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SANTIAGO, Chile – It was a tight contest between the No. 13 U.S. Women’s National Team and No. 12 Ireland in the first semifinal of the 2025 FIH Hockey Nations Cup in Santiago, Chile. Although USA took an early lead, Ireland came from behind twice as the United Eagles fell 1-2. The red, white and blue will play tomorrow in the bronze medal contest.
Ireland started fast earning a penalty corner just a minute into the contest. Meredith Sholder (Fleetwood, Pa.) stood strong and cut down the chance but on the resuming play the Green Army got another entry and forced Jenny Rizzo (Hershey, Pa.) to make back-to-back saves. In the 4th minute, an intercept by Maddie Zimmer (Hershey, Pa.) led to her to driving forward and sending it into the far board to give USA the lead. The United Eagles almost doubled their lead in the 9th minute when they had three set pieces in a row but to no avail. With under a minute to go before the break, it looked like Ireland leveled the game but the proper use of the referral by USA overturned the call.
The second quarter was all Ireland as they put USA under a lot of pressure. Although Rizzo registered six saves, the Green Army found the equalizer in the 24th minute when Roisin Upton converted on a penalty stroke, after a corner attempt hit the foot of the USA post player. The Eagles took control in the final 4 minutes before halftime, but the score remained tied.
USA came out in the third with more attacking presence and better ball movement. After having an early penalty corner overturned, the red, white and blue kept threatening. There was a golden chance in the 35th minute when Katie Dixon (Cary, N.C.) threaded it through to Reese D’Ariano (West Chester, Pa.) in the circle. Unfortunately, D’Ariano’s backhand went off the wrong edge of her stick. Offense continued for both sides, and Rizzo had a spectacular glove save off a penalty corner, but Ireland took the lead with a minute to go when Kathryn Mullan had a solo effort rewarded.
Tensions were high in the final quarter, which saw three cards given, as possession was shared for most of it. In the 52nd minute, Zimmer was taken down outside the circle and it was upgraded to a penalty corner. This chance was well defended by Ireland, but USA kept pushing. As time ticked on the Eagles had a set piece chance touched wide off the post and a reverse flick by Phia Gladieux (Oley, Pa.) sent off target. With 3 minutes to go and Rizzo pulled from the cage, the Eagles had a two athlete advantage but couldn’t capitalize as they fell 1-2.
At the conclusion of the game, Kathryn Mullan was named Player of the Match.
The Eagles will play for the bronze medal tomorrow, March 2 at 2:00 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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