U.S. Falls In Rivalry Series Finale, 3-1
Frankel posts 40-save performance in game five
SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. – Despite a 40-save performance from goaltender Aerin Frankel (Chappaqua, N.Y.), the U.S. Women’s National Team fell to Canada, 3-1, in game five of the 2024-25 Rivalry Series at Credit Union Place on Saturday.
“It’s never easy to lose a game like this. Our team played hard,” said John Wroblewski (Neenah, Wis.) head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team. “We’ll continue to evaluate and make sure we’re ready heading into Women’s Worlds in April.”
With the win, Canada takes the series by three games to two.
After Frankel stopped a power-play chance from Laura Stacey with 11 minutes to play in the opening period, the U.S. responded with a quality scoring chance of its own when a streaking Kendall Coyne Schofield (Palos Heights, Ill.) put a wrister from the high slot towards Emerance Maschmeyer, who gloved the shot, to keep the contest scoreless.
Early in the second Cayla Barnes (Eastvale, Calif.) pressed in along the boards closing in short side before a shot rung off the post a corralled behind the net.
Canada got the first goal of the game 6:48 into the second when Brianne Jenner ripped a one-timer from inside the blue line that deflected off the post and in to put hosts up, 1-0.
Team USA’s first power play chance of the game came with 7:41 left in the middle frame when Blayre Turnbull was called for a faceoff violation. The U.S. power-play unit put a flurry of chances on net, but none found their way past Maschmeyer, who kept the U.S. scoreless heading into the final frame.
Taylor Heise (Lake City, Minn.) opened the third corralling a 2-on-1 pass from Hilary Knight (Sun Valley, Idaho) and flipping it on net, but once again Maschmeyer flashed the glove to keep the U.S. off the board.
Kelly Pannek (Plymouth, Minn.) broke the ice 3:03 into the third. Following a breakout pass from Coyne Schofield, Pannek and Ally Simpson (Frisco, Texas) traded a give-and-go pass before Pannek tipped a shot from Simpson behind Maschmeyer in front of the net.
Jennifer Gardiner scored the go-ahead goal for Canada with 6:44 remaining in the game, receiving a pass at the hash marks off a turnover along the boards and putting a shot over Frankel’s glove to open a 2-1 lead.
Stacey added an empty-net goal with just over a minute remaining in the game to account for the 3-1 final.
NOTES: Aerin Frankel was name the U.S. Player of the Game … Canada outshot the U.S., 43-29 … The U.S. was 0-2 on the power play, while Canada was 0-1.