Team USA celebrate after winning women's ice hockey final against Canada at Gangneung Hockey Centre, in Gangneung, South Korea, Feb. 18, 2018. The United States beat Canada in shootout to win the women's ice hockey gold medal at the Winter Olympic Games here on Thursday. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)
PYEONGCHANG, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The United States of American won its second Olympic gold medal in women's ice hockey Thursday afternoon, upsetting four-time champion Canada 3-2 after shootout at PyeongChang Olympics.
The two powerhouses have traded world titles and Olympic medals since the 1990s. They have also been the only two women's ice hockey teams ever to win an Olympic gold medal. The Americans triumphed only once in the inaugural tournament in 1998.
Before the clash at the Gangneung Ice Hockey center on Thursday, the Americans vowed not to leave tears in the final, only it's for a happy victory and they exhibited winning power to lead the opener 1-0.
The defending champion Canadian came from behind strong to score two points in the second period, but the determined Americans brought the game to overtime with a goal by Monqiue Lamoureux-Morando.
In the thrilling penalty shootout, Maddie Rooney, the 20-year-old American goalie, came up with one final stop to the goal by Meghan Agosta, and the U.S. nailed the victory 3-2.
"It is everything for our country. I can't tell you how happy I am for our players. I am just so thankful for the outcome. It was a thrilling final, it was unreal," said the U.S. head coach Robb Stauber.
Disappointed, the Canadians did not cave in.
"It is not a good feeling at all. You work for four years for this and you dream about it every day and when it does not come true it is a tough pill to swallow," said Natalie Spooner. "This is something you will never forget and will use for motivation going forward."
On Wednesday, Finland won its third Olympic bronze medal in women's ice hockey after upsetting Russia 3-2.
Previously, the Finns won the bronze first in Nagano of Japan in 1998, when the event was introduced to the Olympics, and then in Vancouver of Canada in 2010.
