LINKOPING, Sweden – The U.S. Women’s National Team defeated Germany, 7-0 at the Cloetta Center tonight to improve to 2-0 in tournament play. Katie King  (Salem, N.H.) and Kelly Stephens  (Seattle, Wash.) starred for Team USA, each netting two goals. Megan Van Beusekom  (Loretto, Minn.) and Chanda Gunn  (Huntington Beach, Calif.) split the game in net and starter Van Beusekom was credited with the win.

Julie Chu  (Fairfield, Conn.) opened the scoring for the second straight game, potting a backhanded shot at 3:19 of the first session. Seven seconds later, Kathleen Kauth (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) tapped the puck in from low in the crease for 2-0. Just six seconds elapsed before King made it 3-0 with her first of the night, wrapping up a flurry of three goals in 13 seconds for Team USA. With less than three minutes remaining in the session, Krissy Wendell  (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) scored her second goal of the tournament with a shot just inside the post. King notched her second of the night at 18:24, sidestepping Germany’s Viona Harrer, who came out of the net to challenge.

In the middle stanza, Team USA scored just once as Kelly Stephens  (Seattle, Wash.) redirected a centering pass from King. Germany changed goaltenders following the score, activating Steffi Wartosch-Kurten at 13:31.

Early in the third period, Stephens struck again, lifting a rebound high to the glove-side for her second of the night.

Team USA returns to action tomorrow night (Wednesday) to face Finland in the final game of preliminary round play. The game can be heard live via audiocast at www.usahockey.com.

Notes:  Team USA holds sole possession of first place in Group B with four points (2-0-0) and has posted a group-high 15 goals while allowing just two in two games...Chu, who has tallied the opening goal in both games, earned U.S. Player of the Game honors ...Team USA holds a 10-0-0 record against Germany all-time...The next three games for Team USA, including the semi-final and medal games, can be heard via live audiocast at www.usahockey.com.