Dunne's second goal of the match, 51 seconds into overtime, clinched her nation's first Under-18 World Championship title since 2011, ending a three year reign by opponents and biggest rivals Canada.

"I was just trying to put it in the net," Dunne said afterwards.

"Anything can happen when you shoot."

Dunne's winner came through the United States' fifth straight power play as the hosts piled on the pressure in the gold-medal final.

It was Canada, however, who started much the better of the two sides as they created chance after chance in the opening 15 minutes of play.

It was a surprise, therefore, that the US came in at the break all square at 1-1 with captain Dunne cancelling out Shae Labbe's opener with a goal just 30 seconds before the buzzer.

The tables turned dramatically in the second period as Canada were forced onto the back foot and were lucky to come in level at 2-2.

The US took the lead five minutes into the period as Alex Woken set up Alyssa Gorecki, who managed to slip a shot past the outstretched Marlene Boissonault, Canada's player of the match.

Canada were back level soon after when Samantha Cogan skated down the left wing looking for a player in front.

Her pass went to no one, but instead of sliding into the corner boards the puck slid into the far side of the goal past a stunned Burt.

United States dominated much of the gold medal final to win their first title since 2011 ©Francois Laplante/HHOF/IIHF Images



It was a credit to the Canadian defence that they managed to take the match to overtime from here on with the US piling on the pressure.

Phenomenal penalty killing, brave shot blocking and sensational goal-tending from Boissonnault were the three factors keeping the Canadians on level par as the US mounted attack after attack to try and break the deadlock.

Four successive penalty chances came and went for the American side but still the Canadians would not buckle.

This would change just 51 seconds into overtime, however, when Dunne slammed a wrist shot into the top corner to give her side the win.

It signalled a fourth under-18 world title for the US, who are now level with Canada in all-time wins.

The pair are the only teams to have ever reached an under-18 world final.

Russia claimed their first medal at the Championships in the bronze medal play off as they thrashed the Czech Republic 5-1.

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