NYKOPING, Sweden -- The U.S. Women's National Team fell to Canada, 3-1, in its second game of the 2011 Four Nations Cup. The game marked the 100th meeting between the two teams all-time.
"It was a disappointing loss, but our kids played hard," said Katey Stone, head coach of the 2011 U.S. Women's National Team. "We learned a lot tonight, and we'll be ready to go on Saturday."
After a scoreless first period, Canada took the lead at 5:40 of the second period off the stick of Jayna Hefford. But Team USA's Jocelyne Lamoureux (Grand Forks, N.D.) evened the score in the period's final minute with a shorthanded tally assisted by Molly Engstrom (Siren, Wis.).
Hayley Wickenheiser restored Canada's one-goal lead at 9:58 of the third period. Team USA pulled goalie Jessie Vetter (Cottage Grove, Wis.) on three separate occasions in the third period, but could not tally the equalizer as Canada's Caroline Ouellette sealed the victory with an empty-net goal with just 12 seconds remaining.
Vetter made 24 saves in the loss, while Charline Labonte stopped 34 shots in the victory.
The U.S. Women's National Team, which holds a 1-0-0-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L) overall record at the tournament, will face Finland Saturday (Nov. 12) at 10 a.m. EST in its third and final preliminary-round game of the Four Nations Cup
