Minnesota women’s hockey forwards Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell each scored shootout goals to lead Team USA to a 1-0 victory over Canada on Saturday in the gold medal game at the International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championships in Linkoping, Sweden.

The teams played to a scoreless tie for 80 minutes before Darwitz, Wendell and former Harvard standout Angela Ruggiero netted shootout goals and Team USA goalie Chanda Gunn turned away three of four Canada attempts.

A pair of 2004-05 Gophers – Kelly Stephens and Lyndsay Wall – and former Minnesota defender Courtney Kennedy also skated for Team USA.

Canada had won the last eight golds, and Team USA had won the last eight silvers before Saturday.

Augustus wins Wooden

Louisiana State’s Seimone Augustus won the Wooden Award on Friday as the top women’s college basketball player in the nation.

The Gophers’ Janel McCarville had been one of five finalists for the award, and the University’s general scholarship fund will receive a $10,000 donation in her name.