Team USA fails to hold onto 2-0 lead, loses to Canada in women’s gold-medal game

By Michael Caples –

They had a 2-0 lead through 56 minutes of play. They hit the post on an empty net. They had numerous chances in overtime.

They will have to wait another four years for gold.

In the final game of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, Team USA watched a 2-0 lead evaporate in the closing moments, and then lost to their archrival Canada in overtime.

Marie-Philip Poulin, who scored both of Team Canada’s goals in their 2-0 victory over the U.S. in the 2010 gold-medal game, scored the game-tying goal and the game-winning goal for Canada in the 2014 edition.

Captain Meghan Duggan and Alex Carpenter scored for the American squad, while Jessie Vetter stopped 28 of the 31 shots she faced.

The U.S. women have not won gold in the Olympics since the sport’s first inclusion in the Winter Games in 1998, now falling to Canada in the gold-medal game in 2002, 2010 and 2014 (Sweden won it all in 2006).

The two clubs played to a scoreless tie through the first 20 minutes, despite multiple power-play opportunities for the U.S.

Duggan was the first to find the back of the net, firing a shot to the top corner past Canada goaltender Shannon Szabados, with help from a crowd out front. The goal, set up by Jocelyne Lamoureux, came at the 11:57 mark of the second period.

Team USA took advantage of an early power play in the third, when Hilary Knight sent a pass through the legs of a defender and onto the stick of Carpenter for the Americans’ second goal.

Brianne Jenner pulled Canada within one goal with 3:26 left in regulation, after her shot hit an American defender’s leg and got past Vetter.

A clearing attempt by Kelli Stack with a minute and a half left in regulation sent the puck all the way down the ice and almost into an empty net after Canada had pulled their goaltender. The puck hit the post instead of going across the goal line, giving Canada life once again.

They took advantage of the opportunity. Marie-Philip Poulin took advantage of a turnover, grabbing the puck in the slot with time to deke Vetter and score the game-tying goal with 55 seconds remaining.

Overtime was next – and the Americans applied early pressure. Led by Knight and Stack, the U.S. had numerous chances, but they could not find the back of the net once more.

A turnover in the Canadian end resulted in a rush up ice for Haley Wickenheiser, forcing Knight to haul her down and take a penalty.

Poulin scored on the power play as a result of the penalty, once again serving as hero for Team Canada.

USA Hockey will have a chance at a bit of revenge tomorrow, when the men take on Team Canada in the semifinals of their Olympic tournament.