Senior Lindsay Stepnowski played a key role for Team USA on Sunday, January 18, as the Americans defeated Canada, 2–0, to claim the gold medal at the Under-18 Women’s Ice Hockey World Championships in Sydney, Nova Scotia. 

With the victory, Team USA finished the International Ice Hockey Federation tournament with a perfect 6-0 record and captured its 10th Under-18 Women’s World Championship title in program history. Stepnowski skated at right wing on the top line.  

In the championship game, Team USA opened the scoring at 14:08 of the game to take a 1–0 lead. The Americans extended that advantage late in the second period, when Stepnowski found the back of the net at 38:17. After an initial shot from teammate Talia Hansen created a rebound in the slot, Stepnowski finished the play with a quick snapshot to give the United States a 2–0 lead. 

The goal capped an impressive tournament for Stepnowski, who recorded at least one goal in every game and finished the championship with six goals and three assists for nine points over six contests. She opened the tournament with a goal and an assist in a 13–0 win over Slovakia on January 10, followed by a goal in a 9–1 victory against Czechia on January 11. Stepnowski added a goal and an assist in a 14–0 win over Finland on January 13, scored once in a 9–0 shutout of Hungary on January 15, and recorded a goal and an assist in Team USA’s 9–1 semifinal win over Sweden on Saturday, January 17, before scoring in the gold medal game against Canada. 

The United States holds a 9-7 record in gold medal games at the tournament. The Americans also made history during this year’s run, becoming the first team in tournament history to win gold without ever trailing or being tied beyond a 0–0 score at any point in the competition.