U.S. Falls to Canada, 3-0, in Gold-Medal Game of Under-18 Women’s Worlds

“This is a special group, and even though it didn’t end how we wanted, one that I am incredibly proud of,” said Liz Keady Norton (Boston, Mass.), head coach of the U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team. “Canada played a strong game. We just didn’t have an answer today.”

In the opening minutes, the U.S. earned the first power play of the game, which registered four shots, but could not find the back of the net.

The teams traded chances throughout the remainder of the first frame, but Team USA’s Morgan Stickney (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) and Canada’s Marilou Grenier remained focused in net, sending the game into the first intermission scoreless.

Canada earned its first power play of the game 6:13 into the second period. In the waning seconds of the extra-skater opportunity, Caileigh Tiller snuck a one-timer past Stickney for the game’s first goal, putting the U.S. down, 1-0.

Dorothy Copetti doubled Canada’s lead at the 9:13 mark of the third. Copetti fired the puck from a sharp angle, which deflected off a defender in front of Stickney and bounced into the net to put the U.S. behind, 2-0.

Stryker Zablocki scored an empty-net goal at 18:23 to account for the 3-0 final.

Stickney finished the contest with 27 saves.

NOTES: Chyna Taylor (Louisville, Ky.) was named U.S. Player of the Game … Canada outshot Team USA, 30-14 … The U.S. went 0-for-1 on the power play, while Canada went 1-for-1 … Bella Fanale (Webster, N.Y.) won the Directorate Award for Best Forward of the Tournament … Morgan Stickney (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), Megan Healy (South Burlington, Vt.) and Fanale were named to the Media All-Star Team.