NORRKOPING, Sweden – Sarah Parsons  (Dover, Mass.) scored twice and added an assist and Julie Chu  (Fairfield, Conn.) tallied three points (1-2) as the U.S. Women’s National Team defeated China, 8-2 in the opening game of the International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championship in Norrkoping, Sweden, today.

The team will face Germany in the second game of preliminary round action on Tuesday, April 5 (2 p.m. EDT).

Chu put Team USA on the board at 3:33 of the first period, burying a low shot from the slot. Just over a minute later, Angela Ruggiero  (Harper Woods, Mich.) scored high to the stick-side to give the U.S. a 2-0 lead with 4:50 gone. China made it 2-1 at 11:21, but Jenny Potter  (Edina, Minn.) restored the two-goal U.S. lead at 13:03. With under two minutes remaining, Parsons notched her first IIHF goal, a power play tally, and the U.S. took a 4-1 lead into the intermission.

The middle session opened to seven scoreless minutes before Krissy Wendell  (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) scored from down low at 7:00 and Natalie Darwitz  (Eagan, Minn.) knocked in a Katie King  (Salem, N.H.) rebound at 13:44 for 6-1, USA.

Courtney Kennedy made it 7-1 early in the third, firing a shot through traffic to notch the third power play goal of the night for Team USA. China struck once more at 12:31, but Parsons sealed the win, scoring her second of the game at 12:55 of the final stanza.

Notes:  Team USA has never lost its opening game in the history of the Women’s World Championships (9-0-0)...Potter’s goal was her 50th as a member of Team USA...Parsons is the youngest player on the Team USA roster...Wendell was named U.S. Player of the Game...The next four games for Team USA can be heard via live audiocast at www.usahockey.com.