The 2025 National Women's Under-18 Team Series is officially in the books and after three hard fought, back and forth affairs, it was the United States who came away with their first series victory since 2017 after a 3-1 win in game three.
It was Canada who opened the scoring, as Rosalie Tremblay, the University of Wisconsin commit, notched her first goal of the series. She was able to sneak behind the US defence for a breakaway, tucking it behind US starter Bianca Birrittieri on the team's first shot on goal.
Not to be outdone, the Americans used their first shot on goal to achieve the same result, as Talla Hansen finished off a three-on-one in tight, tying the game at 1-1. This was the Benilde-St. Margaret's forward's first goal of the series. Both teams traded chances throughout the rest of the opening frame but the score remained tied, 1-1, heading into intermission.
The US was able to capitalize on their scoring chances in the second frame, as Annabelle Lovell, a commit of the University of Minnesota, scored her first of the series to give the Americans their first lead of the game. While the Canadians carried the pace of play throughout much of the period, the US remained patient and it paid off, as they went to the dressing room up 2-1 with a chance to close it out.
The third period was dictated by the aggressive play from the US side. The Canadians looked disjointed for stretches, and they were unable to move the puck well, which had been a strength for the team heading into the game.
The lone goal of the period was scored by the US, as University of Minnesota-Duluth commit Alaina Gnetz found the back of the net for her first of the series, making it 3-1, the Americans largest lead of the series. Despite pulling their goaltender for the final 4:27 of the game, Canada was unable to mount a comeback, and the United States came away with the 3-1 victory, their first series win in eight years.
A storyline of this series from the Canadian side was special teams, as they were once again let down by the player advantage. Canada finished this game 0-for-3, and 2-for-12 overall in the series, and were never really able to get set up, as the US blocked shots, cleared rebounds quickly and kept the play to the boards.
Rowan Houweling, a commit of Ohio State, saw her first action of the series for Canada and finished with 17 saves. At the other end, Bianca Birrittieri returned to the net for the second straight game and made 21 saves, and capping off a strong showing with her second win, helping her to finish with a .944 save percentage.
This series was a showcase of the strengths of both teams. Strong back checks, hard drives to the net, positionally sound defensive plays and athletic goaltending all highlight the level of skill found in the junior ranks in both countries.