Canada has beat the US in women's hockey every Olympics since 1998. It was tight, but they finally won it in a shootout 3 - 2. U.S. women dethrone Canada, win gold in SO
U.S. women end Canada's reign, win gold medal after 3-2 shootout
GANGNEUNG, South Korea -- The Americans' gold medal drought in women's hockey is finally over. They needed the first shootout in an Olympic women's final to do it, too.
Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson scored a dazzling, triple-deke goal in the sixth round of a shootout thriller and Maddie Rooney stuffed the last two Canadians to wrap up a 3-2 victory over archrival Canada on Thursday.
The Americans piled over the boards, throwing gloves in the air before huddling and hugging on the ice -- 20 years after their last gold medal in women's hockey and 38 years to the day after the men's famous "Miracle on Ice" victory over the Russians in group play at Lake Placid.
Russians in group play at Lake Placid.
The United States won gold in women's hockey for the first time since the sport debuted in the 1998 Winter Games. AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
"I can't put it into words," defenseman Kacey Bellamy said. "This whole year is for everyone that came before us. This is for Julie Chu (former USA team captain) and for all our families at home, the schools that we went to, everyone supporting us."
Lamoureux-Davidson's shootout goal was the talk of the game. She feinted a wrist shot, then drew Shannon Szabados out of the net by faking a backhand and came back to slide the puck past Szabados' outstretched leg into the open net for the clinching score.
Her twin, Monique Lamoureux-Morando, said coach Peter Elander, now at Ohio State, had taught the sisters the shootout move when the three were at the University of North Dakota.
"Not everyone can take the pressure like that, and she took it like a champ," she said.
Gigi Marvin and Amanda Kessel also scored in the shootout, another nail-biter ending four years after Canada won its fourth-straight gold medal in Sochi after rallying to stun the Americans in overtime.
Lamoureux-Morando tied it up with a breakaway with 6:21 left in regulation. Hilary Knight also had a goal, and Rooney was spectacular, making 29 saves for the win. The 20-year-old goalie stopped the last two Canadian shooters in the shootout in Brianne Jenner and then Meghan Agosta on her second attempt.
It was sweet redemption for the 10 Americans who watched the Canadians snatch gold away in Sochi. Not only did the Americans end the Canadians' stranglehold on Olympic gold, they ended a skid of five straight against their rival coming into this game, including a 2-1 loss in the tournament a week ago.
"It is everything for our country," U.S. coach Robb Stauber said. "I am just so thankful for the outcome. It was a thrilling final. It was unreal."
GANGNEUNG, South Korea -- The Americans' gold medal drought in women's hockey is finally over. They needed the first shootout in an Olympic women's final to do it, too.
Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson scored a dazzling, triple-deke goal in the sixth round of a shootout thriller and Maddie Rooney stuffed the last two Canadians to wrap up a 3-2 victory over archrival Canada on Thursday.
The Americans piled over the boards, throwing gloves in the air before huddling and hugging on the ice -- 20 years after their last gold medal in women's hockey and 38 years to the day after the men's famous "Miracle on Ice" victory over the Russians in group play at Lake Placid.
Russians in group play at Lake Placid.
The United States won gold in women's hockey for the first time since the sport debuted in the 1998 Winter Games. AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
"I can't put it into words," defenseman Kacey Bellamy said. "This whole year is for everyone that came before us. This is for Julie Chu (former USA team captain) and for all our families at home, the schools that we went to, everyone supporting us."
Lamoureux-Davidson's shootout goal was the talk of the game. She feinted a wrist shot, then drew Shannon Szabados out of the net by faking a backhand and came back to slide the puck past Szabados' outstretched leg into the open net for the clinching score.
Her twin, Monique Lamoureux-Morando, said coach Peter Elander, now at Ohio State, had taught the sisters the shootout move when the three were at the University of North Dakota.
"Not everyone can take the pressure like that, and she took it like a champ," she said.
Gigi Marvin and Amanda Kessel also scored in the shootout, another nail-biter ending four years after Canada won its fourth-straight gold medal in Sochi after rallying to stun the Americans in overtime.
Lamoureux-Morando tied it up with a breakaway with 6:21 left in regulation. Hilary Knight also had a goal, and Rooney was spectacular, making 29 saves for the win. The 20-year-old goalie stopped the last two Canadian shooters in the shootout in Brianne Jenner and then Meghan Agosta on her second attempt.
It was sweet redemption for the 10 Americans who watched the Canadians snatch gold away in Sochi. Not only did the Americans end the Canadians' stranglehold on Olympic gold, they ended a skid of five straight against their rival coming into this game, including a 2-1 loss in the tournament a week ago.
"It is everything for our country," U.S. coach Robb Stauber said. "I am just so thankful for the outcome. It was a thrilling final. It was unreal."
