Crossovers 1
Canada 10-9 New Zealand (2-2, 1-0, 3-5, 4-2)
The teams were tied 2-2 after the first quarter before Canada edged ahead 3-2 at halftime, only for New Zealand to storm back with a 5-3 third quarter and take a 7-6 lead into the final break. But Canada regrouped in the fourth, with McKenna Pineda-McLean scoring three times down the stretch, including the go-ahead goal, to push Canada out to 10-8, and though New Zealand snuck one back with nine seconds left, Canada held on. Pineda-McLean finished with five goals and India-Rose Scholes leading New Zealand with four. With the win, Canada plays Italy and New Zealand competes against Netherlands.
Australia 15-6 Israel (3-0, 1-2, 8-3, 3-1)
Australia opened with three unanswered goals, two of them on the counterattack, and shut out the Israelis in the first period. Israel got on the board in the second quarter but still lost the second 2-1. A big eight-goal third quarter for the Australians settled the match, with Claudia Booth, captain Kiera Mironova and Bless Daly each scoring three. Bless Daly took her tally to 20 goals through just three matches with this performance. Teva Dorfman top-scored for Israel with three. Australia takes on Croatia in the next round while Israel will duke it out against China.
Crossovers 2
Australia 28-4 Croatia (5-0, 7-1, 9-1, 7-2)
Australia posted the round’s biggest blowout, with Bless Daly scoring three times early on and accounting for six of the team’s first ten goals overall. Australia was already up 5-0 after one period and 12-1 by halftime, then piled on nine more in the third to seal the rout and set up a quarterfinal against Greece.
Netherlands 13-2 New Zealand (1-0, 4-0, 4-1, 4-1)
After a slow start, with only one goal in the first period, the second quarter would see Netherlands shutout New Zealand again while also scoring four unanswered goals. New Zealand finally got on the scoring board through Isabella Lambie in the Third, but the Netherlands would just come back with goals of theirs and seal an easy spot in the quarterfinals.
China 14-12 Israel (4-4, 4-3, 3-2, 3-3)
The best match of the round would start with both teams locked at 4-4 after eight minutes after an initial Chinese lead. Israel, through Teva Dorfman, would earn a first Israeli lead at 5-4. But China would come back and lead at the half 8-7 through a late Yi Xiyao goal. In the third, Israel brought themselves back level at 9-9 but China would once again win the quarter and take a two goal lead into the fourth. The Chinese would hold out in the fourth as a three goal run led to their win.
Canada 10-6 Italy (2-0, 1-2, 5-2, 2-2)
Canada would start the game better and win the first period 2-0. But Italy would win the second period 2-1 to stay in Canada’s reach. A 5-2 third period win for the Canadians meant an impressive win over the Italians was on the cards. The win would become reality as the Europeans could only salvage a 2-2 tie in the final period. Adelyn Kyfiuk, Dasha Khramtsova and Lujayn Abdelfattah each scored three for the North Americans, while goalkeeper Alexandra Stoddard made nine saves as Canada advanced to a quarterfinal against defending champion Spain.
Quarterfinals
Australia 9-5 Greece (1-1, 4-2, 3-0, 1-2)
The tournament’s biggest upset so far came courtesy of a lockdown defensive display from Australia. Australia went into the break up 5-3, then shut Greece out entirely in the third quarter to build an 8-3 cushion on the way to the 9-5 win. Bless Daly netted six, and goalkeeper Caroline Healy backed her up with 10 saves.
Hungary 17-9 China (3-0, 1-2, 8-3, 3-1)
Though it didn’t look like a rout early on, with just one goal splitting the sides after the first period, A 5-1 second quarter win gave the Hungarians full control of the game. Despite the Chinese giving more of a fight in the second half, the damage had already been done and Hungary marched on.
United States 11-8 Netherlands (3-2, 3-1, 4-1, 1-4)
After a tight opening quarter, the Americans gradually pulled away, being up 6-3 at the half and 10-4 through three periods. A late Dutch rally trimmed the final margin, but the USA had already banked enough of a cushion to move on, continuing their push toward a first U18 world title since 2022.
Spain 24-8 Canada (3-0, 1-2, 8-3, 3-1)
The home side delivered the rout of the round. Queralt Anton’s quick-fire start helped Spain jump to a 6-1 lead after one, and by halftime it was 11-3, signaling the match was likely well and truly finished. Following an eight-goal third quarter, the match was settled to the delight of the home crowd. Lidia Lopez led the scoring with five, Anton and Daniela Pajares each added four, and Sara Briceno chipped in three.
Semifinals
Australia 14-10 United States (2-1, 3-4, 3-3, 6-2)
After Emerson Mulvey put the Americans in front, the Aussies would come from behind to squeeze ahead 2-1 at the beginning. The second quarter was tightly contested with both teams exchanging leads but, in the end, being locked at 5-5 at half time. After both teams traded equal blows in the third, the two sides were tied 8-8 entering the final quarter. In the decisive period, the US pushed ahead 10-8 with just over five minutes to play. But Australia never gave up and answered emphatically, powering off six straight goals to flip the result and win one of the game’s of the tournament. Bless Daly, once again, led the way with six goals on the day. The victory put Australia into a Women’s U18 World Championship final for the first time, ensuring their best result at the championships, beating their fourth place back in 2018.
Spain 13-10 Hungary (3-1, 3-1, 3-2, 4-4)
Spain set the tone early, leading 3-1 after one and 6-2 by the break, then pushed the margin out to 9-4 in the third. Hungary clawed back to within three goals but never got closer, and Spain held on in front of its home crowd to set up a final over Australia. Martina Fernandez scored three for Spain, while Sara Keszthelyi and Adrienn Hetzl each had hat-tricks for Hungary.
Third place match
United States 8-7 Hungary (2-3, 3-2, 0-1, 3-1)
Hungary jumped out 3-1 in the first quarter, but the Americans clawed back to tie it 5-5 by halftime. Hungary regained the lead in a low-scoring 1-0 third period through a lone goal by Kinga Alaksa. However, the USA closed out with a 3-1 final quarter and came from behind to claim bronze, with two by Kirra Pantaleon and one by Charlotte Raisin cementing the turnaround. The USA was spearheaded by Charlotte Raisin, who scored four goals. This is the United States’ third U18 bronze medal, to go with titles in 2014 and 2022.
Final
Australia 9-5 Spain (3-0, 1-2, 3-2, 2-1)
Australia burst out of the blocks, scoring three unanswered goals to start the match and holding that lead until nearly four minutes into the second quarter. Spain fought back to within two, 4-2, but a spell of three straight Australian goals, including a spectacular spinning finish from Alannah Paul, pushed the margin to 7-3. Spain’s Queralt Anton answered from the top of the pool to make it 7-4, but Bless Daly scored on a penalty early in the fourth, and after Spain’s Marina Pineda pulled one back to 8-5, Australia sealed it with a perfectly executed set play finished by Sara Connors with just 13 seconds left, for the historic 9-5 win.
Awards
Final standings
1. Australia
2. Spain
3. United States
4. Hungary
5. Greece
6. Canada
7. Netherlands
8. China
9. Italy
10. Croatia
11. Israel
12. New Zealand
13. Germany
14. Turkiye
15. Brazil
16. Serbia
17. Colombia
18. South Africa
19. Malta
20. Zimbabwe
