NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
The US women’s hockey team’s dominant streak continued with a 6-0 quarterfinal victory over Italy on Friday at the Milan Rho Ice Hockey Arena to advance to the Olympic semifinals.
Entering the single-elimination game against Italy, Team USA had outscored its opponents 20-1 in four games, including a 5-0 shutout against Team Canada.
The team’s phenomenal play continued against Italy. It was their fourth consecutive shutout, extending Team USA’s shutout streak to 271 minutes.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
Team USA players celebrate a goal by Kendall Coyne, second from left, during the second period of a women’s ice hockey quarterfinal game against Italy at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Feb. 13, 2026. (Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo)
Team USA scored their first goal when both teams had only four players on the ice due to penalties by both teams. Alex Carpenter cleanly won a faceoff against Megan Keller. Keller passed it to Laila Edwards, who immediately passed it back to Keller, and she buried a one-timer in the back of the net to give Team USA a 1-0 lead.
Team USA dominated the first period, outscoring Italy 20-2. Italian goalkeeper Gabriella Durante made a brilliant save to end the first half when she reached behind her with her stick to deflect Abbey Murphy’s shot in the final minute of the half.
Italy had a golden opportunity to get on the scoreboard in the first period when Justine Reyes broke away, but the chance was thwarted by Team USA goalkeeper Gwyneth Philips.
Team USA’s second goal came 1:41 into the second period on a sharp-angle shot by Kendall Coyne Schofield. He buried the rebound in the corners from the goal line and scored it against Durante.
TEAM USA WOMEN’S HOCKEY BEATS FINLAND AT MILAN CORTINA GAMES AND TIES OLYMPIC RECORD
U.S. players celebrate after a goal by Britta Curl, center, during the second period of a women’s ice hockey quarterfinal game against Italy at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Feb. 13, 2026. (Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo)
Coyne Schofield wasn’t done. She scored her second goal of the period by dragging her toe after a sweet passing play from Britta Curl and Grace Zumwinkle left her one-on-one with Durante to make it 3-0.
Edwards added to the second-half rush with the team’s third goal in a span of 3½ minutes and the second in 26 seconds. Edwards was in the slot and shot through a crowd in front of Durante and into the top corner of the net to give Team USA a 4-0 lead.
Team USA found itself on the penalty spot after a boarding penalty by Rory Guilday, but scored the team’s fifth goal of the game while shorthanded.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pak Gazette APP
U.S. players walk onto the ice as fans clap each other before the first period of a women’s ice hockey quarterfinal game between the United States and Italy at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Feb. 13, 2026. (Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo)
Team USA scored five goals in a 25-minute span, the same time it took for Italy to register its third shot of the game.
Hannah Bilka scored Team USA’s sixth goal of the game off a deft pass from Taylor Heise, and after the goal, tempers flared. After the goal, both teams threw punches and the coaches on both benches barked at each other.
As the second period concluded, the United States outshot Italy 39-4. No goals were scored in the third period and Team USA outscored Italy 51-6 overall.
Team USA will play in the semifinals on Monday at 10:40 a.m. ET.
