2010-11 National Women's Under-18 Team

DESBIENS STRONG, BUT U18S FALL TO U.S. IN SERIES OPENER

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – Gabrielle Davidson (Pointe Claire, Que.) opened the scoring and Ann-Renée Desbiens (La Malbaie, Que.) made 38 saves, but it wasn’t enough for Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team dropped a 4-1 decision to the United States on Wednesday in the opener of a three-game series.

With the loss, Canada’s all-time summer under-18 record against the U.S. drops to 6-4.

It looked good off the opening face-off for Canada, as it had a power play chance within the first 38 seconds and took a 1-0 lead when Davidson took a pass from Katy Josephs (Cochrane, Alta.) and beat American netminder Megan Miller just shy of the midway point of the period.

But a parade to the penalty box killed the Canadian momentum. Four-consecutive American power plays before the end of the first period turned the tide in favour of the hosts, and Emily Pfalzer pulled the U.S. even with an unassisted effort at the 19:40 mark.

While the Canadians stayed out of the box in the middle frame, a lack of offence kept it from retaking the lead. Canada managed just five shots in the second period, was outshot 31-8 in the first 40 minutes and trailed 3-1 after two thanks to two Haley Skarupa goals in a span of 43 seconds.

Canada made a push in the third period, directing 11 shots at Miller, but it would be the U.S. who scored the lone goal of the period, off the stick of Layla Marvin, to round out the scoring.

Overall, the Americans held a 42-19 advantage in shots on goal.

The teams return to the ice at the Lake Placid Olympic Center on Thursday afternoon (4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT) before closing out the series on Saturday (10 a.m. ET/7 a.m. PT).   

Goals/Buts : 
09:33 CAN Gabrielle Davidson (Katy Josephs)
19:40 USA Emily Pfalzer

Penalties/Pénalités : 
00:38 USA Paige Savage (Hooking/Accrocher)
04:07 CAN Cydney Roesler (Tripping/Faire trébucher)
06:30 CAN Gabrielle Davidson (Tripping/Faire trébucher)
11:35 CAN Jennifer Shields (Interference/Obstruction)
16:28 CAN Cydney Roesler (Body Checking/Mise en échec corporelle)

Goals/Buts : 
04:30 USA Haley Skarupa (Layla Marvin)
05:13 USA Haley Skarupa

Penalties/Pénalités : 
05:26 CAN Cydney Roesler (Hooking/Accrocher)

Goals/Buts : 
11:23 USA Layla Marvin (Karley Sylvester)

Penalties/Pénalités : 
05:56 CAN Cydney Roesler (Body Checking/Mise en échec corporelle)
14:15 CAN Cayley Mercer (Hooking/Accrocher)