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The Team USA women’s hockey team’s dominant run continued with a 6-0 quarterfinal victory over Italy on Friday at Milan’s Rho Ice Hockey Arena to advance to the Olympic semifinals.
Entering the single-elimination match against Italy, Team USA had outscored opponents 20-1 in four games, including a 5-0 shutout of Team Canada.
The team’s phenomenal play continued against Italy. It was their fourth straight shutout, extending Team USA’s shutout streak to 271 minutes.
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Team United States players celebrate a goal by Kendall Coyne, second from left, during the second period of a women’s ice hockey quarterfinal match against Italy at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 13, 2026. (Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo)
Team USA scored its first goal when both teams only had four players on the ice due to penalties by both teams. Alex Carpenter won a faceoff cleanly back to 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. Italy goalkeeper Gabriella Durante made a scintillating save to end the first period, reaching behind her with her stick to deflect Abbey Murphy’s shot away in the final minute of the period.
Italy had a golden chance to get on the scoreboard in the first period when Justine Reyes had a breakaway, but the opportunity was thwarted by Team USA goalkeeper Gwyneth Philips.
Team USA’s second goal came 1:41 into the second period on a sharp shot from Kendall Coyne Schofield. She buried the rebound off the end boards from the goal line and tapped it in from Durante.
TEAM USA WOMEN’S HOCKEY POWER TO FINLAND AT MILAN CORTINA GAMES, OLYMPIC RECORD
U.S. players celebrate after a goal by Britta Curl, center top, during the second period of a women’s ice hockey quarterfinal match against Italy at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 13, 2026. (Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo)
Coyne Schofield wasn’t done. She scored her second goal of the period on a toe pull 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 avalanche in the second period with the team’s third goal at 3½ minutes and their second goal at 26 seconds. Edwards was in the slot and smashed a shot through a crowd in front of Durante into the top corner of the net to make it a 4-0 lead for Team USA.
Team USA found themselves on the penalty kill following a Rory Guilday boarding penalty, but scored the team’s fifth goal of the game while shorthanded.
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U.S. players take to the ice as fans reach out to clap hands before the first period of a women’s ice hockey quarterfinal match between the United States and Italy at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, on February 13, 2026. (Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo)
Team USA scored five goals in a span of 25 minutes, the same time it took Italy to register its third shot of the game.
Hannah Bilka scored Team USA’s sixth goal of the game on a smart pass from Taylor Heise, and after the goal tempers flared. Punches were thrown from both teams after the goal, and the coaches from both benches barked at each other.
At the end of the second period, the USA outscored 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.
