USWNT Finishes Top of PAC Pool B & Advance Directly to Semifinals with Win Over Peru

SANTIAGO, Chile – In their final pool match of the 2022 Pan American Cup (PAC), the No. 15 U.S. Women’s National Team took on No. 34 Peru. Eight different athletes contributed to the 20-0 score, powered by six from Erin Matson (Chadds Ford, Pa.), to secure the top finish in Pool B and automatic advancement to the semifinals.

From the opening whistle, USA held control but struggled to break through a packed Peru defense. Five minutes in, USA pushed through and earned their first penalty corner of the game. Although they were unsuccessful on the first five attempts, they scored on the sixth when Cassie Sumfest (Lewisburg, Pa.) sent a drag down to Lauren Moyer (York, Pa.) for the reverse deflection. USA doubled the lead in the 13th minute off a penalty corner, when Maddie Zimmer (Hershey, Pa.) backhanded in a rebound. Peru had a close chance to add one back with 14 seconds to go when a ball into the circle was mishandled but the shot was swept wide.

The second quarter started static, with USA working much of the possession into the midfield pockets looking to threaten forward. USA didn’t break into their attacking end until midway through the frame with shots from Zimmer, Ashley Sessa (Schwenksville, Pa.) and Hope Rose (Dauphin, Pa.) but couldn’t find a way around Peru goalkeeper Mikaela Tannert. Determination paid off and USA tallied five goals in the final 5 minutes. The first came when Sessa drove the left baseline and dumped it back to Rose for the finish. Next, USA produced two goals within a minute. The first off great team defense that led to Beth Yeager (Greenwich, Conn.) passing ahead to Sofia Southam (Ann Arbor, Mich.) for the deflection and Grega was there to finish the rebound off Tannert. Then off the goal restart, USA regained possession and Matson produced a solo effort, drilling it into the far corner. With one minute to go, textbook passing that started with Rose in the midfield went to Zimmer who sent it across the circle to Matson who dumped it over to Moyer off the left post. With 10 seconds to go, Rose earned a penalty stroke and Matson converted to give USA a 7-0 lead at the break.

The third quarter resumed in similar fashion with USA on the front foot and adding six more goals. At the 33rd minute-mark, Rose dribbled into the circle and dumped it off to Grega on the right post for the deflection. Three minutes later, what started deep in the backfield, worked its way down the left sideline to Yeager in the corner. She took it into the circle and although her first shot went into Tannert, she lifted the rebound into the goal. Two minutes following, more quick passing led to a shot by Zimmer and finish by Southam on the goal line. The final three goals came from Rose, Matson and Amanda Magadan (Randolph, N.J.) to hold a 13-0 advantage.

Twenty seconds into the fourth quarter, USA continued their dominance when Matson added her fourth of the game. Four minutes later she tallied again and within a minute of one another, both Moyer and Grega cashed in on their hat tricks. Three more goals were scored through Yeager, Grega and Matson to make the final score 20-0.

“Whatever team we get, we are excited to watch the next game,” said Matson, when asked about advancing to the semifinals. “Every team is a contender in this tournament. Whoever we get we will have to respect and come out strong. We will have to play to our strengths.”

The USA women finished at the top of Pool B and have advanced to the semifinals on Thursday, January 27 at 4:30 p.m. ET. They will face the winner of the crossover match between No. 16 Chile and No. 38 Trinidad and Tobago.

For more information regarding the 2022 Pan American Cups, visit the event page.

#PAC2022

All photographs appearing on this site are property of either USA Field Hockey/Rodrigo Jaramillo or Carmen Donoso Ramirez/Hockey Chile. They are protected by U.S. Copyright Laws, and are not to be downloaded, reproduced or used in any way without the written permission of USA Field Hockey/Rodrigo Jaramillo or Carmen Donoso Ramirez/Hockey Chile.

If you are a college SID, club coach, sponsor or media outlet, email communications@usafieldhockey.com.