The knockout round has begun, and the U.S. women’s hockey team looks just as dominant as ever.
Team USA beat Italy 6-0 in a quarterfinal matchup at Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena in Milano on Friday, Feb. 13. The win knocked Italy out of the competition and advanced the U.S. to the semifinal
The U.S. women have now outscored their opponents, 26-1, through their first five games, which included a dominating 5-0 win over Canada. Italy, meanwhile, advanced to the knockout round after two surprising wins in the preliminary round, bringing the Italian women’s hockey team to the Olympic quarterfinals for the first time in history.
But already looking like the most dominant team in the tournament, Team USA exploded with five second-period goals to knock out the host Italians.
Watch the Winter Olympics on Peacock
Team USA forward Kendall Coyne Schofield led the way with two goals in the second period, as the U.S. notched three goals in a four-minute span. They now stand two wins away from their first Olympic gold medal since 2018, looking to avenge a silver-medal result at Beijing in 2022.
Since teams are re-seeded following the quarterfinal round, the U.S. must wait until tomorrow’s results to find out who they are playing in the semifinal round.
Here’s how the U.S.’s quarterfinal win went down.
USA finishes off 6-0 win over Italy
FINAL: USA 6, Italy 0.
The third period was mostly uneventful as Team USA finished off a 6-0 win over Italy to advance to the semifinal. They have now outscored all five of their opponents 26-1 so far in the tournament.
The U.S. is still waiting to know who it will play in the semifinals.
USA women’s hockey up 6-0 after two periods
End 2nd period: USA 6, Italy 0.
That’s more like it.
Great play from Italy goaltender Gabriella Francesca Durante kept the game at 1-0 after one period, but the floodgates opened for Team USA in the second, with five goals scored (and some tempers flaring from both benches).
The U.S. is outshooting the Italians 39-4. Barring a wild comeback from Italy, the U.S. will move on to the semifinals.
Hannah Bilka scores, gives USA 6-0 lead
2nd period, 1:33: USA 6, Italy 0.
A pass from forward Taylor Heise found the stick of forward Hannah Bilka right in front of the net. It’s Team USA’s fifth goal of the period.
A small scuffle broke out behind the net, with the coaches from both teams loudly exchanging words on the benches before play resumed.
Britta Curl-Salemme scores shorthanded goal, USA up 5-0
2nd period, 8:31: USA 5, Italy 0.
With Italy on a power play, Team USA forward Britta Curl-Salemme powered through a goal to give the U.S. a 5-0 lead over Italy midway through the second period. The U.S. successfully killed the penalty soon after, extending their 100% penalty kill success rate so far this tournament.
Laila Edwards puts USA up 4-0 over Italy
2nd period, 14:43: USA 4, Italy 0.
Team USA defender Laila Edwards scored from distance with a gaggle of players blocking the vision of Italy goaltender Gabriella Francesca Durante, marking the U.S.’s fourth goal of the game and Edwards’ second goal of the tournament.
Kendall Coyne Schofield scores second goal, USA up 3-0 over Italy
2nd period, 15:09: USA 3, Italy 0.
The goals that weren’t coming through for Team USA in the first period are coming through in the second.
Forward Kendall Coyne Schofield, fresh off her first goal of the tournament, scored her second goal of the game about five minutes into the third period. Forward Britta Curl-Salemme was credited with an assist on the goal.
Kendall Coyne Schofield gives USA 2-0 lead
2nd period, 18:19: USA 2, Italy 0.
Team USA forward Kendall Coyne Schofield scored her first goal of the tournament on a tough angle that deflected behind Italy goalie Gabriella Francesca Durante before dribbling into the net. Defender Caroline Harvey was credited with an assist, giving her a team-leading eight points so far in the tournament.
USA up 1-0 after one period
End 1st: USA 1, Italy 0.
As it has done through its first four games of the tournament, Team USA has scored in the opening period, though some excellent work from Italian goalie Gabriella Francesca Duarte kept this from being a 2-0 or even a 3-0 game early on.
Michigander Megan Keller scored during a 4-on-4 stretch with an assist from defender Laila Edwards.
Megan Keller scores, gives USA 1-0 lead
1st period, 6:29: USA 1, Italy 0.
U.S. goalie Gwyneth Philips was called for a delay of game penalty when she handled the puck behind the goal line and outside of the trapezoid. It gave Italy its first power play of the game, but a boarding penalty called on Italy defender Laura Lobis brought 4-on-4 play for 25 seconds.
Farmington Hills native Megan Keller took advantage of the opportunity, taking a pass from Laila Edwards and scoring from distance to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead.
Scoreless so far in first period
The U.S. has a 10-1 advantage over Italy in shots, including three on an early power play. However, they haven’t been able to score yet, and we are scoreless after the first seven minutes of play.
US doesn’t score on first power play
Italy captain Nadia Mattiri was called for an illegal hit penalty on U.S. forward Britta Curl-Salemme, giving the U.S. its first power play a little over three minutes into the game. The U.S. got three shots off, but Italy goalie Gabriella Francesca Durante did well to keep the puck out of the net.
Puck about to drop
The U.S. is three wins away from its first women’s hockey gold medal since 2018. First up is Italy.
Gwyneth Philips starting in goal
One big change for the U.S. is backup goalie Gwyneth Philips getting the start over Aerin Frankel. Philips started in Team USA’s 5-0 shutout against Switzerland in preliminary play, with Frankel starting in Team USA’s three other wins.
Sweden upsets Czechia 2-0
In today’s other quarterfinal matchup, Sweden beat Czechia 2-0, meaning the Group B winners will advance to the semifinals.
If the U.S. beats Italy today (and Canada beats Germany tomorrow), the U.S. will match up against Sweden in the semifinals on Monday.
USA women’s hockey projected lines
Team USA released its projected lines ahead of its quarterfinal matchup vs Italy.
Italy women’s hockey points leaders
Through four games
USA women’s hockey points leaders
Through four games
Kelly Pannek shares pregame thoughts
Team USA forward (and Plymouth, Michigan native) Kelly Pannek shared some thoughts before Friday’s quarterfinal game against Italy.
“Everybody knows that the tournament really does start now with the playoff round,” she said. “It’s building off of everything we’ve done to get here but knowing that it’s going to take something a little bit more special, a little bit different, a little bit better every single game to get the job done.”
Pannek has recorded one assist in four games as Team USA has so far routed the competition.
Italy women’s hockey results
The Italian women’s hockey team has surpassed many analysts expectations, using two wins in the preliminary round to advance to a quarterfinal matchup with the U.S.
USA women’s hockey vs Italy game time
USA women’s hockey vs Italy channel
Watch USA-Italy on Peacock
Olympic women’s hockey quarterfinal matchups
USA women’s hockey Olympic schedule
Need to catch up on the news during your lunch break? Sign up for our Sports Briefing newsletter to get daily summaries of Detroit sports!
You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: USA women’s hockey advances to Olympic semis with 6-0 win over Italy
Reporting by Christian Romo, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
