LINKOPING, Sweden – Team USA scored four unanswered goals to defeat Sweden, 4-1, in the semifinal match at the International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championship tonight. With the win, the U.S. preserved its perfect record (4-0-0) and earned its ninth-consecutive gold-medal game berth. The championship game will be held in Linkoping, Sweden, at 8 p.m. (2:00 p.m. EDT) tomorrow.

Kelly Stephens (Seattle, Wash.) had two points (1-1) in the game while Krissy Wendell (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) recorded two assists. Goaltender Chanda Gunn (Huntington Beach, Calif.) stopped 13-of-14 shots to earn her third win of the tournament.

Team USA killed three penalties in the opening session before Sweden took its only lead of the game with under a minute remaining. Therese Sjolander’s power play goal sailed through traffic and into the high short-side corner of the net for a 1-0 Team Sweden lead at the first intermission.

Team USA took control in the second period, outshooting Sweden 13-3. With the Americans on the power play, Kelly Stephens  (Seattle, Wash.) evened the tilt, re-directing a wide shot from low in the crease. Thirteen minutes elapsed before Katie King  (Salem, N.H.) scored the go-ahead goal, burying a low shot off a centering pass. Less than two minutes later, Molly Engstrom (Siren, Wis.) scored from the Swedish blueline to give the U.S. a 3-1 lead at the end of the second period.

With 3:40 gone in the final stanza, Natalie Darwitz (Eagan, Minn.) made it 4-1 for Team USA, stickhandling around Swedish goaltender Kim Martin. Chanda Gunn (Huntington Beach, Calif.) finished the game with 13 saves and earned her third win of the tournament.

Notes: The U.S. and Canada will meet for the ninth time in the gold-medal game of the Women’s World Championship tomorrow (Sat.)...Team USA has taken the silver medal in every Women’s World Championship to date...The gold-medal game w ill be broadcast via live audio stream on www.usahockey.com...CSTV will broadcast the game on a tape delayed basis. Broadcast date(s) are TBA.