Debut delight for Niamh Gowing as Ireland draw with USA in first tie of two-leg series

RTÉ News​

6 hours ago

USA 1-1 Ireland
Ireland and USA both had a share of the spoils in the first tie of the two-game series in Charlotte, North Carolina.
A quarter-two goal from debutant Niamh Gowing gave Ireland the lead before the USA responded to level the game less than five minutes later.
Ireland began the first quarter well, early passages of possession eventually materialised into chances. Sarah Torrans attacked down the left baseline and pulled the ball back, but USA cleared.
The chance was followed up by a second effort on goal for Ireland, with Siofra O'Brien driving from her own half into the USA circle and getting a shot away which Kealsy Reeb managed to save in the USA net.
The USA did eventually get a foothold in the game, creating a few chances of their own, but failed to test Irish netminder Elizabeth Murphy as both were wide of the goal, resulting in the sides finishing the opening quarter on level terms.
Ireland were quick to assert themselves in the second quarter, with Torrans testing the goalkeeper no more than a minute after the restart.
Ireland were rewarded for their pressure not long after. Hannah McLoughlin, fired a ball towards the circle which debutant Gowing latched on to and fired into the USA net on her reverse to open the scoring.
USA responded quickly, creating scoring chances, that again went wide, before working the ball well into the Irish circle and finding Riley Heck on the penalty spot to draw level.
Mikayla Power created the next chance of the game creating an inch of space to test the keeper, before Charlotte Beggs found a foot but opted to play on, striking wide with her effort.
A late penalty corner gave the USA a chance to take the lead, but the variation was well defended by Ireland.
After a challenging third quarter, Ireland settled well early in the fourth, with Sarah Hawkshaw working the ball well down the left to give Sarah Torrans a chance from a tight angle.
A few minutes later, Ireland won their first corner of the game with Roisin Upton flicking low at goal forcing a save from Kealsy Reeb.
A yellow card just outside the final five minutes for USA meant they would have to see out the majority of the time remaining a player down.
Sustained pressure from Ireland eventually resulted in a penalty corner with a minute remaining but a mis-trap at the top of the circle left the chance going a-begging meaning the sides shared the spoils in the first match-up of the series.
Ireland will play the second leg game against the USA on Sunday, 8 June.