31 photos
POREČ, Croatia – It was a successful day for the No. 9 U.S. Women’s National Indoor Team as they finished their campaign at the 2025 FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup in Poreč, Croatia. Taking on No. 18 Thailand in the 7th-8th place match, USA came out strong and held a significant lead at the half. Thailand fought back but the United Eagles held on for the 5-3 victory and to earn their highest finish ever at the event.
Thailand sat in a deep press which made it difficult for USA to threaten forward. The first few minutes saw a few shots from Erin Matson (Chadds Ford, Pa.) and Charly Bruder (Malvern, Pa.), but it wasn’t until midway through when the red, white and blue opened the scoring. A great ball from Sofia Ferri (Phoenixville, Pa.) was one time deflected off the stick of Matson to Reese D’Ariano (West Chester, Pa.), who pulled back and flipped it over the goalkeeper.
Although Thailand held the advantage in shots and circle entries at the start of the second quarter, USA took control and extended their lead in the final three minutes. First, D’Ariano had an individual run into the circle and pulled around the Thailand goalkeeper. Within the same minute following back-to-back shots, Matson put it through the goalkeeper. Lastly, with a minute remaining in the frame, D’Ariano had an identical run to her previous goal going around the goalkeeper, to notch her hat trick and put USA up 4-0.
Thailand came out of the break determined and cut the margin in half. After sustained attack they earned a penalty corner in the 34th minute and Jiratchaya Todkaew buried it into the boards. Five minutes later, captain Tikhamporn Sakulpithak was in the left corner and sent it along the baseline and it unfortunately deflected off a USA stick and into the goal.
USA held a 4-2 lead going into the final period but continued to be tested by Thailand. The United Eagles earned their first penalty corner in the 33rd minute which saw D’Ariano’s shot stopped and Matson sail the rebound toward frame, but it was saved out of the air off a stick of a defender. Thailand responded with a set piece of their own seconds later and Abby Burnett (Zionsville, Pa.) came up big with a defensive save off the post. Inside the 38th minute, both teams traded goals. First Matson collected an outlet and had a give and go with D’Ariano, before finishing into the net. Next, Todkaew tallied her second penalty corner goal. USA held on for the 5-3 victory and highest ever finish at the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup.
At the conclusion of the game, Reese D’Ariano was named Player of the Match for her hat trick in today’s contest.
World Sport Pics
During the post-event awards ceremony and for the second FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup in succession, Reese D'Ariano was named the women's Best Junior Player of the Tournament!
World Sport Pics
Next, the Indoor USWNT will compete in the CanAm Indoor Series from March 14 to 16 in Ontario, Canada.
For more information on the 2025 FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup, visit the event page.
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