Team Canada tested the U.S. early with its first shot but Rooney blocked it aside. Nearly a minute later, Rooney came out of her crease to make a crucial poke check on a lethal scoring opportunity from Canada. After the opening minutes, the U.S. settled down defensively and held Canada to three shots throughout the first 20. The best opportunity in the first for Team USA came with less than five minutes to go. Kelly Pannek (Plymouth, Minn.) received a cross-ice pass and fired the puck on net, but Canadian goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens got in front of it to go into intermission tied, 0-0.
Rooney continued to stand strong in net in the middle frame where she kept a loose puck from passing the goal line in the opening minutes. Moments later, she sprawled across the crease in an all-out effort to keep the game knotted at zero.
At 8:28 in the second period, Cayla Barnes (Eastvale, Calif.) intercepted a Canadian clearing attempt while on the power play and sent the puck to the tape of Megan Keller (Farmington, Mich.). Keller sent a one-time blast toward the net where Knight redirected the shot to break the stalemate. Four minutes later, the U.S. took advantage of a five-on-three power play opportunity. Tic-tac-toe passing in the offensive zone was finished off in the slot by Amanda Kessel (Madison, Wis.) to give the team a two-goal lead.
