2018-19 National Women's Development Team

DEVELOPMENT TEAM EDGED BY U.S. IN SERIES FINALE

JESSICA GOWANS

CALGARY, Alta. - Emma Maltais (Burlington, Ont./Ohio State University, WCHA) scored and Tricia Deguire (Sherbrooke, Que./McGill University, RSEQ) made 22 saves, but Canada’s National Women’s Development Team fell 2-1 on Sunday in the final game of its three-game series against the United States.

With the goal, Maltais led Canada in series scoring with two points (1G 1A). Ryleigh Houston (Winnipeg, Man./University of Minnesota Duluth, WCHA), Sophie Shirley (Saskatoon, Sask./University of Wisconsin, WCHA), Daryl Watts (Toronto, Ont./Boston College, HE), and Sarah Fillier (Georgetown, Ont./Princeton University, ECAC) had a point each.

Deguire was solid throughout, making several point-blank stops in the second and third to keep the game close and give the Canadians a chance to win it.

Canada controlled much of the first period, outshooting the U.S. 13-5, but it was the Americans on the board first with a power-play goal late in the opening frame - Grace Zumwinkle wired a shot from the left face-off dot that Clair DeGeorge tipped over the shoulder of Deguire for the 1-0 lead.

Maltais' goal pulled Canada even midway through the second period; she won a puck battle at the blue-line and fought through two American defenders on the breakaway before snapping it past netminder Maddie Rooney.

Maureen Murphy’s goal in the third, her second in as many days, wound up being the game-winner for the Americans. Caitrin Lonergan skated in on the rush and fired a shot that was turned away by Deguire, but Murphy pounced on the rebound and managed to poke it past the Canadian goalie.

Canada pushed hard for the equalizer in the third period after the U.S. went ahead, outshooting the Americans 8-7 in the frame, but couldn’t solve Rooney.