U.S. Women’s Hockey Team Advances to Olympic Gold Medal Game

The U.S. women’s hockey team has secured a spot in the Olympic gold medal game after a decisive victory over Sweden, winning 5-0 in the semifinals on February 16. Head coach John Wroblewski expressed the team’s determination, stating, “This is an athlete base that dreams of gold.”

Impressive Tournament Performance

Throughout the tournament, the U.S. team has dominated their opponents, recording an extraordinary 31-1 goal differential in Olympic play. Their semifinal match showcased both skill and strategy, with Cayla Barnes netting the only goal in a tightly contested first period against Sweden.

Second Period Explosion

As the second period commenced, the U.S. team shifted gears. Taylor Heise initiated a scoring spree, putting Team USA ahead 2-0 with assistance from Hannah Bilka. This was followed by a sequence of three goals within three minutes, demoralizing the Swedish side. Abbey Murphy, Laila Edwards, and Kendall Coyne Schofield each contributed to the scoring surge.

• Abbey Murphy scored the third goal with a top-shelf shot.
• Laila Edwards and Kendall Coyne Schofield connected for another goal shortly thereafter.
• Hayley Scamurra sealed the game with a fifth goal before the second period ended.

Sweden eventually replaced goalie Ebba Svensson Traff with Emma Soderberg, but the change did not prevent the loss.

A Historic Shutout

U.S. goalie Aerin Frankel achieved a significant milestone, becoming the first female goalie in Olympic history to record three shutouts in a single tournament. After the match, she credited her defense for making her job easier, saying, “The team is playing so well defensively.”

Upcoming Gold Medal Match

The U.S. will compete for gold on February 19 at 1:10 p.m. ET, facing the winner of the Canada vs. Switzerland match. Hayley Scamurra emphasized the team’s motivation, stating, “This has been our end goal and we’re one step from that.”

• Gold medal game: February 19, 1:10 p.m. ET
• Bronze medal game for Sweden: February 19, 8:40 a.m. ET

Sweden, while disappointed, is eager for their chance in the bronze medal match, aiming to secure their first medal since their silver finish in Torino 2006. Hanna Olsson remarked, “We are really pumped up for the bronze medal game.”