Canada put the first goal on the board off a redirection on the power play, 5:35 into the first period. Danielle Burgen (Lindstrom, Minn.) nearly tied things up moments later, after a cascading puck fell to her stick in the slot for a point blank try, but Canadian netminder Mari Pietersen blocked it aside. With 2:20 to go in the first, Laila Edwards (Cleveland Heights, Ohio) split two Canadians and put one on net and created a rebound opportunity for Tessa Janecke (Orangeville, Ill.) at the doorstep. Janecke almost found the back of net, however, Pietersen got a pad on it to keep it 1-0.
The U.S. came out for the second period quick, as Janecke blasted a one-timer towards the net in the opening minute before Pietersen made the save. U.S. goaltender Annelies Bergmann (Detroit, Mich.) kept it a one-goal game under the halfway mark after a Canadian shot at the top of the crease. A loose puck created a scramble in the crease but Bergmann eventually froze the puck.
Canada scored a pair of goals :56 seconds apart with under nine minutes to play in the second to extend its lead to three. Finley McCarthy (Whitefish, Mont.) put Team USA’s first goal on the board with 1:37 to play with an extra skater. As its power play was winding down, McCarthy skated around towards the blue line and opened up her own lane for an open shot and the goal. Laney Potter (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Madison Kaiser (Andover, Minn.) picked up assists on the goal.
Just :07 seconds later, off the ensuing faceoff, the U.S. netted one more to cut it back to a one-goal game. Ava Lindsay (Minnetonka, Minn.) picked up the faceoff and sent one on net as Claire Enright (Lakeville, Minn.) crashed the net and buried the rebound to make it 3-2 after 40.
Team USA put the pressure on early in the third and rattled off a handful of shots to force Pietersen to make a few tough saves. Played continued back and forth through the third, with each team contributing multiple scoring opportunities. Bergmann made two crucial saves with under 6:20 to go, one of which was at the top of the crease, to keep it 3-2. Jacecke almost potted one with less than three minutes to go but her shot rang off the post.
Bergmann left the ice for the extra attacker with 1:30 to go, but the U.S. couldn’t find the equalizer and fell, 3-2.
NOTES: Claire Enright (Lakeville, Minn.) was named U.S. Player of the Game … Laila Edwards (Cleveland Heights, Ohio) was named Tournament MVP … The U.S. outshot Canada, 31-21 … Team USA was 1-for-4 on the power play, while Canada was 1-for-3… For more information about the 2022 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, click here.
