UTICA, N.Y. – The U.S. Women’s National Team defeated Finland by a 5-3 count before a capacity crowd at the Adirondack Bank Center to win its third straight preliminary round game at the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship.

“You have to build in these tournaments,” said John Wroblewski (Neenah, Wis.), head coach of the 2024 U.S. Women’s National Team. “Fighting how we had to today adds a little bit of adversity and strengthens the group. It really gives us the opportunity to gel together.”

Finland jumped out to a 1-0 lead 6:54 into the first period, when Elisa Holopainen ripped a rising shot to the top corner of the net that beat Aerin Frankel (Chappaqua, N.Y.) on the power play. 

Abbey Murphy (Evergreen Park, Ill.) answered 1:04 later for Team USA, tapping in a rebound off the left post. Murphy carried the puck through the neutral zone after forcing a turnover in the defensive zone. Once in the offensive zone, Murphy found Caroline Harvey (Salem, N.H.) who then passed down to a wide-open Hannah Bilka (Coppell, Texas) inside the trapezoid. Bilka walked a close-range shot in before Murphy tapped in the rebound. 

HIGHLIGHTS

The U.S. jumped out to a 2-1 lead when a slap shot from Hilary Knight (Sun Valley, Idaho) found its way to the back of the net. Finland tied the game with 24 seconds remaining in the period when a point shot found its way to the back of the net. 

At the 12:18 mark in the second period, Taylor Heise (Lake City, Minn.) collected the puck as she exited the penalty box, walking in a far-side blocker shot to give the U.S. a 3-2 lead. Kendall Coyne Schofield (Palos Heights, Ill.) opened a two-goal lead for the United States just a few minutes later, sneaking a shot five-hole from just inside the right circle. 

Finland pulled back within one with 40 seconds remaining in the period when Sofianna Sundelin put a shot under Frankel’s outstretched pad. 

Just 15 seconds into the third, Coyne Schofield recorded her second of the game to put the U.S. up 5-3. After a short-range shot from Knight that hit the post, Alex Carpenter (North Reading, Mass.) collected her rebound and put another tough-angle blip on net, which Coyne Schofield collected for the score. 

The U.S. will play its fourth and final preliminary round game against Canada on Monday (April 8). Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET and the game can be seen live on NHL Network. 

NOTES: Kendall Coyne Schofield (Palos Heights, Ill.) was named the U.S. Player of the Game … The U.S. outshot Finland, 45-12 … The U.S. and Finland were both 2-6 on the power play.

GAME PHOTOS