GEORGETOWN, Guyana – October 16, 2017 – Unable to produce a desirable outcome and trailing at the half, the U.S. Women’s National Indoor Team fought back from a 2-0 deficit in their opening game of the women’s Indoor Pan American Cup in Georgetown, Guyana. Seven unanswered goals found the Indoor USWNT ahead of Trinidad and Tobago to earn the victory 7-2.

USA took time to settle in to the sweltering conditions against a fast and tenacious Trinidad and Tobago team. Right out of the gate, Trinidad and Tobago caught USA’s defense off guard and in the second minute of play Blair Wynne gave them a 1-0 lead. Trinidad and Tobago continued with a number of close chances, but USA’s goalkeeper Samantha Carlino (Kennett Square, Pa.) was there to make the saves. USA had plenty of chances as well, including a penalty corner by Samantha Popper (Blue Bell, Pa.) that was saved on the line and shots by Madison Orobono (Macungie, Pa.) and Paityn Wirth (Thompsontown, Pa.) that were blocked. 

With USA starting to get more offensive pressure, Trinidad and Tobago found Zene Henry in the left corner from a long pass and scored from a narrow angle to give them a two-goal advantage. USA continued to press forward and were rewarded when Mary Beth Barham (Fairfax, Va.), who was working tirelessly, forced her way through two defenders to put USA on the scoreboard. A minute later, it was Barham again, this time deflecting in a penalty corner to tie the match at 2-2. 

After Barham hit the post, Anarose McDonough (Kennett Square, Pa.) found Popper with a pinpoint pass, who made no mistake to give USA their first lead in the 32nd minute. The pressure was now shifted on the tiring Trinidad and Tobago defense. One minute later, Ali Campbell’s (Boyertown, Pa.) penalty corner chance was stopped on the line by a defender’s body. The resulting penalty stroke increased the USA, 4-2. Seconds later, Popper collected a ball on the half way line, swerved past two defenders and slipped the ball through the on-rushing goalkeeper taking it 5-2, USA.

Orobono added a sixth off a penalty corner option with three minutes to go and with time running out, Wirth saw her shot stopped with a foot on the line. Campbell stepped up to score from the penalty spot to secure the 7-2 win for USA. 

“We showed our inexperience in the first half,” said Jun Kentwell, Indoor USWNT Head Coach. “It took us too long to settle against a good Trinidad team that played very well. I was pleased that our players kept their nerve and started to play with more poise and quality in the second half.” 

The U.S. Women’s National Indoor Team will face No. 18 Uruguay tomorrow, Tuesday, October 17 at 6:00 p.m. ET in their second pool play match. For more information about the 2017 women’s Indoor Pan American Cup, including event schedule, results and live stream, visit the IPAC Event Page by clicking here #IPAC2017

Goal Scoring Summary: