US women’s hockey team defeats Canada in overtime to win 3rd Olympic gold medal

MILAN — The U.S. women’s hockey team has earned its third gold medal in Olympic history.

Team USA defeated the Canadian team 2-1 in a nail-biting game Thursday in Milan.

Canada’s Kristin O’Neill sank the game’s first goal during the second period.

With just over two minutes left in the third period, Team USA captain and four-time Olympian Hilary Knight scored to bring the game into overtime.

NBC reports this was the third time in the last four Olympics that the U.S. and Canada women’s hockey teams needed extra minutes to decide the gold-medal champion.

With her goal, Knight broke the Team USA women’s hockey Olympic record for goals, bringing it to 15, NBC says.

A 36-year-old California native, Knight previously announced that this year’s Olympic Games would be her last.

Less than a minute into overtime, Megan Keller scored to bring Team USA the win.

Earlier on Thursday, Switzerland bested Sweden 2-1 in overtime to take bronze.

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