Team USA’s Casey O’Brien looks to make a play during Wednesday’s Collegiate Series at the 1980 Herb Brooks Arena. (News photo — Parker O’Brien)

LAKE PLACID — The women’s national Under-18 and Collegiate hockey teams from the United States and Canada split their first of three-game series on Wednesday at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid.

Canada picked up the first victory in the under-18 contest, defeating the United States 4-0 at the 1932 Jack Shea Arena. In the collegiate series matchup, the U.S. prevailed 4-1 at the 1980 Herb Brooks Arena.

–

Collegiate game

–

Team Canada’s Abby Stonehouse, right, crashes into the net with the puck scoring her team’s third goal of Wednesday’s Under-18 Series contest against Team USA at the 1932 Jack Shea Arena in Lake Placid. Also pictured are Team USA goaltender Layla Hemp and Mackenzie Jones (10). (News photo — Parker O’Brien)

After giving up the first goal of the game, the U.S. U22 team responded in a big way by scoring four straight goals en route to a 4-1 victory on Wednesday.

“Hockey is a group of momentum,” U.S. Collegiate team head coach Chelsea Walkland said. “It was awesome for our group to answer the bell right away and you’re right back in it.”

Canada’s Jocelyn Amos opened the scoring 10 minutes into the first period when she lifted a shot blocker side from the slot.

Less than 30 seconds later, Team USA’s Kirsten Simms responded after stealing the puck in the high slot before sending in past Canadian netminder Eve Gascon to tie the game at 1-1.

Team USA’s Joy Dunne from right inside the right circle to give her its first lead of the game with a few minutes left in the first period. Simms and Casey O’Brien picked up assists on the play.

Dunne extended Team USA’s lead to 3-1 on the powerplay early in the second on assists from Olivia Mobley and Ally Simpson.

Over the course of the first two periods, Team USA dominated by outshooting Team Canada 24-10. In the third period, the two teams were a little more even with the Canadians outshooting the Americans 8-7.

The lone goal was scored by Team USA’s Kiara Zanon, who scored on an empty net after collecting a pass from Kelsey King. Team USA’s Gwyneth Philips made 17 saves in the win. Team Canada’s Gascon recorded 27.

Despite having named the team earlier this week, Walkland said she’s thrown a lot at her team and was happy with how everyone contributed.

“This is a veteran group just implementing things that we’ve been working on and just trying to manage the puck well and do the right thing,” she said. “Our goal since we came together a couple of days ago is to keep getting better every single day.”

The U.S. Collegiate was slated to take on Canada on Thursday at the 1932 Jack Shea rink at 3 p.m. The series will wrap up on Saturday at 6 p.m. at the 1980 Herb Brooks Arena.

–

Under-18 game

–

The U.S. Under-18 women’s select team dropped its opening game to Canada 4-0 on Wednesday.

After a scoreless first period, Team Canada broke through with three straight goals in the second period, while Team USA struggled to keep up. The Canadians outshot Team USA 40-13 in the game.

“We’re obviously disappointed in the outcome of the game,” U.S. Under-18 team head coach Liz Keady Norton said in a statement. “We’re looking forward to regrouping and coming back stronger tomorrow.”

The U18 game rivalry series was scheduled to play at the 1980 Herb Brooks Arena on Thursday. The U18 series will hold its final game on Saturday at 3 p.m. at the 1932 Jack Shea Arena.

Makayla Watson scored Canada’s first goal when she shot past Team USA’s goaltender Layla Hemp. Team Canada’s Maxine Cimoroni converted on the power play to extend Canada’s lead to 2-0.

Halfway through the second period, Team Canada’s Abby Stonehouse netted her team’s third goal of the contest, after collecting a pass from Caitlin Kraemer inside the slot while crashing to the net. Canada recorded its fourth goal late in the third period when Sienna D’Alessandro scored on the power play.

Hemp finished the game with 36 saves while Team Canada’s goaltender Hannah Clark stopped all 13 shots from Team USA.