U.S. Advances To Six Nations Championship Game

By USA Hockey, 12/14/24, 11:00AM EST

Defeats Sweden 5-0, Thiele Shows 16-save Shutout

TAMPERE, Finland – Behind a 16-save shutout from Amanda Thiele (Milford, Mich./Ohio State University), the U.S. Collegiate Women’s Select Team defeated Sweden, 5-0, to advance to the championship game at the 2024 Six Nations Tournament on Saturday.

Team USA will face the winner of the second semifinal game between Finland and Canada on Sunday (Dec. 15). Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. local time (12 p.m. ET).

“Our special teams was firing on all cylinders this game and our goaltending was fantastic,” said John Wroblewski (Neenah, Wis.), head coach of the 2024 U.S. Collegiate Women’s Select Team. “We put all phases of the game together today and got a team win.”

An early defensive-zone turnover gave Sweden a partial breakaway early in the opening period. Thiele shut down the chance in net to keep the game scoreless.

With 11:35 left in the first, the U.S. opened the game’s scoring after Kiara Zanon (Fairport, N.Y./Ohio State University) received a pass at the top of the crease from Lacey Eden (Annapolis, Md./University of Wisconsin) to put Team USA up 1-0.

GAME PHOTOS

Just three minutes into the second, Ella Huber (Northfield, Ill./University of Minnesota) opened a 2-0 margin, fielding a transition pass in the neutral zone before splitting the defenders and closing in on goal for the breakaway score.

Abbey Murphy (Evergreen Park, Ill./University of Minnesota) ripped a one-timer from the left faceoff circle with 9:07 left in the period for the U.S.’ first of three power-play goals in the period.

The fourth and fifth goals came within 16 seconds of each other, both on the power play, as Zanon recorded her second of the game and Kirsten Simms (Plymouth, Mich./University of Wisconsin) plastered a wrister from the high slot to open up a 5-0 lead heading into the final frame.

No goals were tallied in the third despite a back-and-forth pace.

NOTES: Amanda Thiele was named Team USA player of the game … Team USA outshot Sweden, 33-16 … The U.S. was 4-5 on the power play, while Sweden was 0-3.