Meghan Duggan helped Team USA to the most one-sided victory in its Olympic history yesterday as the Americans bested Russia, 13-0, in preliminary round play.
Team USA, now 2-0 in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, clinched a spot in the semis and has outscored its opponents 25-1 in its two contests in Vancouver.
The pride of Danvers, Duggan wasn't one of the 13 American women that found themselves on the scoresheet yesterday, instead impacting the game with her relentless pursuit of the puck and defensive energy.
Jenny Potter had a hat trick for the second straight game and joined American Katie King (1998, 2002) as the only players in women's Olympic play to have multiple hat tricks. Natalie Darwitz had two goals and three assists for five points, Boston College's Kelli Stack had a goal and three helpers while Hilary Knight tied a Team USA record with four assists.
In all, nine different Americans had multi-point efforts and Team USA was an absurd 7-for-8 on the man advantage.
Duggan's University of Wisconsin teammate, Jessie Vetter got the start in net and earned her first Olympic shutout with seven saves. Team USA led 5-0 after one, 12-0 after two and put only two shots on goal in an academic third.
Duggan played a big role on the penalty kill as the U.S. held Russia 0-for-5.
Up next for Team USA is the final preliminary round game tomorrow against Finland. The game begins at 5:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on MSNBC.
