Great Britain won the gold medal and promotion to the Under-18 Women’s Division I World Championship with a thrilling 3-2 victory over hosts Latvia in Riga.
Both teams went into the game with 100 per cent-winning records in the Division II Group A tournament and GB produced a stunning performance to seal top spot with a game to spare.
Lucy Holliday started between the pipes with Alisha O’Doherty as back-up.
Newlands on target for GB in first period
GB settled into the game strongly with Rebecca Voslinsky and Izabela Zdziesinka going close in the first part of the opening period, but Latvia took the lead through Sarlote Stale’s shot from the left-circle (12:07).
A well-worked goal saw GB equalise as Cassie McGregor and Emma Lamberton combined to set-up Ruby Newlands who beat Nikola Selevica with a neat backhand finish (16:12).
Endicott goal ensures GB level at second intermission
Holliday made an excellent save to turn away Kjara Zelubovska’s shot from the slot in the opening stages of period two.
GB killed-off two successive Latvia powerplays but just after the second one was completed, the hosts went ahead through Emilija Jakovleva’s shot through traffic (36:12).
Britain were level just 94 seconds later as aggressive play in the neutral zone saw Tahlia Davidson-Wright send Lilly Endicott clear to convert superbly on the breakaway (37:46).
GB win gold and promotion
Endicott went close twice in succession at the start of the third period and at the other end, Holliday made two great saves to deny Zelubovska.
GB won it with a quite breathtaking goal as Endicott’s cross-ice pass found Newlands who took the puck from her own zone, beat two Latvian players and fired the puck low past Selevica with under four minutes remaining (56:12).
Latvia lifted Selevica for the extra outskater and Holliday made two excellent close-range saves as GB secured a quite memorable victory.
GB complete the tournament tomorrow (Sunday) against Chinese Taipei at 16:00 (14:00 GMT).
Fixtures and Results
Monday 20th January: Great Britain 3-1 Kazakhstan
Tuesday 21st January: Great Britain 3-0 Netherlands
Thursday 23rd January: Great Britain 16-1 New Zealand
Saturday 25th January: Latvia 2-3 Great Britain
Sunday 26th January: Chinese Taipei v Great Britain 16:00 (14:00 GMT)
