Parsons, Team USA Win Gold at IIHF World Women's Championship

HANOVER, N.H. - Sophomore forward Sarah Parsons (Dover, Mass.) and Team USA earned the gold medal at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's Championship after surviving a late comeback by Canada to hold on for a 4-3 win.

Parsons finished the event with a goal and three assists. Former standout Cherie Piper '06 was fifth in scoring with two goals and six assists for Canada, while Katie Weatherston '06 had two goals and Gillian Apps '06 finished with with one score.

The last time the Americans won the event was in 2005. Before the 2005 championship, Canada had won every world women's title.

Team USA beat the Canadians twice during the event and went 4-1 during the week in Harbin, China. The lone loss by the Americans came against Finland in a 1-0 loss.

In the gold medal game, Canada got out to a quick start when Gina Kingsbury fed Sarah Vaillancourt the puck in the slot for the four-on-four goal just 1:57 into the game. The Americans countered with a power-play goal six minutes later to even things up at one.

Natalie Darwitz scored as Canadian goaltender Kim St-Pierre was screened on the play to give the U.S. the 2-1 advantage with just over two minutes left in the first period. The teams were evenly matched through the first period as one shot separated the two squads.

It was much of same in the second period, which was highlighted by back-and-forth action. But penalty problems popped up for Canada midway through the period and American defenseman Angela Ruggiero took full advantage, scoring the five-on-three goal to make it a two-goal lead.

The Americans took a commanding 4-1 lead late in the second period when Darwitz struck with her second goal of the game. It was solid shot, in fact perhaps a little too solid as it went through the back of the net and was only ruled a goal after a video review. The goal even caught the players on the ice off guard.

But the U.S. comfort didn't last long as Canada's offense sprang back into action, mounting a third-period comeback after nearly 50 minutes of silence. Katie Weatherston sparked the Canadians with another four-on-four goal 8:38 into the period. Just 1:10 later, it became a one-goal game as Jennifer Botterill struck with a power-play goal.

Canada put heavy pressure on the net after the goal, but the Americans settled down and focused on defense after the mid-period lapse, including killing off a five-on-three with less than five minutes left in the game. While there were many tense moments, the U.S. ultimately thwarted the comeback and held on for their second World Championship crown.

Darwitz was named the Directorate's Best Forward, while Ruggiero was dubbed the Best Defenseman. Finland's Noora Raty rounded out the awards taking home Best Goaltender and MVP honors.

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