ST. CATHARINES, Ont. – Tessa Janecke (Warren, Ill.) tallied three points, including the game-winning goal in overtime, as the U.S. Women’s Collegiate Select Team beat Canada, 4-3 at the Canada Games Park today.
With the win, Team USA takes a 1-0-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) lead in its three-game series against Canada.
Earlier in the day, the U.S. Under-18 Women’s Select Team dropped a 4-2 decision in game one of its series against Canada.
Game two for both teams is set for tomorrow (Aug. 15), with the U.S. Under-18 Women’s Select Team hitting the ice at 4 p.m. ET, while the U.S. Women’s Collegiate Select Team will drop the puck at 7:30 p.m.
Team USA controlled the pace for most of the opening period, but despite outshooting Canada 15-2, could not find the back of the net.
Just 57 seconds into the second, Kiara Zanon (Fairport, N.Y.) broke the scoreless tie, taking a give-and-go pass from Tessa Janecke (Warren, Ill.) and lifting it into the back of the net to open a 1-0 lead. Canada knotted the game at 1-1, when an unmarked Madeline Palumbo stuffed a rebound behind Annelies Bergmann (Troy, Mich.).
Janecke gave Team USA at 2-1 lead 12:36 into the middle frame, after receiving a pass from Grace Dwyer (Wynnewood, Pa.) at the top of the left circle, she lasered a rising shot that clipped the top corner for the goal. With 3:01 remaining in the period, Jenna Buglioni picked the top corner from short range to pull the game to a 2-2 tie.
In the closing minutes of the third, Canada received a 5-on-3 opportunity for 1:31, which Piper Grober capitalized on, giving Canada its first lead of the night. The U.S. tied the game on a power play, with the goalie pulled, with 1:05 remaining. Lacey Eden (Annapolis, Md.) cleaned up a rebound that trickled behind the Canadian netminder.
Janecke posted the game-winner midway through the overtime period to give Team USA the win.
The U.S. outshot Canada, 49-19. Team USA was 1-3 on the power play, as was Canada.
Canada opened the game’s scoring just 31 seconds into the first after Chloe Primerano snuck one past netminder Natalia Dilbone (South Lyon, Mich.) to jump out to an early 1-0 lead. Canada’s offense kept up the pressure in the first half of the period, but Dilbone made a few key saves to keep the contest at 1-0.
With time winding down in the first, the U.S. drew back-to-back penalties. With 1:18 remaining, Evelyn Doyle (Needham, Mass.) scored for the U.S., tapping in a backdoor pass from Bella Fanale (Webster, N.Y.) to head into the first intermission tied, 1-1.
Just 1:20 into the second period, Team USA pulled ahead, 2-1, after Adrianna Milani (Toronto, Ont.) capitalized from the slot off an odd-skater rush to give the U.S. its first lead of the night.
In the final frame, Canada tallied two unanswered goals to take the game 3-2. Shortly after killing off a 5-on-3 opportunity, Maxine Cimoroni beat Dilbone glove side from just inside the circle, before Primerano scored her second of the night, a tap in on the goal line, for Canada’s third of the evening.
Sofia Ismael tapped in Canada’s fourth goal with 4:38 remaining in the game for the final score of the night.
Team USA outshot Canada, 38-25. The U.S. was 1-5 on the power play, while Canada was 1-3.