The Associated Press The United States’ Britta Curl (17) celebrates with Megan Keller (5) after Curl scored a goal.

MILAN — The upstart Italians didn’t make it easy on the Americans, and that’s everything veteran forward Kelly Pannek could have asked for as the top-seeded U.S. continued its run through the Olympic women’s hockey tournament.

A festive atmosphere, a determined opponent, a little chippiness and a 6-0 win in which 13 players — led by Kendall Coyne Schofield’s two goals — registered at least a point.

“It feels like right now we’re finding different ways within our identity to get the job done,” Pannek said. “And it’s taken every single person on the ice on our team and our staff to do it. And it feels like we’re still building to what we really can be.”

After a first period in which the Americans out-shot Italy 20-2, but only led 1-0 on Megan Keller’s goal, the U.S finally broke through with a five-goal second period.

Laila Edwards, Hannah Bilka and Britta Curl-Salemme also scored. Gwyneth Philips finished with six saves as the Americans posted their fourth straight shutout.

The Group A-winning U.S. has outscored its opponents by a combined 26-1 in winning all five games, with the lone goal allowed in a 5-1 tournament-opening win over Czechia.

With Coyne Schofield, Lee Stecklein and Grace Zumwinkle making the scoresheet Friday, the U.S. has only two skaters — defenders Cayla Barnes and Rory Guilday — without a point.

“At the other day I think it’s everyone’s willing to do whatever it takes to be a part of the success of this team,” Coyne Schofield said. “And whatever role’s asked of us on a given night that’s what we’re going to do.”

Now two wins away from winning its third Olympic gold medal, the U.S. advanced to the semifinals on Monday. The Americans will play either Sweden, after the Group B winner upset Czechia 2-0 earlier in the day, or Germany, should the seventh-seeded team knock off Canada in its quarterfinal on Saturday.

Finland faces Switzerland in the other quarterfinal on Saturday.

The game on Friday featured dueling chants, with each chorus of “USA! USA! USA!” met with an even louder “EEE-TA-LIA!”

Italy stood little chance making its second Olympic appearance, each time as the host team. Advancing to the knockout round was considered an accomplishment for the Italians, who went 2-2 in the preliminary round, and after going 0-4 at the 2006 Turin Games.

Goalie Gabriella Durante stole the show by stopping 19 of 20 shots through the opening period, and 45 overall.

“There’s definitely obviously sadness and disappointment, but at the same time, I don’t think the team has any regrets in how hard we played,” said Durante, who noted the team watched the movie “Miracle,” about the U.S. men’s run in the 1980 Olympics as motivation the night before.