USWNT Secures Spot in PAC Semifinals with Big Win Over Chile

Powered by an intercept from Meredith Sholder, USA goes up 2-0 after Katie Dixon dished it off to Beth Yeager who ripped a shot in at close range.

In the 28th minute, Ryleigh Heck earned USA their third penalty corner, and on the chance, Caroline Ramsey tallied.

With 6 seconds to go before the halftime break, Chile added one back when Fernanda Arrieta touched it in front of her defender to bring it to 3-1. Chile tallied again in the 34th minute on a straight sweep from Denise Rojas Losada off a penalty corner.

Just before the end of the third quarter, Ryleigh Heck weaved on the left baseline and flipped it back to Abby Tamer who fired it into the net to make it 4-2.

Kelsey Bing came up with two big saves and a kicking clear as Chile kept up the pressure.

USA extended their lead when Claire Danahy drove into the circle, Sanne Caarls fought and off the pads popped it up as Leah Crouse tapped it in out of the air.

Chile closed with a succession of five penalty corners that were well defended.

Key Moments:

• 2’ Phia Gladieux had a baseline run that resulted in USA’s first penalty corner
• 2’ Meredith Sholder was a textbook deflection off the set piece to put USA ahead
• 10’ USA’s Claire Danahy was issued a green card. A minute later Katie Dixon also received one, but this was fortunately offset with one issued to Chile
• 15’ Backhand shot by Phia Gladieux went just wide
• 18’ USA tried to mimic their previous attacking penalty corner play, but were not successful this time
• 19’ Intercept by Meredith Sholder is passed to Katie Dixon who dishes off to Beth Yeager who ripped a shot in at close range (2-0)
• 27’ Kelsey Bing was called to action and made her first save
• 28’ Ryleigh Heck wins USA their third penalty corner. On the chance, Caroline Ramsey tallied
• 29’ With 6 seconds to go before the break, Chile added one back when Fernanda Arrieta touched it in front of her defender
• 34’ Chile brought it within one after tallying on a straight sweep from Denise Rojas Losada off a penalty corner
• 37’ Reese D’Ariano worked it in the left baseline and threads it in to try and connect with Phia Gladieux but she deflects it high and wide
• 39’ USA produced two backhand sweep shots – one through Katie Dixon which was saved and followed up by Sanne Caarl’s that went wide
• 44’ Ryleigh Heck weaved on the left baseline and flipped it back to Abby Tamer who fired it into the net to make it 4-2
• 51’ Kelsey Bing denied two shots in a row and within the same minute Lucy Adams was issued a 5-minute yellow card
• 54’ Claire Danahy drove into the circle, Sanne Caarls pops it up and Leah Crouse taps it in out of the air
• 57’ Chile had a succession of five penalty corners that were well defended

Noteworthy:

• USA secured their spot at a 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifier
• Chile out penalty cornered USA, 7 to 3
• The United Eagles produced 13 shots to Chile’s 7
• With today's win, USA holds the all-time meeting record advantage of 12-3-5
• The last time USA shutout Chile (6-0) was in a 2015 test series hosted at Spooky Nook Sports

From Head Coach David Passmore: "Really happy that we took the game to them from the start and played on the front foot. Despite our relative inexperience I was also pleased with how we played when Chile pulled back to 3-2 as we controlled the game and went forward and our pace and connection really caused them problems."

"We also rode out a few penalty corners toward the end and showed bravery on defense. We just need to learn not to give away silly cards as being issued four in one game is far too many. Now it is onward to the semifinals and our attention turns to that as we need to keep momentum in our training as both Uruguay and Canada are both opponents that are in form."

Next Up: With the Trinidad and Tobago team unable to travel, the USWNT’s final 2025 Pan American Cup pool game, which was set for Tuesday, July 29, will result in an automatic 5-0 victory. USA has secured their spot in the semifinals on Friday, August 1 after finishing at the top of their pool. All games can be streamed on Watch.Hockey (PPV).

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