US Women’s Hockey Team Wins Four Nations Cup

Team USA (USA Hockey)

The United States Women’s National Team came from behind on Sunday to defeat Team Canada in the Finals of the Four Nations Cup in Sundsvall, Sweden.

Following a scoreless opening period, Canada’s Natalie Spooner, opened the scoring just over a minute into the second on a power play that was redirected from the slot on a shot from the point.

USA’s Brianna Decker responded with a power play goal of her own at the 6:36 mark. Decker, from Dousman, Wisconsin found a loose puck that she was able to slip behind the Canada netminder, Emerance Mashmeyer, to tie the game at one.

At 14:15 of the second period, Meghan Agosta put Team Canada back on top. Canada took the 2-1 lead into the second intermission.

The United States began the final period on the power play and moments after it had expired, Decker picked up her second goal of the game. Both teams battled hard for the remainder of the third period sending the game to overtime.

Just 36 seconds into the extra frame, USA’s Hilary Knight, from Sun Valley, Idaho took a pass from Kelli Stack of Brooklyn Heights, Ohio, skating in on a partial breakaway to bury a shot over Mashmeyer’s glove and give USA the 3-2 victory.

USA National Women’s Team head coach, Ken Klee said, “We came out and played a complete game and did what we needed to do to win.” He added, “I am proud of the team and all the effort that they put in. We never gave up and it was a well-deserved victory.”

USA goalie, Jessie Vetter stopped 30 of the 32 shots she faced in the victory, while Mashmeyer stopped 29 of 32 for Canada.

Decker was named U.S. player of the game while Stack picked up the tournaments best forward honors and Monique Lamoureux was named the tournament’s best defenseman.

Stack was the tournament’s leading scorer with eight points and six assists. Lamoureux led all defensemen with six points. Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson registered the most goals with four.

The United States has now captured the title six times (1997, 2003, 2008, 2011, 2012 & 2015).