For at least the next year, Czechia can claim bragging rights over rival Slovakia.

Tereza Pistekova and Tereza Plosova recorded four points apiece, lifting the Czechs to a 7-2 win in the fifth-place game at the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women’s World Championship.

Pistekova scored twice and added a pair of helpers, while Plosova recorded a goal and three assists.

Goaltender Michaela Hesova made 12 saves and finished the tournament with a 4-1 record. Her only loss came in a 2-1 defeat to Sweden in the quarterfinals.

With its fifth-place finish Czechia matched its best finish since 2016.

"We hope to build on it," Plosova said. "It's great for the next event. There is great motivation."

With only the bronze- and gold-medal games to be played, Czechia produced three of the top four scorers in the tournament.

Plosova leads with 10 points (three goals, seven assists), while Adela Sapovalivova ranks second with nine points (three goals, six assists). Pistekova holds a share of third with eight points (four goals, four assists) alongside Americans Laila Edwards and Sydney Morrow.

After the game, players from both teams spent at least 20 minutes posing for photos with one another.

"We've played a lot of games each other against each other in the past," Plosova said. "On the ice we're not friends, but once the game is done, it's a relief on both sides. Getting those pictures taken, the moment is special."

Ema Tothova opened the scoring for Slovakia on the power play 14:57 into the first period. With a screen in front, the 14-year-old beat Michaela Hesova with a wrist shot from the slot.

But the Czechs rebounded with force in the second period, erupting for six goals.

"(Coach) told us to play our game, the system that has been set throughout the whole tournament and just go back to our game." Plosova said.

They got on the board 2:16 into the second period when Marketa Mazancova fired a shot into the top right corner from the slot.

Plosova gave Czechia the lead just under three minutes later. The forward found a loose puck at the right side of the net and tapped it in just beyond the reach of Laura Medvidova's pad.

Czechia built a 3-1 lead on Adela Sapovalivova's tally at 9:27. The 16-year-old took a pass from Pistekova at the left side of the crease, pivoted and wristed it over the left shoulder of Medvidova.

Karolina Veverkova made it 4-1 with a shot from the right circle at 12:06. Pistekova then struck twice in a span of 3:08, including a power-play tally with 27 seconds remaining in the period to give Czechia a five-goal cushion.

"Two periods were very good, but the second, I don't know what happened there," Slovakia coach Gabriella Sabolova said. "There were too many mistakes. Too many opportunities, scoring chances. Our goalie should be mad about it because she did well."

Petra Matejova tacked on one more for the Czechs at 9:38 of the third.

Emma Donovalova also scored for Slovakia, who struggled to generate offense with just 14 shots. It was the fourth time in the tournament the Slovaks were kept below 20.

Despite the loss, Slovakia finished the event in sixth place, the highest ranking in the history of its women's program — senior or U18. They will play at the top level in back-to-back years for the first time.

"We can say our mission is completed," Sabolova said. "I think our GM has already started. First we will safely return home, then we will have one day off. Then, back to work."