VANTAA, Finland – Bella Fanale (Webster, N.Y.) tallied two second-period goals to lead the U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team over Sweden, 2-1, in the semifinals of the 2025 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship.
With the win, the U.S. advances to the gold medal game on Sunday (Jan. 12) against the winner of Canada and Czechia. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. EET (12 p.m. ET) and can be viewed on NHL Network.
“That took every player on our bench today,” said Liz Keady Norton (Boston, Mass.), head coach of the 2025 U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team. “Sweden is a hard-working team, but we were able to grind it out.”
The game opened with back-to-back power play opportunities for Sweden, but the U.S. penalty kill stood strong holding them off the scoresheet.
HIGHLIGHTS
The U.S.’s first quality scoring opportunity came with 3:15 remaining in the opening period. Haley Box (Eden Prairie, Minn.) created a 2-on-1 opportunity in the slot, lifting a pass to Evelyn Doyle (Needham, Mass.) who deflected the puck just into the pads of Maja Helge.
The ensuing offensive pressure resulted in a power play for Team USA, where despite heavy pressure, could not convert. The two teams entered the first intermission scoreless, with the U.S. outshooting Sweden, 14-9.
The captain, Bella Fanale (Webster, N.Y.), opened the game’s scoring 1:56 into the second period, converting a rebound off a Mary Derrenbacher (Raleigh, N.C.) shot from the right circle, just 13 seconds into a power play.
Sweden answered with a power-play goal of its own with 12:33 remaining in the second. Lovisa Engstrom deflected a shot under the pads of U.S. goaltender Morgan Stickney (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) to knot the game at 1-1.
It was the captain, once again, who gave the U.S. back a 2-1 lead with 5:47 left in the second. Fanale ripped a rising shot from the inside hash mark that beat Helge high on the stick side.
The third period proved a battle, with Team USA’s defense holding Sweden off the sheet to advance to the gold medal game.
Stickney posted 17 saves in net in the victory.
NOTES: Bella Fanale was named U.S. Player of the Game … Bella Fanale, Megan Healy and Morgan Stickney were named the U.S.’ Three Best Players of the Tournament … The U.S. outshot Sweden, 35-18 … The U.S. was 1-2 on the power play, while Sweden was 0-5.
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Source: usahockey.com