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SANTIAGO, Chile – In front of a large home crowd, the No. 13 U.S. Women’s National Team and No. 14 Chile faced off in their final pool game of the 2025 FIH Hockey Nations Cup. In what started as an even contest, the hosts tallied on three penalty corners while USA failed to convert on their many opportunities as they fell 1-3.
"While there were some really good play in this game which we can take confidence from into the semifinals, we need to better in both circles," said David Passmore, USWNT Head Coach. " With seven more circle entries than Chile, we need to be more clinical and also not concede sloppy fouls in our own circle."
A scoreless first quarter saw USA have the slight advantage in circle entries, but Chile had the frame’s lone shot. That chance came with 17 seconds left before the break when Francisca Tala received it wide open with space to drive toward goalkeeper Kealsie Reeb (Seaford, Va.), but the shot went wide.
Las Diablas opened the second period on the front foot, producing a handful of penetrations and earning the game’s first penalty corner. Although unsuccessful on the chance, they continue to threaten and test the United Eagle’s defense. Midway through USA registered their first shot, a backhand from Reese D’Ariano (West Chester, Pa.) that was saved by the blocker of goalkeeper Natalia Salvador. In the 25th minute, Chile got on the board when on a penalty corner the sweep by Denise Rojas Losada snuck through. Three minutes later, it looked like USA leveled it off a penalty corner conversion but upon review the goal was called back as the red, white and blue went into the half trailing, 0-1.
Eight minutes into the third quarter, Chile doubled their lead again off a penalty corner. The sweep from the top went down to the inserter who crossed it, and captain Manuela Urroz deflected it into the corner. Trailing 0-2, USA responded by taking control down the other way and earning a set piece. On the attempt, Meredith Sholder (Fleetwood, Pa.) laid out off the right post but great defending by Salvador kept it out. The Eagles kept threatening earning another penalty corner, and a shot from Cassie Sumfest (Lewisburg, Pa.) that was saved off the goal line and an attempt from Sanne Caarls (Nieuw-Vennep, Netherlands) that sailed over the goal.
USA went into the final period continuing to drive on attack. They had a golden opportunity in the 52nd minute when they won a penalty stroke, but the chance went wide. Down the other way, Chile had four set pieces in a row and on the final one added to the scoreline through Maria Maldonado. The red, white and blue kept pushing and with 3 minutes to go, Maddie Zimmer (Hershey, Pa.) found the back of the net to bring it to 1-3. Although Reeb was pulled for the extra field player, USA ran out of time as they fell to the hosts.
At the conclusion of the game, Natalia Salvador was named Player of the Match.
Finishing second in Pool A, the United Eagles will play in the semifinals on Saturday, March 1 against No. 12 Ireland at 4:30 p.m. ET.
All matches from the event can be live streamed free on FIH.Hockey.
For more information on the 2025 FIH Hockey Nations Cup, visit the event page.
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