ALTENMARKT-ZAUCHENSEE, Austria -- Elisabeth Goergl beat Anna Fenninger for an Austrian 1-2 finish at a womens World Cup downhill Saturday, ending a two-year drought for the ski-mad nation in the sports fastest discipline. Marcus Easley Jersey . Goergl, the 2011 world champion, started 28th after the other top contenders had already gone down but had the fastest time at each interval. Goergl finished the demanding 3-kilometre Kaelberloch course in 1 minute, 47.45 seconds to deny Fenninger her first career downhill win by 0.56 seconds. "I know I had a super run. That gives me satisfaction," said Goergl, who also was the last Austrian woman to win a downhill -- in Bad Kleinkirchheim, Austria, in January 2012. "I am glad that I had a smooth run," Goergl said. "Winning isnt the most important to me. What really counts is skiing well. I wasnt able to show that last year." It was the first 1-2 finish in a World Cup downhill for Austrian women since 2007. Maria Hoefl-Riesch of Germany, who has won two downhills this season, came 0.63 behind in third and lost her lead in the overall standings to Fenninger by six points, 677-671. Tina Weirather of Liechtenstein is third with 659 points. Weirather came 0.91 behind in fourth. Nicole Hosp, wearing bib No. 31, seemed on her way to make it an Austrian sweep of the podium but was slowed in a couple of turns and took fifth. Fenninger was regarded as a big favourite, coming off a giant slalom win in Lienz and having posted the fastest time in the only training here on Thursday. She built a huge lead before a costly mistake at a sharp turn just before the finish section. "I think I took too much risk there," Fenninger said. "I wasnt prepared for that turn. I knew after that mistake my lead might not be enough. I expected Liz (Goergl) to do well. I am just happy with my performance." Taking the overall World Cup lead didnt mean much to Fenninger, who downplayed her chances of becoming the first Austrian woman since Hosp in 2007 to win the big crystal globe. "Its just a matter of time before Maria is going to win a lot of points in slalom and then my chances are gone," said Fenninger, who doesnt compete in slalom events. Hoefl-Riesch set a record by earning her 25th career podium in downhill, making her the only skier -- male or female -- with at least 25 top-three finishes in both downhill and slalom. "I was happy to see the green light after I crossed the finish line but I knew it most likely wouldnt be enough," Hoefl-Riesch said. "I felt it wasnt a good run in the upper part of the course." Lara Gut of Switzerland, who has won four events this season, finished 1.34 back 11th. Defending overall champion Tina Maze of Slovenia was another 0.03 back in 12th in her first race under new coach Mauro Pini. Pini, one of Guts former coaches, replaced Walter Ronconi in Mazes team this week. Maze said Pini gave her "good feedback on the hill" and would be able to help her regain the form that earned her the overall title last season. With five-time downhill champion Lindsey Vonn out for the season because of her right knee injury, Julia Mancuso was the fastest American. Mancuso trailed Goergl by 1.39 in 13th for her best result of the Olympic season. "It was a good run. You cant expect to change everything in one run," said Mancuso, whose previous best in downhill this season was 20th. "Now I really believe I can win a race. I feel a lot better on my equipment. I skied positive the whole run and was trying to be confident." A super-combined event, consisting of a super-G and one slalom run, is scheduled for Sunday. Kraig Urbik Bills Jersey . PAUL, Minn. Chris Gragg Jersey . Louis Cardinals seized their opportunity. For the Atlanta Braves, it was another night of missed chances.Barring a miracle – and that is not an exaggeration – it will be Canada versus the United States in the womens hockey gold medal game Feb. 20 in Sochi. Why? Because they always meet in the final, right? Well, nearly always. Sweden somehow managed to make it into the gold medal game at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. But in the 19 Olympic and World Championship final games since womens hockey arrived on the international stage in 1999, it has been Canada against the United States 18 times. Canada begins by facing Switzerland on Saturday at 8:00 a.m. in their first game of the tournament - watch it live on CBC TV and streaming at cbc.ca/olympics. The mere fact Canada has won the past three of four gold medals at the Olympics – losing only in Nagano in 1998 – would make them the favorites in the eyes of many. However, their victories in the last three Olympic Games really have nothing to do with this years tournament. More relevant is the fact the United States defeated Canada in the last four meetings of their seven-game pre-Olympic exhibition series. Canada is the defending Olympic champion, but the Americans have a little swagger. Dan Church knows that as well as anybody. Church resigned as coach of the Canadian womens Olympic team in December and was replaced by former Florida Panthers coach Kevin Dineen. Team USA is deep at every position. They also have scoring at every position – forward and defence – and they have a lot of speed. “Their young forwards especially are extremely quick,” Church said. “If you give them room in the neutral zone theyll always find a way to create. They are really gifted at getting the puck into the scoring area; even if its not a direct shot just getting it there so now your defenders and goaltender really have to be on top of things. They are always creating offence with their speed.” Canada will need to have a forward to force the Americans to one half of the ice surface and break off their speed and their ability to attack or counterattack. Scoring problems Even if its overall team speed doesnt match that of the United States, Canada traditionally can hold its own with any team in the world in terms of offence, and is better than most. That said, Canada has had some difficulty scoring, particularly against the United States, leading up to the Sochi Games. Rebecca Johnston, a scoring machine at Cornell for four seasons, has speed and skill and the ability to take it to the front of the net. Fred Jackson Jersey. The 25-year-old had a goal and six points in five games at the 2010 Olympics and will be expected to exceed those numbers this year. Jenn Wakefield, 24, has plenty of international experience, but is making her Olympic debut. She is another go-to forward for Canada. Of course there are also veterans Hayley Wickenheiser, Jayna Hefford and Caroline Ouellette, all of whom can dominate a game. Wickenheiser in particular can be a dangerous scorer when she is shooting the puck. Hefford is strong around the net and Ouellette remains an offensive catalyst. As for Canadas young players, Natalie Spooner is a power forward with great hands and Megan Agosta-Marciano can be a world beater when shes playing at her best. Countering for Team USA will be Kelli Stack. She is a game-breaker and every time shes on the ice she can create for herself and her teammates. Stack has great vision. “She is an offensive threat every time she touches the puck,” Church said. “You always have to worry about her. She is the offensive catalyst for the team.” Amanda Kessel, the younger sister of Toronto Maple Leafs star Phil, is also a really strong player. Like her brother, she has speed to burn and plenty of offensive upside. She was the collegiate national player of the year with the University of Minnesota in 2013. Physically, Canada has an edge over the United States, but the Americans do not fear Canadas physical game - just as Canada believes it can overcome USAs speed. In the end, it could come down to goaltending. Canada believes its three goalies, Shannon Szabados, Charline Labonte and Genevieve Lacasse, could all backstop the team to a gold in Sochi. Szabados will be the starter and is looking for her second Olympic gold medal as a starter. Early in the season it seemed like Team USA was leaning toward Jessie Vetter getting the job as the starter, but down the stretch, Molly Schaus got more action. Schaus is better technically, but Vetter is very athletic. The starter will likely be the goalie the coaching staff feels is the hotter of the two entering the tournament. The bottom line for Canada is that it can win a fourth straight gold in Sochi, but reputation at this tournament means squat. 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