2017-18 National Women's Team

U.S. TOPS CANADA IN 4 NATIONS CUP FINALE

JEMMA YOUNG

TAMPA, Fla. – Meghan Agosta (Ruthven, Ont.) scored midway through the third period to pull Canada’s National Women’s Team within a goal, but it ultimately dropped a 5-1 decision to the United States in the gold medal game Sunday at the 2017 4 Nations Cup.

The game marked the 20th time in 22 tournaments the North American rivals have met for gold; in head-to-head finals, the Canadians still lead 12-8.

The teams swapped chances in a scoreless first period, with Canada holding an 8-7 advantage in shots on goal.

Thirty-five minutes of back-and-forth action finally gave way to scoring, with Hannah Brandt getting the Americans on the board at 15:06 of the second period.

She added a second goal just 1:43 later, this one on the power play, sending the U.S. to the dressing room up 2-0.

Agosta got one back just past the midway mark of the third period with the Canadians on the man advantage, finishing a pretty passing play with Haley Irwin (Thunder Bay, Ont./Calgary, CWHL) and Brigette Lacquette (Mallard, Man./Calgary, CWHL) to make it a 2-1 game.

Canada ran into penalty trouble in the third period, slowing its momentum with five minors.

Hilary Knight and Amanda Kessel took advantage of the extra American body, adding two to the U.S. lead with less than four minutes to go before Kendall Coyne finished the scoring in the dying seconds.

Geneviève Lacasse (Kingston, Ont./Calgary, CWHL) made 22 saves in the Canadian goal; the U.S. finished with a 27-20 edge in shots.