Coyne Schofield scores 2 goals as
US routs Italy 6-0 to advance to Olympic women's hockey semifinals
[February 14, 2026]
By JOHN WAWROW
MILAN (AP) — The upstart Italians didn’t make it easy on the
Americans, and that’s everything veteran forward Kelly Pannek could
have asked for as the top-seeded U.S. continued its run through the
Olympic women’s hockey tournament.
A festive atmosphere, a determined opponent, a little chippiness and
a 6-0 win in which 13 players — led by Kendall Coyne Schofield’s two
goals — registered at least a point.
“It feels like right now we’re finding different ways within our
identity to get the job done,” Pannek said. “And it’s taken every
single person on the ice on our team and our staff to do it. And it
feels like we’re still building to what we really can be.”
After a first period in which the Americans out-shot Italy 20-2, but
only led 1-0 on Megan Keller’s goal, the U.S finally broke through
with a five-goal second period.
Laila Edwards, Hannah Bilka and Britta Curl-Salemme also scored.
Gwyneth Philips finished with six saves as the Americans posted
their fourth straight shutout.
The Group A-winning U.S. has outscored its opponents by a combined
26-1 in winning all five games, with the lone goal allowed in a 5-1
tournament-opening win over Czechia.
With Coyne Schofield, Lee Stecklein and Grace Zumwinkle making the
scoresheet Friday, the U.S. has only two skaters — defenders Cayla
Barnes and Rory Guilday — without a point.
“At the other day I think it’s everyone’s willing to do whatever it
takes to be a part of the success of this team,” Coyne Schofield
said. “And whatever role’s asked of us on a given night that’s what
we’re going to do.”
Now two wins away from winning its third Olympic gold medal, the
U.S. advanced to the semifinals on Monday. The Americans will play
either Sweden, after the Group B winner upset Czechia 2-0 earlier in
the day, or Germany, should the seventh-seeded team knock off Canada
in its quarterfinal on Saturday.
Finland faces Switzerland in the other quarterfinal on Saturday.
The game on Friday featured dueling chants, with each chorus of
“USA! USA! USA!” met with an even louder “EEE-TA-LIA!”
Italy stood little chance making its second Olympic appearance, each
time as the host team. Advancing to the knockout round was
considered an accomplishment for the Italians, who went 2-2 in the
preliminary round, and after going 0-4 at the 2006 Turin Games.
Goalie Gabriella Durante stole the show by stopping 19 of 20 shots
through the opening period, and 45 overall.
“There’s definitely obviously sadness and disappointment, but at the
same time, I don’t think the team has any regrets in how hard we
played,” said Durante, who noted the team watched the movie
“Miracle,” about the U.S. men's run in the 1980 Olympics as
motivation the night before.
“We were just believing from the very start. And obviously the
second it got away from us a little bit but at the same time like
it’s the best in the world,” she added. “I’ll remember it for the
rest of my life, the crowd specifically, the atmosphere.”
Things also got heated following a scuffle after Bilka scored to put
the U.S. up 6-0 late in the second period. As Abbey Murphy and
Italy’s Franziska Stocker were sent off for penalties, U.S. coach
John Wroblewski began shouting across the bench at Italy coach Eric
Bouchard.
Wroblewski said he was unhappy with the calls seeming to favor the
Italians, because Murphy stepped in after Bilka was cross-checked
from behind.
[to top of second column] |
Team United States players celebrate after a goal by Britta Curl,
center top, during the second period of a women's ice hockey
quarterfinal match between the United States and Italy at the 2026
Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP
Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
“I think his team got frustrated for sure,”
Bouchard said. “They’re the best hockey team in the world, and they
found a way to capitalize on their chances. But that third period,
the girls never quit.”
Sweden upsets Czechia 2-0
Coach Ulf Lundberg declared “the time is now” for Sweden before the
women’s hockey tournament opened.
A little more than a week and five wins later, his young, talented
and fearless team has delivered.
Hanna Olsson scored, Ebba Traff Svensson stopped 29 shots and Sweden
upset Czechia 2-0 on Friday to advance to the semifinal round for
the first time in 12 years.
“It’s a wonderful feeling,” Lundberg said of a team that has
finished no better than sixth at the past five world championships.
“Going back to the worlds in the Czech Republic, we were close. But
everyone talks about when are they going to take the step to the
semifinal? And now we have done it. I’m so satisfied.”
After Olsson scored a power-play goal 4:47 into the second period,
Hilda Svensson sparked a huge celebration by sealing the victory
with an empty-net goal with 25 seconds remaining.
Sweden had not advanced to the semifinals since finishing fourth at
the 2014 Sochi Games. And the nation is in position to earn its
third Olympic medal, and first since winning silver at the 2006
Turin Games, when Sweden upset the U.S. in the semifinals.
The Swedes feature a young, talented roster made up of a core of the
team that won silver at the 2018 Under-18 championships. There are
eight players 22 and younger, with seven currently competing at U.S.
colleges. They include Svensson, the 19-year-old Ohio State
freshman, who’s tied for seventh in the nation with 44 points (15
goals, 29 assists) in 26 games.
Sweden entered the quarterfinals as the tournament’s sixth seed
after going 4-0 through preliminary round play to win the Group B
title.
Czechia’s Klara Peslarova finished with 21 saves.
The loss was a major disappointment for a Czech team on the rise
since finishing seventh in its Olympic debut at the 2022 Beijing
Games. Czechia has since won two bronze medals — its first in
women’s play — and finished fourth twice over the past four world
championships.
“There’s just no words for this. It hurts. It’s going to hurt for a
long time,” Natalie Mlynkova said. “We were supposed to have this
one.”
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved
|
