SKIEN, Norway – Jamie Benassi (Newtown, Ohio) scored twice and Hope Bevilhymer (West Jordan, Utah) recorded a shutout to help the U.S. Women’s Development Sled Hockey Team to a 9-0 victory over Team Pacific in its third game of the 2024 Para Ice Hockey Women’s World Challenge at Skien Fritidspark.
“The intensity and energy were great through all three periods,” said Rose Misiewicz, head coach of the U.S. Women’s Development Sled Hockey Team. “It was also great to see Rebecca Mann get her first career goal.”
Lera Doederlein (San Diego, Calif.) opened the scoring 1:54 into the contest when Benassi found her in the slot. Doederlein capitalized on the opportunity to put the U.S. up 1-0.
Team USA doubled its lead midway through the first when Monica Quimby (Bradenton, Fla.) collected a loose puck in the slot, spun into position, and sent a shot along the ice into the back of the net.
With 3:17 to play in the period, Madeleine Gallagher (Palm Bay, Fla.) batted home a loose puck in the crease off a rebound from a shot by Ailin Zheng (Queens, N.Y.) to give the U.S. a 3-0 lead.
Less than a minute later, Rebecca Mann (Mattapoisett, Mass.) scored her first career goal with the U.S. Women’s Development Sled Hockey Team on a top-shelf wrist shot from the high slot to go up 4-0.
Banassi added to the Team USA advantage with 2:56 left in the middle frame on a deflection off a shot from Catherine Faherty (Norwell, Mass.).
Katie Ladlie (Troy, Mo.) made it a 6-0 game in the closing minutes of the second when she weaved through the Team Pacific defense and slid the puck past the outstretched arm of the goaltender.
Just 28 seconds into the third period, Team USA took a 7-0 lead when Christy Gardner (Oxford, Maine) capitalized from the slot.
Benassi added her second goal of the contest 35 seconds later when Doederlein threaded a pass to her on the doorstep and she deflected the puck over the goal line to go up 8-0.
Madison Eberhard (Buffalo, N.Y.) added the ninth and final tally of the contest with 3:48 remaining.
Women’s World Challenge action continues tomorrow (Oct. 28), as Team USA will face off against Canada at 12 p.m. ET in its fourth and final contest of the tournament. The game will live stream here.
NOTES: Team USA outshot Team Pacific 32-1 … The U.S. was 0-1 on the power play, while Team Pacific did not have a power play … Rebecca Mann was named U.S. Player of the Game.
