Workforce USA is headed to the gold medal sport in ladies’s hockey.
America ladies’s hockey group booked their spot within the closing sport with a dominant efficiency towards Sweden, successful 5-0. Workforce USA broke the sport open throughout a dominant stretch within the second interval, and can now look to safe the gold medal later this week.
Cayla Barnes opened the scoring for Workforce USA simply over 5 minutes into the competition, ripping a shot from the slot glove-side previous the goalie to stake the US to an early 1-0 lead:
The purpose got here after an prolonged interval of stress from the US, as they labored the puck across the offensive finish masterfully earlier than Barnes’ purpose.
Right here’s one other take a look at the early purpose from Workforce USA:
The groups headed to the primary intermission with the US main 1-0, however the scoreboard informed simply a part of the story. That scoreless first interval from Sweden prolonged Workforce USA’s record-setting no-goals-allowed streak, which dates again to their first sport on the 2026 Winter Olympics towards Czechia. America outshot Sweden 13-2 within the first interval, and Workforce USA’s offensive stress left one feeling that the dam would quickly break.
The dam held because the second interval started, as Sweden loved a sustained interval of offensive stress within the opening two minutes and doubled their shot complete. Sweden outshot the US 5-1 by means of the primary 5 minutes of the second interval, conserving Workforce USA goalie Aerin Frankel busy.
Then Sweden secured their first energy play alternative of the sport, as Hayley Scamurra was whistled for tripping with 14 minutes left within the second interval. However Workforce USA killed the penalty, as Frankel made a a pair of saves to maintain the sport at 1-0.
America practically scored proper after the penalty expired throughout a flurry of exercise in entrance of the web, with Hillary Knight amongst these with an opportunity at doubling Workforce USA’s lead. Whereas Sweden held throughout that change, they didn’t just a few moments later:
Workforce USA roared out to a 2-on-1 break with Hannah Bilka and Taylor Heise, with Bilka feeding Heise late for the second purpose of the sport. Bilka did an incredible job promoting the shot, earlier than making the feed late.
Workforce USA prolonged that lead late within the second interval, following a defensive breakdown from Sweden in their very own finish. Abbey Murphy snuck behind the protection, earlier than roofing an absolute missile by the goalie for Workforce USA’s third purpose of the sport.
Then it was over to Kendall Coyne Schofield, who deflected a Laila Edwards rocket from the slot.
With a pair of objectives in just below one minute, the dam had certainly damaged, as Sweden turned to their backup goalie.
However that didn’t matter, as Workforce USA scored their fourth purpose of the second interval, and their third in as many minutes, from Schmarra off an ideal feed from Britta Curl.
You’ll be able to see all three objectives right here:
It was an incredible response from Workforce USA, after Sweden loved the run of play to start the second interval. After being outshot throughout that stretch, the US roared to life to take management of the competition. When the horn sounded for the second intermission, the scoreboard did inform the complete story.
Workforce USA largely managed the tempo of play alongside the perimeter throughout the third interval, salting away the 5-0 win. They nonetheless haven’t conceded a purpose since their opening sport towards Czechia, and Monday’s sport was their fifth consecutive shutout. They haven’t allowed a purpose in over 16 intervals.
America will now face the winner of the opposite semi-final between Switzerland and Canada, which will likely be performed later in the present day. Workforce USA has defeated each groups 5-0 already on the 2026 Winter Olympics. Switzerland-Canada will begin at 3:10 p.m. Japanese Time on Monday.
The gold medal sport is ready for Thursday at 1:10 p.m. Japanese Time.
