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.
U.S. WOMEN’S COLLEGIATE SELECT TEAM 4, CANADA 3 (OT)
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.
GAME PHOTOS
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.
U.S. UNDER-18 WOMEN’S SELECT TEAM 2, CANADA 4
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.
GAME PHOTOS
Team USA outshot Canada, 38-25. The U.S. was 1-5 on the power play, while Canada was 1-3.
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