U.S. Women’s Hockey Team Advances to Olympic Semifinals After 6-0 Victory Over Italy
MILAN – The United States women’s national hockey team continued its dominant run at the 2026 Winter Olympics, securing a 6-0 victory over host nation Italy in a quarterfinal match on Friday, February 13, 2026. The win propels the Americans to the semifinal round, extending their streak of reaching the semifinals to seven consecutive Olympic Games.
Kendall Coyne Schofield led the U.S. Offensive charge with two goals, while Megan Keller, Laila Edwards, Hannah Bilka and Britta Curl-Salemme each added a goal to the tally. Gwyneth Philips recorded six saves, earning a shutout for the Americans – their fourth straight of the tournament.
The game, played in front of a spirited crowd at the Milan Cortina Games, was described as “a little spicy” by U.S. Forward Taylor Heise, alluding to a physical contest that included several penalties and a jawing match between U.S. Coach John Wroblewski and Italian coaches. Wroblewski later expressed frustration with what he perceived as inconsistent officiating, stating, “You see it time and time again. A team that’s maybe not as deep or skilled is allowed to hold up and blatantly break the rules.”
Late in the second period, a scrum broke out after Hannah Bilka fell on Italy’s goalie, Gabriella Durante, following the U.S.’s sixth goal. Abbey Murphy, who has been a focal point for drawing penalties throughout the tournament, rushed to the scene and exchanged minor penalties with Italy’s Franziska Stocker. Murphy, smiling as she headed to the penalty box, explained her actions, saying, “When you represent your country, you hold yourself to a high standard. So anyone in front of the net that gets cross-checked, I’m not just going to watch that happen. That’s not me. I’m not just going to let it go.”
Murphy has drawn nine penalties on six different infractions during the Olympics, significantly more than the rest of the U.S. Team combined, who have drawn a total of 10 penalties. Heise praised Murphy’s ability to disrupt opponents, stating, “She’s electric…She just knows where she can get under people’s skin.” Murphy led the NCAA in both goals (36) and penalties (23) before arriving in Milan.
The Americans have been dominant throughout the tournament, outscoring their opponents by a combined 26-1. Their only goal conceded came in a 5-1 victory over Czechia in their opening match. Only two U.S. Skaters, defenders Cayla Barnes and Rory Guilday, have yet to register a point.
The U.S. Team also boasts a 271:23 shutout streak shared between goalies Aerin Frankel and Gwyneth Philips. Veteran defenseman Lee Stecklein emphasized the team’s ability to stay focused despite challenges, crediting the leadership within the locker room, particularly Hilary Knight.
Italy, making its second Olympic appearance as the host nation, finished the Games with two wins in five games, marking an improvement from their 0-5 record at the 2006 Turin Games. The Americans outshot Italy 51-6, including a 20-2 advantage in the first period.
The U.S. Will face either Sweden or Germany in the semifinal round on Monday. Sweden defeated Czechia 2-0 earlier in the day, while Germany is scheduled to play Canada on Saturday. Finland will face Switzerland in another quarterfinal matchup on Saturday.
