SPRING CITY, Pa. - October 7, 2017 - The U.S. Women's National Indoor Team and Australia's Women's National Indoor Development Team went toe-to-toe once again in the fifth game of a six-game series at The Training Center in Spring City, Pa. Unlike previous matchups in this series, Saturday night's game needed a shootout to decide the victor after a 4-4 tie at the end of regulation, where USA ran out a 2-0 victory.

Both teams traded goals throughout a fast and exciting game before Mary Beth Barham (Fairfax, Va.) and Hannah Prince (Gorham, Maine) ultimately scored for USA in the shootout.

“We tried a couple of different things today and I was pleased with how the players adjusted,” said Jun Kentwell, Indoor USWNT Head Coach. “We were not seeing the passing lanes as well as we have been, we need to pre-scan earlier so we can find the seams.”

USA took the lead four times only to see Australia pull the goal back each time. It was Sammy Popper (Blue Bell, Pa.) who opened the scoring in the 2nd minute with a strong reverse flick. With both defenses denying shots, the partisan crowd had to wait until midway through the half for the next clear cut opportunity which fell to Australia who scored through Isabelle Peskett, catching the USA defense stretched thin. USA reclaimed the lead just before half time when Katherine Gerzabek (Springfield, Pa.) found the net off the team's first penalty corner.

Both squads started to create more scoring opportunities in the second half. Australia kept the pressure on while keeping USA at bay on defense. In the 25th minute Kizziah Plumb tied the game for Australia with a well taken goal, only to see Paityn Wirth (Thompsontown, Pa.) restore the USA lead moments after a crisp pass from Anarose McDonough (Kenneth Square, Pa.). Australia responded with a goal by Nicole King on a penalty stroke. USA countered in the 35th minute with another tally by Popper putting the red, white and blue back on top, 4-3 on a penalty corner. Just a minute later, Australia's Amelia Leard pocketed her shot to tie the game 4-4.

In the shootout, USA scored from their first two attempts from Barham and Prince, while goalkeeper Samantha Carlino (Kennett Square, Pa.) denied attempts by Zoe Parlamentas and Leard, giving USA the 2-0 win.

The U.S. Women's National Indoor Team concludes the six-game series with the Australia Women's National Indoor Development Team on Sunday, October 8, at 8:30 a.m. ET before setting their sights on the women's Indoor Pan American Cup in Georgetown, Guyana.

Goal Scoring Summary:

Shootout: