Those people in the area hosting watch parties to see Abbey Murphy and Kendall Coyne Schofield and the U.S. women’s hockey team in this year’s Olympics have not been on the edge of their seats.
But they have been happy. Very happy.
It’s been utter domination for the Americans as they have outscored opponents 31-1 through six games in Milan heading into the Feb. 19 gold-medal clash against either Canada or Switzerland.
In preliminary play, the United States beat Switzerland and Canada by identical 5-0 scores.
Murphy, an Evergreen Park native and Mother McAuley graduate, and Coyne Schofield, a Palos Heights native and Sandburg grad, have been giving their fans a lot to cheer about during this tournament. On Feb. 16, both scored goals in a 5-0 win over Sweden in the semifinals and Murphy added an assist.
The game before that, Coyne Schofield scored two goals in a 6-0 win over Italy.
“It felt good (to score) but at the end of the day, it’s about the win,” Coyne Schofield told reporters after the Italy triumph. “It’s about doing whatever is asked of us on a given night. And right place at the right time. So, yeah, it felt good.”
USA coach John Wroblewski called Coyne Schofield a “hero.”
“That woman is as driven as you can possibly be and I love her,” he said. “I am so glad we got her.”
Murphy, playing in her second Olympics, has two goals and five assists this year. She has also been in the middle of a few skirmishes including one where it a appeared she threw punches against Italy.
“When you represent your country, you hold yourself to a higher standard,” Murphy said after the Italy game. “So anyone in front of the net that gets cross-checked … I’m not just going to watch that happen. That’s not me. I’m not just going to let it go.”
Heading into the semifinals, Murphy had nine penalties and the rest of the team combined for 10.
Teammate Taylor Heise called Murphy “electric” as well as a “great human” who makes opponents mad.
The 33-year-old Coyne Schofield has won two silver medals and a gold. She would love to win a gold medal in front of her son, Drew.
Coyne Schofield said in September that when she was growing up, she saw Jenny Potter with her children at the Olympics in 2010. Potter and Coyne Schofield are the first two mothers to play for the U.S. team.
“I was inspired by that,” Coyne Schofield said of Potter. “And I think to myself, ‘How the heck did she do it and how the heck do (I) do it, too?’
“Then you realize what you go through and you’re like, ‘I can do this.’’’