CLEVELAND, Ohio – Abbey Murphy (Evergreen Park, Ill./University of Minnesota) tallied a hat trick, and Taylor Heise (Lake City, Minn./Minnesota Frost) notched a goal and three assists to help lift the U.S. to a 4-1 victory in the opening contest of the 2025 Rivalry Series, Presented by Discover.
“Tonight was a great start to the Rivalry Series,” said John Wroblewski (Neenah, Wis.), head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team. “Between Abbey Murphy’s hat trick, Taylor Heise’s game, and Laila Edwards playing at home, it was a special evening. Cleveland was a great host and we are looking forward to Saturday’s game in Buffalo.”
Canada’s Sarah Fillier opened the scoring at 9:27, capitalizing off a rebound on the power play.
Just 16 seconds later, Team USA leveled the score when Laila Edwards (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/University of Wisconsin) fired a shot from the point, and Heise redirected the puck past Canadian netminder Eve Gascon into the back of the net.
While on a power play at the 9:46 mark of the second period, Heise sent a cross-ice pass to Murphy at the top of the right circle, who fired a one-timer that went bar-down to put the U.S. up 2-1.
Murphy notched her second goal of the contest with 2:32 remaining in the middle frame, burying a back-door feed from Heise from just outside the crease to give Team USA a 3-1 lead.
At the 1:54 mark of the third, Murphy completed a natural hat trick when she finished a power play chance on the doorstep after collecting a bouncing puck off the stick of Kirsten Simms (Plymouth, Mich./University of Wisconsin). Heise added an assist on the goal, which proved to be the final tally of the contest.
Aerin Frankel (Chappaqua, N.Y./Boston Fleet) stopped 25 shots in a full 60 minutes of action to record the win in goal for the U.S.
The second contest of the four-game series will be held Saturday (Nov. 8) at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y. Puck drop is set for 6. P.M. ET on NHL Network, and tickets are available here.
NOTES: Canada outshot the U.S., 27-26 ... Team USA was 2-4 on the power play while Canada was 1-3.
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