ČESKÉ BUDĚJOVICE, Czechia – Behind a stellar 12-save shutout from Aerin Frankel (Chappaqua, N.Y./Boston Fleet), the U.S. Women’s National Team topped Germany 3-0, advancing to the semifinals of the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship at Budvar Arena.
“Today was an important game, we battled and continued to fight,” said John Wroblewski (Nennah, Wis.), head coach of the 2025 U.S. Women’s National Team. “Germany is a tough, physical team and we stuck to our game and got the win.”
The U.S. opened the game with a flurry of offense, launching the first nine shots on goal. It was the sixth shot that found the back of the net, with Abbey Murphy (Evergreen Park, Ill./University of Minnesota) hitting Kelly Pannek (Plymouth, Minn./Minnesota Frost) with a cross-ice pass. Pannek one-timed the puck past German goaltender Sandra Abstreiter, putting the U.S. up 1-0 with 14:24 left in the first period.
Lacey Eden (Annapolis, Md./University of Wisconsin) doubled the U.S. lead with 9:10 remaining in the opening frame. Taylor Heise (Lake City, Minn./Minnesota Frost) carried the puck into the zone, circling before passing to an open Haley Winn (Rochester, N.Y./Clarkson University) at the point. Winn’s shot was blocked, but Eden swooped in to lace the puck into the top corner.
With just 1:07 left in the second period, Alex Carpenter (North Reading, Mass./New York Sirens) scored, bouncing a puck off a sliding German defender and through Abstreiter’s five hole, extending the U.S. lead to 3-0. Hilary Knight (Sun Valley, Idaho/Boston Fleet) forced the turnover at the blue line that led to Carpenter's goal.
The third period featured a back-and-forth pace, but neither team could find the net. The U.S. outshot Germany 51-12, demonstrating their offensive dominance throughout the match. Despite being held scoreless on the power play, going 0-4, the Americans maintained control of the game.
Next up, the U.S. will face Czechia in the semifinal round on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Puck drop is set for 3 p.m. CET (9 a.m. ET) and can be viewed live on NHL Network. The matchup promises to be exciting as the U.S. aims to continue their quest for gold.
Kelly Pannek was named U.S. Player of the Game for her pivotal role in the victory.
Meanwhile, in another quarterfinal matchup, Canada faced Japan in the final quarterfinal of the day. Canada, which finished group play in second place with three wins and one loss, dominated their group, outscoring opponents 16-1 in their three victories, including two shutouts.
The last time these two countries met in the IIHF Women’s World Championship was in 2023, where Canada routed Japan 5-0 in group play. Japan, looking to medal for the first time in this event, finished fifth in 2022, marking their best finish in the tournament's history.
Canada has participated in all 24 tournaments, boasting an impressive record of 13 wins, nine runner-ups, and one silver medal. They are tied with the United States for the most medals in the tournament but hold the edge in gold medals, with 13 to the U.S.'s 10. After winning the IIHF Women’s World Championship last year, Canada is looking to maintain their dominance, having won three of the last four tournaments.
As the quarterfinals continue, Finland faced Sweden in a battle of Scandinavian rivals. Finland, having struggled earlier in the tournament with tough matchups against the U.S. and Canada, rebounded with a significant win over Czechia before taking down Switzerland. Sweden, looking to prove themselves, has shown strong performances and could pull off an upset.
In another matchup, Germany faced the formidable U.S. team, which has never lost in the knockout stage before the gold medal game. Germany's only advancement to the semifinals came in 2017, and they needed a stellar performance from last year’s top goaltender, Sandra Abstreiter, to have any chance against the Americans.
Switzerland faced Czechia, with the hosts looking to capitalize on their earlier win against Switzerland in the group stage. Czechia had a rough patch after that victory, losing their next three games and finishing fourth in Group A. The Swiss team, needing strong goaltending from Andrea Brändli, faced pressure with veteran scorer Lara Stalder missing due to illness.
As the tournament progresses, the stakes get higher, and each team is vying for a spot in the semifinals, with the potential for exciting matchups ahead.
With the quarterfinals wrapping up, fans are eagerly anticipating the semifinals and the potential clash between Canada and the U.S. Should both teams win their respective matches, it would set the stage for a highly anticipated rematch in the finals. But first, they must navigate the challenges posed by their upcoming opponents.
The IIHF Women’s World Championship continues to showcase the best in women’s hockey, with thrilling games and standout performances. As the tournament nears its climax, the excitement builds for what promises to be an unforgettable semifinal round.
