ZLIN, Czech Republic – Cayla Barnes (Corona, Calif.) netted a pair of goals and was one of four players to register multiple-point games, as the U.S. Women’s National Under-18 Team defeated Russia, 6-1, here today at PSG Arena in its opening game of the 2017 International Ice Hockey Federation Under-18 Women’s World Championship.
“We had a good all-around effort today and got better as the game went on,” said Joel Johnson, head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Under-18 Team. “It’s a good first step and we’ll build off it for tomorrow’s game against Sweden.”
Maureen Murphy (Buffalo, N.Y.) opened the scoring at 8:14 of the first period, skating in from the far boards and beating the Russian goaltender with a wrist shot over her glove hand. Clair DeGeorge (Anchorage, Alaska) and Delaney Drake (Traverse City, Mich.) assisted on the play.
Thirty-four seconds later, Natalie Heising (Maple Grove, Minn.) received an Anneke Linser (Lino Lakes, Minn.) pass from behind the net and beat the goalie with a shot from the slot to make it 2-0. That is how the opening period would end.
Just 0:55 into the second period, Barnes carried the puck into the offensive zone and used the defenseman as a screen, beating the goaltender top corner.
Taylor Wente (Plymouth, Minn.) added a goal at 11:44 off a Catherine Skaja (New Prauge, Minn.) feed to put the U.S. up 4-0.
Barnes notched her second goal of the game and extended the U.S. lead to 5-0 with a power play tally at 7:21 of third period. Linser tapped in a rebound at 11:06 of the final stanza to make it 6-0. Russia would score a goal in the final minute to make it 6-1 and that is how the game would end.
Alex Gulstene (Evanston, Ill.) stopped 14 of 15 shots she faced.
For complete game statistics, click here.
The U.S., who is 1-0-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) at this year’s event, will continue preliminary-round play at the 2017 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship when it takes on Sweden at 1:30 p.m. ET tomorrow (January 8).
NOTES: Cayla Barnes was named U.S. Player of the Game … The U.S. outshot Russia, 39-15. All games from the International Ice Hockey Federation Under-18 Women’s World Championship are being streamed live at u18worldwomen2017.iihf.com. Follow @USAHockey on Twitter for live scoring updates with the #U18WWC hashtag.
