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POREČ, Croatia – The second meeting between the No. 9 U.S. Women’s National Indoor Team and No. 8 Belgium at the 2025 FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup was a battle until the end. The Red Panthers started strong and held a significant lead after the third quarter. USA fought back to bring it within one, but their late push fell short as time expired, 5-6. The United Eagles will play in the 7th-8th place contest, searching for their highest finish ever at the event.
The game started fast with the team’s trading goals inside the first few minutes. USA got on the board first in the 3rd minute after goalkeeper Liz Tamburro (Phoenixville, Pa.) kicked it right to Erin Matson (Chadds Ford, Pa.), who dribbled the length to put the red, white and blue up 1-0. A minute later Belgium equalized and 2 minutes following found the go ahead off a penalty corner goal. Just before the close of the quarter, the Red Panthers extended their margin by converting off another set piece goal.
USA found themselves trailing but brought it to 2-3 in the second quarter. In the 14th minute, Reese D’Ariano (West Chester, Pa.) took a free hit quickly, drove left and reverse flicked it on frame that snuck back the Belgium goalkeeper. Two minutes later, Belgium was issued a green card and the United Eagles pushed, receiving a shot from Charly Bruder (Malvern, Pa.), put couldn’t capitalize on the power play.
Belgium doubled their lead in the 23rd minute again off a penalty corner. Shortly after USA produced two good chances, a right baseline shot from D’Ariano and Matson followed up with a look of her own. The Red Panthers made it 2-5 in the 26th minute after tallying a penalty stroke goal. Although the goal margin continued to extend, USA kept fighting and in the 26th minute earned their first penalty corner. At the close of the frame, Tamburro was pulled but the Eagles couldn’t find a result.
Two minutes inside the final period, the Red Panthers capitalized off an empty net to make it 2-6. It seemed the match was out of reach, but USA showed grit, fought hard and brought it within one. Their run started in the 34th minute, when D’Ariano followed up on her initial attempt to score. Three minutes later off the right post, Bruder touched in a pass from Matson. Time ticked down with USA in control and with just 50 seconds to go, D’Ariano notched her third of the game, but the Eagle’s late push fell short, 5-6.
With the loss, the Eagles move to the 7th-8th place game and will play No. 18 Thailand tomorrow, February 9 at 5:20 a.m. ET.
All matches from the event can be live streamed free on FIH.Hockey.
For more information on the 2025 FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup, visit the event page.
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