Former University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey All-American Lara Stalder helped push Switzerland into the Olympic semifinals Saturday with a 4-2 wild win over the Russian Olympic Committee and former Bulldog Alexandra Vafina at the Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing.

Stalder, Switzerland's captain, had two assists in the game, including on the first goal of the contest and then again  on Switzerland's go-ahead and eventual game-winning tally at 17:23 of the third period.

"We produced that goal but there were a lot of pieces involved in this win," said Stalder. "Ruegg stepped up with a big goal and that PK at the end, we killed it off. It was back and forth but I think we were the better team and deserved this win."

"It's not the way we wanted to finish this tournament, but it is what it is," said Vafina. "It's a team game and we all have to do the right thing to get a better result, and it just didn't happen."

Stalder has now rung up three goals and three assists for six points in just five games in Beijing.

The Olympic semifinals are now set, and will feature Canada (Ashton Bell and Jocelyne Larocque)  against the Swiss (Stalder) in game one Monday, with the United States (Maddie Rooney  taking on Finland (Eveliina Makinen) in game two.  Ironically, Bell and Stalder just missed each other at UMD  – Bell was a freshman in 2017-18 – Stalder's senior season was 2016-17.