SARNIA, Ont. – Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson (Grand Forks, N.D.) and Hilary Knight (Sun Valley, Idaho) netted goals, but the U.S. Women’s National Team fell to Canada in overtime, 3-2, here tonight in an exhibition game at Progressive Auto Sales Arena in Sarnia, Ontario.
“We did a lot of good things tonight and generated a lot of scoring opportunities,” said Robb Stauber, head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team. “We had a lot of positives to build off of but we just need to close it out next time.”
Rebecca Johnston gave Canada a 1-0 lead 3:26 into the contest with a shot from the top of the right circle on a two-on-one rush.
Team USA tied the game ahead of the first intermission on a marker by Lamoureux-Davidson with 4:36 left in the opening frame. The play started when Emily Pfalzer (Getzville, N.Y.) skated down the left wing, curled toward the side boards and slid the puck to Lamoureux-Davidson, who fired a shot from the left hash marks for the goal.
The U.S. controlled the play in the second period, outshooting Canada 13-1, and earned a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes when an odd-angled shot by Knight deflected off a Canadian defender and into the net with 5:08 left in the stanza.
Nicole Hensley (Lakewood, Colo.) made a pad save on a penalty shot attempt by Amy Potomak to preserve the U.S one-goal advantage with 10:08 remaining in the final period.
Canada evened the score with just 24 seconds left in regulation on a Jennifer Wakefield one-timer from the top of the left circle.
Marie-Philip Poulin netted the game-winner for Canada 42 seconds into the extra frame.
Hensley finished with 16 saves for Team USA.
NOTES: Team USA outshot Canada, 25-19, finished 0-for-10 on the power play and 4-for-4 on the penalty kill … For the complete Team USA roster, click here … The U.S. now owns a 5-2-1-4 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record against Canada since the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia … USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan, will play host to the 2017 International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championship from March 31-April 7, 2017.
