"Everyone believed."

...

"We said [Thursday] we were going to make a new miracle," said Rooth, a former Minnesota Duluth player who scored the shootout winner and both of Sweden's goals in regulation. "If we just believed we could beat them, we thought it could happen. Everyone was so committed. Everyone believed."

Except on the American side. The U.S. players felt only disbelief at losing their first Olympic semifinal. As Sweden's players got high-fives from NHL stars and countrymen Peter Forsberg and Mats Sundin, goalie Chanda Gunn fought a losing battle with tears, and Angela Ruggiero couldn't grasp the reality of playing for a bronze medal.

That will happen Monday against Finland, 6-0 losers Friday to Canada.

"I'm in shock right now," Ruggiero said. "It's a huge day for Sweden. It hurts, but we have to stay positive, because we can still win a medal.

"Everybody talks about the USA and Canada, but this may just open the world's eyes to the fact that there are other teams out there. We're back on our heels right now. But if you can take something positive away from this, maybe that's it."
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My heart is with ya, ladies. Great to hear Rooth played for UMD though, adds Olympic perspective to the competition. Good writing, here's more:

The United States outshot Sweden 39-18, but the players' faces reflected the anxiety created by frequent miscues and breakdowns -- and by (Goalie Kim)Martin's impenetrability. Former UMD forward Erika Holst stripped the puck from Gophers defenseman Lyndsay Wall behind the U.S. net and fired it to the charging Rooth for the tying shorthanded goal. The Swedes intercepted several passes deep in the American zone, and countless U.S. scoring chances sailed wide, struck the goal cage or banged off of sticks.

The United States also went 2-for-11 on power plays, including a two-player advantage that lasted more than 3 minutes in the second period.

"We had a lot of good opportunities on the power plays," forward Katie King said. "We didn't put them home, and that's what hurts. We were maybe too pretty on plays and lost it a few times, and they capitalized."

A distinctly Swedish vibe began to take over the arena as Rooth's goals, little more than 3 minutes apart, negated a 2-0 U.S. lead. ABBA played on the sound system. Fans with horns and Tre Kroner jerseys outblared their American counterparts. The tension swelled through the scoreless third period, the overtime and the shootout.
...
"It's a breakthrough for them and their program," said U.S. forward Natalie Darwitz of Eagan. "I wish it wasn't us, but it's great for women's hockey. It shows there's a lot more than the U.S. and Canada."

Sweden's coach, Peter Elander, said he took a cue from the late Herb Brooks in preparing his team. Like Brooks, who famously kept his players on the ice after a tie and made them skate to exhaustion, Elander drove his team relentlessly for the past three months.

Which goes to show that even American hockey movies have influenced the women's game abroad. Elander thanked the United States and Canada for playing the Swedes so often, allowing them to learn and develop. Many European players also are refining their games with U.S. college teams, including nine Olympians who have played for or been signed by Minnesota Duluth.

Sweden's victory resulted from its fearless and aggressive defense, a smart game plan, improved speed and conditioning and a new attitude. Years of losses to the North Americans have affected the psyches of some opponents; the Finns, after seizing a 3-1 lead on the United States in pool play, tightened up and lost. By getting over that hurdle, the Swedes have opened a window of possibility for others.