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MILAN – Japan claimed its first win in the women’s Olympic ice hockey tournament on Friday in Milan, scoring two goals in the third period to achieve a 3-2 victory against France in Group B.

Makoto Ito scored in the 57th minute at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena with a long-distance wrist shot, breaking a 1-1 tie and allowing Japan to maintain the lead throughout the game.

I didn’t really expect it to go in, so I was pleased,” said the 21-year-old Ito. “But at the end of the second period we gave up a goal because of my error…so I’m glad I managed to score.

We discussed as a group how crucial the opening match is, so I’m very pleased that we managed to secure the victory.

Rui Ukita scored late in the second period, but Japan’s advantage didn’t last long as French captain Lore Baudrit tied the game with 18 seconds remaining in the period.

Ito then scored, and Suzuka Maeda provided Japan with some relief by netting an empty goal to make the score 3-1 just over a minute later.

France scored a last-minute power-play goal to make the score 3-2, but couldn’t create another chance in the final moments of the game.

The victory saw Japan move to three points, placing them alongside Sweden and Italy at the top of Group B, as the top three teams from the group will advance along with all five teams from Group A into the quarterfinals.

“The athletes displayed determination throughout and secured the win, which is significant,” said Smile Japan coach Yuji Iizuka.

We managed to score and conclude the game effectively.