updated 4:31 p.m. ET Feb. 12, 2006

TURIN, Italy - Sarah Parsons showed the world why a talented teenager could be the next star of a U.S. women’s hockey team that lacks nothing but famous faces.

The 18-year-old prodigy scored her first two Olympic goals and Pam Dreyer stopped 10 shots in the Americans’ second straight shutout victory in the preliminary round, 5-0 over Germany on Sunday night.

Katie King had a goal and two assists, and fellow three-time Olympian Jenny Potter had a goal and an assist. But even the U.S. veterans were overshadowed by their youngest teammate, who’s playing hooky from her freshman year at Dartmouth to go for a gold medal.

Natalie Darwitz also scored for the Americans, who outshot Germany 60-10 in another dominant performance. Yet the result actually was a small victory for the Germans, who stayed closer to the U.S. than ever before: In all seven of the teams’ previous meetings, the Germans lost by at least six goals.

The United States hasn’t really been tested in the first two games of its first Olympics without captain Cammi Granato, cut last summer by coach Ben Smith.

Granato was the face of a team that’s now building a new identity with emerging stars Parsons, defenseman Angela Ruggiero and captain Krissy Wendell.

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Parsons, a Boston-area high school star a year ago, got her first goal early in the second period with a deft deke and a whip-quick shot over German goalie Jennifer Harss’ shoulder. Darwitz flipped home the rebound after another impressive drive to the net by Parsons, who had eight shots in the first two periods.

She finished up with an outstanding charge in the third period, eluding three defenders and sprawling to the ice while tucking the puck inside the post. She got a standing ovation from the fans at Turin’s stunning new hockey arena.

While the defending Olympic champion Canadians have won their first two games 28-0, the Americans have been less prolific offensively, but just as tough on defense.

Dreyer made every key save during her turn in the U.S. goalie rotation after Chanda Gunn shut out Switzerland in her Olympic debut Saturday. And without Switzerland’s Patricia Elsmore-Sautter in the other net, where she stopped numerous scoring chances on Saturday, Dreyer had far fewer tense moments.

The Americans and Canadians lead their respective groups with two victories. They’re nearly assured of advancement to Friday’s semifinals, with both clubs already thinking about a gold-medal rematch on Feb. 20.

Potter got the first U.S. goal just 4:33 in, flipping a backhand over a prone Harss during a power play. The Americans added another man-advantage goal late in the period when King redirected Julie Chu’s shot.

Harss made 55 saves, but was not as impressive as Elsmore-Sautter was in net Saturday.

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In what’s emerging as a tournament theme, another overzealous officiating crew sent a steady stream of players to the penalty box, leading to 146 seconds of 5-on-3 advantages for Germany in the second period.

The Americans have a day of practice Monday before finishing preliminary-round play against Finland, probably the best team outside North America.

In women’s hockey, the U.S. and Canada aren’t just the two best teams. They’re the two best teams ever. Consider this: Every major competition in the history of women’s hockey has ended with Canada facing the U.S. for the gold.

But make no mistake: Canada and the U.S. are the world’s clear top two.

“For me, they are the reason I play hockey -- to beat Canada,” says U.S. defenseman, who is playing in her third Olympics. “There’s no hiding that. My most fun in hockey comes from playing and beating Canada because the rivalry is so intense.”

Canada’s all-time scoring leader Hayley Wickenheiser agrees.

“There is no love lost on the ice between these two teams,” she says.

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