The United States and Canadian Women's teams met the last weekend of 2012, in a friendly series of matches at the John Rose Oval in Roseville, Minnesota. The teams used this set of games to give new players a taste of international competition, and to stay tuned up during an off year for the World Championships. In a four game series, it was the Canadians getting the best of their hosts 3-1, in four tightly contested games.

 

Defense was the keyword in the series, with a total of only nine goals being scored in four games. Many new players appeared on the rosters of both teams, giving further hope to both programs. Bri Carlson, Amy Stech, Kristen Oney, Chelsea Wasmoen & Meghan Gess saw their first international matches for the United States, while Canada had three newcomers of their own in Kerri Anne Tyschinski, Julie Johnson & Taylor Homenick.

 

In game one, it was the U.S. that jumped out to a 3-0 halftime lead and then had to hang on in the wake of a relentless Canadian attack. Rookie Amy Stech out of the University of Maine tallied her first goal, in her first game, to open the scoring for the U.S. She was set up by fellow rookie Meghan Gess, another promising new prospect. Stech would also assist on the American's third goal, when she set up Co-Captain Sharon Cole with a perfect cross ice pass as Cole slipped past the Canadian defenders and in all alone. Annie Simmons would sandwich a goal in between Stech and Cole, knocking a loose ball out of the air and past Canada's goalkeeper, Amy Clarkson. Sarah Ahlquist held the lead in nets for the Americans, stopping several difficult shots, including a partial breakaway, to preserve her first shutout in international play, and the victory for the home team.

 

Game One

 

USA         3

Canada    0

 

-----------------------------------------------------

 

Game two, a 2-0 shutout for Canada, was highlighted by two goals on penalty shots by sisters Ainsley and Andrea Ferguson, and goaltender Amy Clarkson stopping a penalty shot for the Canadians to gain the shutout.

 

Game Two

 

Canada    2

USA         0

 

-----------------------------------------------------

 

Game three would be another victory for Canada, this time by a final of 2-1. The game was highlighted by rookie Julie Johnson scored her first goal in international play for the Canadians, and Sarah Ahlquist stopping a penalty shot to keep the game within' reach for the Americans. The U.S. would finally score on a corner stroke with a little under 13:00 left in the game, but three minutes later, Canada would be awarded a penalty shot, and would convert on it for the final margin of victory.

 

Game Three

 

Canada    2

USA         1

 

-----------------------------------------------------

 

The finale would be a defensive battle, the product of two teams that had been gradually tightening down their defensive shells as the weekend progressed. The game would eventually be won by the Canadians 1-0 on a goal by Lindsay Burns.

 

Game Four

 

Canada     1

USA          0

 

-----------------------------------------------------

 

Preparations for both teams will continue through February of 2014, when the Women's World Championship of Bandy will take place in a location yet to be determined.