KAMLOOPS, B.C.— The U.S. Women’s National Team fell, 3-2, to rival Canada in the championship game of the 2014 Four Nations Cup. The teams traded goals through two periods and went scoreless in the third and overtime periods, forcing the three-aside shootout. Brianne Jenner’s lone shootout goal proved to be the game winner for Canada.
The U.S. came out strong in the first stanza, controlling play in the opening minutes and outshooting Canada eight to four. However, Canada opened the scoring on the power play with 4:14 left in the period.
Less than a minute into the second period, Team USA tied the game. On the rush, Kendall Coyne (Palos Heights, Ill./Northeastern University) shoveled a pass to Brianna Decker (Dousman, Wis.) who took a snap shot at the top of the right circle, beating Canadian goaltender Genevieve Lacasse.
At 9:08, the U.S. notched the go-ahead goal when the Canadian defense misfired the puck and Hilary Knight (Sun Valley, Idaho) corralled it, got behind the defense and fired glove side.
Late in the period, Canada was awarded a penalty shot, which Molly Schaus (Natick, Mass.) stopped. However, with just over two minutes to go, Canada’s Jennifer Wakefield scored her second goal of the game, tying it 2-2.
In the third period, Canada netted the go-ahead goal but it was waived off on a delayed penalty to the U.S. Team USA killed the penalty, and the third remained scoreless, forcing 20 minutes of four-on-four overtime.
Neither team converted on four-on-three power plays in overtime, so the game went to the three-aside shootout. Canada’s Jenner scored the lone goal to seal the victory and Canada’s second of back-to-back Four Nations Cup titles.
Decker was named U.S. player of the game, and Schaus stopped 26 of 28 shots, finishing the game with a .929 save percentage.
Notes: Dani Cameranesi (2-2) and Shiann Darkangelo (1-3) led Team USA in tournament scoring with four points apiece. They tied with Canada’s Jennifer Wakefield to lead tournament scoring … The U.S. used a three-goaltender rotation—Brianne McLaughlin-Bittle, Molly Schaus and Alex Rigsby—who stopped 71 of 76 shots and complied two shutouts. Schaus appeared in two of four games … This is the 12th time the U.S. has finished second in a Three/Four Nations Cup. Team USA finished the 2014 tournament 2-1-0-1 (W-L-OTW-OTL). Team USA’s overall tournament record is 40-5-5-23-2 (W-OTW-OTL-L-T).