Japan's Smile Team Wins Olympic Opener 3-2 Over France

Japan's women's ice hockey team proved that pressure makes champions, scoring a dramatic late goal to defeat France 3-2 in their Olympic opener in Milan.

With just three and a half minutes left on the clock and the score tied 1-1, forward Makoto Ito received a perfect pass and fired a shot past French goalie Alice Philbert. The goal sent Japanese fans in the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena into celebration and gave Smile Japan the momentum they needed.

"There were definitely moments when we really needed that one goal," Ito said after the match. "But the result was that the whole team really pushed towards the goal, and that led to me scoring."

The game was a nail-biter from start to finish. Both goalies stood tall, with Japan's Miyuu Masuhara making 23 saves and France's Philbert stopping an impressive 35 shots. The defensive battle kept fans on the edge of their seats through all three periods.

Japan struck first when Rui Ukita scored with 90 seconds left in the second period. France answered just a minute later to tie it up, setting the stage for Ito's heroics. An empty net goal from Suzuka Maeda added insurance, which proved crucial when France scored with 10 seconds remaining.

Assistant captain Akane Hosoyamada, playing in her third Olympics, admitted the team felt opening-game jitters before taking the ice. "Once the puck dropped I think everyone's nerves went away and then we were able to play our game," she said.

The victory was especially sweet considering France had improved significantly since the teams last met a year ago. Coach Yuji Iizuka's squad faced their toughest challenge yet, and they rose to the occasion.

Why This Inspires

This wasn't just about scoring more goals. It was about a team believing in each other when the pressure was highest. Ito credited her coach's encouragement during the deadlock, saying his words that "a goal would definitely come into view" kept everyone pushing forward. That kind of collective faith and determination shows what's possible when people refuse to give up on their dreams.

Japan faces Germany next, carrying the confidence of a team that knows how to win when it matters most.