SOCHI GAMES: Lamoureuxs lead rout of Swiss

The U.S. looked a bit timid and unsure early Monday morning.

Monique Lamoureux changed all of that.

The Grand Forks native opened up the floodgates with a goal midway through the first, setting Team USA on course for a 9-0 rout of Switzerland in pool play at Shayba Arena in Sochi, Russia.

Monique finished the game with two goals, both set up by her twin sister, Jocelyne.

Teammates Kendall Coyne and Amanda Kessel also had two goals each for the Americans, who improved to 2-0 in the tournament. Alex Carpenter, Hilary Knight and Brianna Decker also scored for Team USA. Warroad’s Gigi Marvin registered a plus-three on the back end.

“I think doing the little things set us apart,” Monique said.

The little things helped the Americans get on the right track against the Swiss.

After a slow start, Jocelyne helped force a turnover deep in the Swiss zone. Then, she found her sister cutting to the net. Monique sent a shot five-hole on Swiss goalie Florence Schelling, a former Patty Kazmaier Award finalist from Northeastern, for a 1-0 lead at 9:20.

Decker and Kessel immediately followed with goals of their own to give the Americans three tallies in just 55 seconds – the fastest three goals in Olympic history. By the end of the first, Team USA led 5-0.

The Lamoureuxs connected for another goal in the second period. Jocelyne held the puck below the end line and found Monique standing on the inside of the right circle. Monique fired a wrist shot off of Schelling’s shoulder and in to make it 6-0.

The twins have now combined for 20 career points in Olympic Games. Jocelyne has 98 with USA Hockey for her career, two shy of joining Monique in the Century Club.

“Those girls are really tough to play against,” NBC analyst Pierre McGuire said during Monday’s game. “I’d want them on my team. They are nasty to play against.”

Final shots on goal against the Swiss were 53-10 in favor of USA.

With the win, the Americans clinch a spot in the semifinals of the tournament. The U.S. has one final pool play game remaining against Canada at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday. With a win in that game, the Americans can clinch the No. 1 seed for tournament play – and may be able to avoid playing a dangerous Finland team in the semifinals.

USA 9, SWITZERLAND 0

First period – 1. USA, Monique Lamoureux (Jocelyne Lamoureux, Meghan Duggan) 9:20; 2. USA, Brianna Decker (Amanda Kessel, Hilary Knight) 10:07; 3. USA, Kessel (Kendall Coyne) 10:15; 4. USA, Knight (Kelli Stack, Julie Chu) 14:23; 5. USA, Kessel (Coyne, Decker) 15:42 (pp)

Second period – 6. USA, M. Lamoureux (J. Lamoureux, Lee Stecklein) 13:26

Third period – 7. USA, Coyne (Stack) :49; 8. USA, Coyne (Kessel, Megan Bozek) 3:59; 9. USA, Alex Carpenter (Josephine Pucci) 15:39

Goalie saves – USA: Molly Schaus 6-2-2 – 10; SWI: Florence Schelling 12-15-17 – 44 

1/6: USA forward Monique Lamoureux (7) celebrates with her teammates after scoring a goal against Switzerland in a women's preliminary round women's ice hockey game during the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games at Shayba Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

2/6: Team USA's Monique Lamoureux celebrates her goal against Switzerland with teammate Meghan Duggan during the first period of their women's preliminary round hockey game at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games February 10, 2014. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor

3/6: Team USA's Monique Lamoureux (7) scores on Switzerland's goalie Florence Schelling (R) during the first period of their women's preliminary round hockey game at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games February 10, 2014. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor (RUSSIA - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY OLYMPICS)

4/6: USA forward Meghan Duggan (10) celebrates after a goal is scored by forward Monique Lamoureux (7) against Switzerland in a women's preliminary round women's ice hockey game during the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games at Shayba Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

5/6: USA forward Monique Lamoureux (7) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against Switzerland in a women's preliminary round women's ice hockey game during the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games at Shayba Arena. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

6/6: Team USA's Monique Lamoureux (L) scores on Switzerland's goalie Florence Schelling during the first period of their women's preliminary round hockey game at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games February 10, 2014. REUTERS/Mark Blinch (RUSSIA - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY OLYMPICS)