USA 1 – 1 Ireland
Saturday, June 7 – North Carolina: Ireland and USA shared the spoils in the first tie of the two-game series in Charlotte, North Carolina. A quarter two goal from debutant Niamh Gowing gave Ireland the lead before the USA responded to level the game less than five minutes later.
Ireland began the first quarter well, early passages of possession eventually materialised into chances as Sarah Torrans attacked down the left baseline and pulled the ball back, but USA cleared. The chance was followed up by a second effort on goal for Ireland, with Siofra O’Brien driving from her own half into the USA circle and getting a shot away which Kealsy Reeb managed to save in the USA net. The USA did eventually get a foothold in the game, creating a few chances of their own, but hey failed to test Ireland goalkeeper Elizabeth Murphy as each was wide of the goal, with the sides finishing the opening quarter on level terms.
Ireland were, again, quick to assert themselves on the game in the second quarter, with Sarah Torrans testing the goalkeeper no more than a minute after the restart. Ireland were rewarded for their pressure not long after, Hannah McLoughlin firing a ball towards the circle which debutant Niamh Gowing latched onto and fired into the USA net on her reverse to open the scoring.
USA responded quickly however, creating to scoring chances that again went wide before working the ball well into the Irish circle and finding Riley Heck on the penalty spot to draw level.
Mikayla Power created the next chance of the game creating an inch of space to test the keeper, before Charlotte Beggs found a foot but opted to play on, striking wide with her effort. A late penalty corner gave USA a chance to try take the lead but the variation was well defending by Ireland.
USA produced the first chance of the second half early on, driving down the right side to win a penalty corner that Ireland defended well. Holly Micklem was called into action soon after, making a strong save to keep the sides level having replaced Lizzie Murphy in nets for Ireland.
Two more penalty corners for the USA in the third quarter tested Ireland’s defensive solidity, but Ireland dealt with both efforts well to stay level.
After a challenging third quarter, Ireland settle well early in the fourth, with Sarah Hawkshaw working the ball well down the left to give Sarah Torrans a chance from a tight angle. A few minutes later, Ireland won their first corner of the game with Roisin Upton flicking low at goal forcing a save from Kealsy Reeb. USA broke well following the save to test Holly Micklem, triggering a purple patch for the home side which eventually resulted in their sixth corner of the game which was mis-trapped.
A yellow card just outside the final five minutes for USA meant they would have to see out the majority of the time remaining a player down. Sustained pressure from Ireland eventually resulted in a penalty corner with a minute remaining but a mis-trap at the top of the circle left the chance going a-begging meaning the sides shared the spoils in the first match-up of the series.
Ireland will play USA again tomorrow, Sunday June 8, in UNC Charlotte with the match available to watch live on the TG4 Player.