hungry Northeners came out hungrier than nine-time Champions Classic to build a 2-0 lead in the first period. Classic got their first goal at 4-0 in the second period but were never able to seriously threat SSRA’s lead.
“Feels great and this was the perfect way to end the season”, SSRA captain Elli Kylmäluoma said in a TV interview. “It’s been a long and hard season but we never stopped working and this ending made it all worth it.”
Photos: Jarmo Koskela and Ari Arola
