U.S. coach Ben Smith has made his decision on a starting goaltender for the gold-medal game Thursday against Canada, and Sarah Tueting isn’t happy about it.
The Winnetka native had just shut out Sweden 4-0 in the semifinal game Monday night at the E Center when a reporter told her Smith had announced Sara DeCosta as the starter against Canada because he was sticking with his rotation.
“He can say what he wants about a rotation,” Tueting snapped. “The way this season started out with me and him, it’s not surprising it ended this way. I’d like to play. Coach and I have had our struggles over the year. A personality conflict. We put it aside for this long.”
But now it was coming out. Does she have sympathy for Smith having to decide between two quality goalies?
“I feel no sympathy for [him],” Tueting said.
Does she think Smith is trying to balance feelings too?
“He doesn’t care about feelings,” Tueting snapped.
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Tueting has allowed one goal in two games in the Olympics, while DeCosta has posted two shutouts. Tueting and DeCosta each beat Canada four times during their pre-Olympic tour. Tueting had the better save percentage, .932 to .922.
Tueting backstopped the Americans to the gold medal in 1998 in Nagano, Japan, when she beat Canada 3-1.
“I know I can do it,” Tueting said. “Maybe it’s time for Sara to step up and see if she can.”
Tueting will be 26 in April. Is this the end of her career with the U.S. women?
“It depends on who’s coaching next,” Tueting said.