Murphy double downs Czechs
By Andy Potts |
11 APR 2025
Team USA's Abbey Murphy tests Czech goalie Michaela Hesova in the teams' IIHF Women's World Championship Group A game in Ceske Budejovice.
photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / ANDREA CARDIN
Abbey Murphy scored twice to lift Team USA past a spirited Czechia in front of another capacity crowd in Ceske Budejovice. The University of Minnesota hotshot supplied the cutting edge to slice through a resolute Czech defence and build a lead before third period power play goals from Hilary Knight and Alex Carpenter completed a 4-0 victory.
The Americans recorded their second win of the competition, joining Canada in a perfect start ahead of Sunday evening’s showdown between the tournament’s traditional powerhouses. Czechia, despite a loss, produced an encouraging display against an opponent that had scored 31 goals in four previous World Championship meetings between the two.
“That’s how we play our game,” she said. “Our leaders paved the way for us. They’re a good, strong team over there. Give them a lot of credit for playing us pretty hard off the bat. But honestly, we just found our way. Putting pucks in the net, finishing off opportunities we've been getting all game. It was really cool, and the atmosphere was awesome.”
But Czechia could point to positives. “It was an amazing game,” said Czech captain Aneta Tejralova. “We didn’t give up, we played 60 minutes and I’m so proud of our group. We know we can play against themand we just want to keep building.”
There were a few surprises on the Czech roster. Goalie Klara Peslarova and forwards Katerina Mrazova and Michaela Pejzlova, three of the nine PWHLers on Carla MacLeod’s roster, sat this one out after featuring in the 3-0 opening night win over Switzerland. The trio were rested with an eye to Saturday’s game against a Finland team looking for its first win of the tournament.
With another raucous crowd behind them the Czechs tore into this game. Barely 30 seconds had elapsed before the home team got the first power play of the night, kicking the frenzy up another notch in the Ceske Budejovice Arena. Urged forward by, among others, a trumpeter in the crowd, the local heroes spent plenty of early time in the American zone. However, a mix of rock-solid U.S. defence and a slight tendency to snatch at chances meant there was little significant danger for Gwyneth Philips between the piping.
And gradually the Americans began to flex their own intimidating attacking prowess. A penalty on Daniela Pejsova saw Hesova make a smart save while an interception sent Tereza Plosova down the ice only to see the chance snuffed out before she got her shot off.
Hesova was nerveless in her first senior World Championship appearance, but the 19-year-old Dartmouth College netminder came under increasing pressure. Britta Curl almost deceived her with a wicked shot from the left-hand channel; Hesova got a glove to it, but was relieved to see the puck loop onto the roof of the net.
Then came another power play, and a moment of crisis: the goalie lost her glove, blocker and stick as the USA locked the defence into its territory. But a strong defensive effort – and a misfire from Megan Keller – helped Hesova retrieve her equipment.
Captain Tejralova paid tribute to the rookie goalie. “That was Hesova’s first ever start and she was amazing,” she said. “We are so proud of her, she played awesome against a tough opponent.”
And from the other side, USA's Keller was impressed by the St. Thomas University prospect: "I thought she was outstanding."
However, just as Tereza Pistekova returned to the ice, Murphy launched a rocket of a one-timer from the left-hand dot – and no amount of equipment could halt that unstoppable effort.
“When I get the puck, I'm gonna rifle it,” Murphy said of her opening goal. “And that's what I did. Our other power play to start off set a really good tone and handed it off to us. Great pass by KK [Caroline Harvey] and really fun to get it going.”
Murphy’s scoring prowess was not a complete surprise to the Czechs: Natalie Mlynkova plays with her in Minnesota and has seen her skills at first hand over the past year.
“She’s an amazing player,” the Czech forward said. “She showed tonight what she’s good at, which is scoring goals. It’s great for her and I wish her well, but hopefully not against our team next time!”
That goal was all the separated the teams at the first intermission, keeping the game tight enough to give Czechia hope of salvation. However, it was notable that while the host nation looked good in two thirds of the ice, the Czechs had a hard time getting past the defence to ask questions of Philips. Adela Sapovalilova’s daring wraparound attempt was the closest we came to a tying goal in the first.
The pattern continued in the second. Czechia generated excitement and anticipation among the crowd, but the Americans – specifically Murphy – had the cutting edge. And when the opportunity came, passes slung from side-to-side opened the Czech defence just enough to enable Murphy to nip in and score from slot off Kelly Pannek’s feed.
In the 35th minute Taylor Heise was close to a third when she crashed the net after another Murphy shot was held up on the paint. But her shove could not force it all the way over the line and immediately after the net came off. A video review confirmed the on-ice call: no goal.
The third U.S. goal arrived at the start of the third when Knight scored from close range on the power play. The Czechs kept battling, and Pistekova had a great look from the doorstep. However, Philips denied the home crowd the goal it desperately wanted to see. Instead, another American power play saw Carpenter make it 4-0.
Czechia kept pushing for a consolation goal and a two-on-one break looked dangerous in the closing moments. But Denisa Krizova and Barbora Jurickova could not engineer the killer shot and Philips' shut-out was spared.
Despite the defeat, Mlynkova was defiant. “I’m really proud of our team,” she said. “They only scored one goal at equal strength and that’s a huge step forward. It’s something we’re going to build on.”
And in the longer term, she warns, the North Americans need to watch out.
“We’re coming for them,” Mlynkova insisted. “It might not be this year, it might not be the next two years, but it’s going to happen. We are closing the gap and I think everyone can see it. I’m really proud of the confidence we showed tonight.”
The Czechs return to action tomorrow evening against Finland, while Team USA is back 24 hours later for its eagerly-anticipated clash with Canada.
The Americans recorded their second win of the competition, joining Canada in a perfect start ahead of Sunday evening’s showdown between the tournament’s traditional powerhouses. Czechia, despite a loss, produced an encouraging display against an opponent that had scored 31 goals in four previous World Championship meetings between the two.
For Murphy, it was all about delivering a team effort to secure the win.
“That’s how we play our game,” she said. “Our leaders paved the way for us. They’re a good, strong team over there. Give them a lot of credit for playing us pretty hard off the bat. But honestly, we just found our way. Putting pucks in the net, finishing off opportunities we've been getting all game. It was really cool, and the atmosphere was awesome.”
But Czechia could point to positives. “It was an amazing game,” said Czech captain Aneta Tejralova. “We didn’t give up, we played 60 minutes and I’m so proud of our group. We know we can play against themand we just want to keep building.”
There were a few surprises on the Czech roster. Goalie Klara Peslarova and forwards Katerina Mrazova and Michaela Pejzlova, three of the nine PWHLers on Carla MacLeod’s roster, sat this one out after featuring in the 3-0 opening night win over Switzerland. The trio were rested with an eye to Saturday’s game against a Finland team looking for its first win of the tournament.
With another raucous crowd behind them the Czechs tore into this game. Barely 30 seconds had elapsed before the home team got the first power play of the night, kicking the frenzy up another notch in the Ceske Budejovice Arena. Urged forward by, among others, a trumpeter in the crowd, the local heroes spent plenty of early time in the American zone. However, a mix of rock-solid U.S. defence and a slight tendency to snatch at chances meant there was little significant danger for Gwyneth Philips between the piping.
And gradually the Americans began to flex their own intimidating attacking prowess. A penalty on Daniela Pejsova saw Hesova make a smart save while an interception sent Tereza Plosova down the ice only to see the chance snuffed out before she got her shot off.
Hesova was nerveless in her first senior World Championship appearance, but the 19-year-old Dartmouth College netminder came under increasing pressure. Britta Curl almost deceived her with a wicked shot from the left-hand channel; Hesova got a glove to it, but was relieved to see the puck loop onto the roof of the net.
Then came another power play, and a moment of crisis: the goalie lost her glove, blocker and stick as the USA locked the defence into its territory. But a strong defensive effort – and a misfire from Megan Keller – helped Hesova retrieve her equipment.
Captain Tejralova paid tribute to the rookie goalie. “That was Hesova’s first ever start and she was amazing,” she said. “We are so proud of her, she played awesome against a tough opponent.”
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And from the other side, USA's Keller was impressed by the St. Thomas University prospect: "I thought she was outstanding."
However, just as Tereza Pistekova returned to the ice, Murphy launched a rocket of a one-timer from the left-hand dot – and no amount of equipment could halt that unstoppable effort.
“When I get the puck, I'm gonna rifle it,” Murphy said of her opening goal. “And that's what I did. Our other power play to start off set a really good tone and handed it off to us. Great pass by KK [Caroline Harvey] and really fun to get it going.”
Murphy’s scoring prowess was not a complete surprise to the Czechs: Natalie Mlynkova plays with her in Minnesota and has seen her skills at first hand over the past year.
“She’s an amazing player,” the Czech forward said. “She showed tonight what she’s good at, which is scoring goals. It’s great for her and I wish her well, but hopefully not against our team next time!”
That goal was all the separated the teams at the first intermission, keeping the game tight enough to give Czechia hope of salvation. However, it was notable that while the host nation looked good in two thirds of the ice, the Czechs had a hard time getting past the defence to ask questions of Philips. Adela Sapovalilova’s daring wraparound attempt was the closest we came to a tying goal in the first.
The pattern continued in the second. Czechia generated excitement and anticipation among the crowd, but the Americans – specifically Murphy – had the cutting edge. And when the opportunity came, passes slung from side-to-side opened the Czech defence just enough to enable Murphy to nip in and score from slot off Kelly Pannek’s feed.
In the 35th minute Taylor Heise was close to a third when she crashed the net after another Murphy shot was held up on the paint. But her shove could not force it all the way over the line and immediately after the net came off. A video review confirmed the on-ice call: no goal.
The third U.S. goal arrived at the start of the third when Knight scored from close range on the power play. The Czechs kept battling, and Pistekova had a great look from the doorstep. However, Philips denied the home crowd the goal it desperately wanted to see. Instead, another American power play saw Carpenter make it 4-0.
Czechia kept pushing for a consolation goal and a two-on-one break looked dangerous in the closing moments. But Denisa Krizova and Barbora Jurickova could not engineer the killer shot and Philips' shut-out was spared.
Despite the defeat, Mlynkova was defiant. “I’m really proud of our team,” she said. “They only scored one goal at equal strength and that’s a huge step forward. It’s something we’re going to build on.”
And in the longer term, she warns, the North Americans need to watch out.
“We’re coming for them,” Mlynkova insisted. “It might not be this year, it might not be the next two years, but it’s going to happen. We are closing the gap and I think everyone can see it. I’m really proud of the confidence we showed tonight.”
The Czechs return to action tomorrow evening against Finland, while Team USA is back 24 hours later for its eagerly-anticipated clash with Canada.
United States vs Czechia - 2025 IIHF Women's World Championship
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