Womens Hockey Usa: Knight’s Historic Equalizer and Keller’s Overtime Finish Deliver Olympic Gold

In a dramatic Olympic final in Milan, womens hockey usa reached its pinnacle when the U. S. came from behind to win gold in overtime. A late third-period goal from captain Hilary Knight forced extra time, and Megan Keller finished the game in sudden death to secure the title.

Womens Hockey Usa: How Knight’s goal changed the final

Captain Hilary Knight tipped a shot from Julia Edwards at the blue line with just 2: 04 left on the clock, and an empty net for the U. S., to tie the gold-medal game at one apiece. That massive third-period goal snapped the shutout that had favored the opposition and sent the match into overtime, setting the stage for an immediate momentum swing.

Knight’s tying goal carried historic weight beyond the momentary lift it provided the team. The goal made her the greatest women’s hockey scorer in Olympic history for Team USA, giving her 15 career Olympic goals and breaking the previous mark held jointly by two former players. It also moved her to 33 career Olympic points for Team USA, surpassing the longstanding points total previously held by another player.

Overtime and Keller’s decisive finish

In overtime, Megan Keller maneuvered around a defender and lifted a backhand toward the net that squeezed through the opposing goaltender’s right arm and trickled in for the gold-medal winner. Keller’s play completed the comeback and delivered the championship outcome for the U. S. team.

The match concluded with clear milestones for key contributors: Knight secured a second Olympic gold and her fifth Olympic medal overall, joining a very small group of Olympic hockey players with five medals. Knight was identified as a player with an extensive medal haul across Olympic and world events, and has compiled notable career totals in goals and assists.

Legacy, records and season context

• Hilary Knight: became Team USA’s all-time Olympic goals leader with 15 goals and the career Olympic points leader with 33 points.
• Medal haul: The gold in Milan marked Knight’s second Olympic gold medal and her fifth Olympic medal overall.
• Career totals noted in the coverage: Knight has compiled 81 goals and 70 assists over her career and has tallied multiple international gold medals across Olympic and world championship play.
• Domestic season highlights: Knight tied for the league lead in points during one recent domestic season while playing for Boston, and in another team’s inaugural season she ranked among assist leaders.

The sequence — Knight’s late equalizer followed by Keller’s overtime backhand — provided a decisive narrative arc for womens hockey usa at the Olympic final: a veteran captain producing a clutch scoring moment and a teammate finishing the job in sudden death.

With the final played at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, the victory concluded the tournament on a dramatic note and left several record books adjusted in real time. Recent updates indicate these game-level and career-level milestones; details about ensuing celebrations or long-term program plans may continue to evolve.