WEBN

USA Women Take Gold

February 23, 2018

By Tyler Englander 2/23/2018

In what they’re calling the Redemption on Ice, the United States Women’s Hockey Team won their first gold medal in 20 years, 38 years to the day after the United States men’s team beat the Soviet Union in the Miracle On Ice. The United States beat Canada in a thrilling 3-2 win that ended in a shootout. The win marks the United States first gold in Women’s Hockey since 1998, and especially sweet considering the U.S had lost the previous two gold medal games to Canada.

Courtesy of Creative Commons

The United States started fast in front of a rowdy crowd at Gangneung Hockey Centre in South Korea. The Americans would go in front with only 26 seconds left in the second period when Hilary Knight tipped a Sidney Morin shot past Canadian goalkeeper Shannon Szabados.

The Canadians would own the second period as Haley Irwin scored the equalizer early in the second before Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin scored to put the defending Olympic champions in front. The third period was fast paced, as the U.S came out extremely aggressive trying to tie the score. Both goalies, Szabados for Canada, and 20 -year-old Maddie Rooney stood strong, but the Americans would get their chance. With six minutes remaining in the game Kelly Pannek found Monique Lamoureux-Morando wide open after a sloppy change by the Canadians. Lamoureux-Morando would make no mistake beating Szabados on the glove side.

The sides would reamined tied at the end of the third as well as overtime forcing a shootout for the gold medal. After five rounds of the shootout, the score remained tied requiring extra rounds. The United States sent out Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson, who scored a highlight reel goal giving the U.S the lead. The Canadians had to score on their next attempt and Maddie Rooney stopped Meghan Agosto to give the United States the gold medal.The win which is being described as the biggest win in U.S Women’s Hockey history caused team captain Meghan Duggan to say it was “the greatest day of all of our lives.” The United States will look to defend their gold four years from now in Beijing, but for now the team and country will celebrate a breathtaking achievement by an extraordinary group of women.

Stay tuned to webn.tv for more Olympics coverage throughout the week.