U.S. Para Women Defeat Tough Australia Squad 4-0 Behind First-Half Hat Trick From Annie Wickett To Take First Place In Group Play At Inaugural 2022 IFCPF World Cup Finals

SALOU, Spain (May 15, 2022) - The U.S. Para Women’s National Team downed a tough Australian squad 4-0 in their final group game to finish 3-0-1 and in first place as they prep for a rematch with the ParaMatildas in the inaugural IFCPF World Cup championship game on Tuesday, May 17 (at 6:45 a.m. ET / 12:45 p.m. local).

 

The U.S. was led by three-goal performance from former University of Connecticut defender Annie Wickett (Frederick, Md.). Wickett’s goal-scoring outburst began with back-to-back strikes in the 17^th and 18^th minutes to broke open a tight game. Her third came in the 24^th minute (just before halftime of the 50-minute, five-a-side game). All three of her goals were unassisted.

 

In addition to her hat trick, Wickett went in goal for the game’s final nine minutes to help the U.S. secure their third shutout of the competition behind starter Emily Lauritsen (Omaha).

 

The only goal of the second half was the 11^th of the tournament for the team’s scoring leader Catarina Guimarães (Cranford, N.J.). Guimarães slotted him a cross-field pass from Wickett in the game’s 35^th minute.

 

The U.S. was led defensively by another standout performance from defender Michelle Cross, the only player to play every minute of the competition for the U.S. through four games. She and Guimarães are the only two players to start all four games.

 

The U.S. will have their entire squad available for selection for Tuesday’s historic final with Australia. The match will be streamed live at https://www.esportplus.tv/home at 12:45 p.m. local / 6:45 a.m. ET.

 

- U.S. PARA WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT-

 

Match: United States Para Women’s National Team vs. Australia

Date: May 15, 2022

Competition: 2022 IFCPF World Cup

Venue: Futbol Salou Sports Complex

Attendance: —

Kickoff: 6:45 a.m. ET (12:45 p.m. local)

Weather: 74 degrees; sunny

 

Scoring Summary: 1          2          F

USA                            3          1          4

AUS                           0          0          0

 

USA – Annie Wickett (UA)                                                 18^th minute

USA – Annie Wickett (UA)                                                 19.

USA – Annie Wickett (UA)                                                 24.

USA – Catarina Guimarães (Annie Wickett)                   35.

 

Lineups:

USA: 1-Emily Lauritsen (10-Jesslyn Kuhnel, 41); 2-Rebecca Ostrander, 3-Annie Wickett (captain), 4-Michelle Cross; 7-Catarina Guimarães (9-Leah Glaser, 44)

Subs Not Used: 5-Joey Martin, 6-Kat Renick, 8-Cassidy Leake

Head Coach: Tricia Taliaferro

 

AUS: 6-Katelyn Smith; 3-Tahlia Blanshard, 5-Lainee Harrison (4-Charlize Tran, 26), 9-Rae Anderson (2-Nicole Christodoulou, 46), 10-Georgia Beikoff (captain) (7-Eloise Northam, 26)

Subs Not Used: 1-Holly Saunders, 8-Matilda Mason

Head coach: Kelly Stirton

Stats Summary: USA / AUS

Shots: 21 / 8

Saves: 6 / 9

Corner Kicks: 2 / 0

Fouls: 1 / 0

Misconduct Summary:

None.

 

Officials:

Referee: Hector Robas

Referee: Andrea Coca