U.S. Women’s CP National Team Earns 6-2 Win Over Hosts Ireland in International Friendly

DUBLIN, Ireland (September 28, 2024) - The U.S. Women’s Cerebral Palsy (CP) National Team defeated Ireland 6-2 Saturday afternoon in the first of two matches at the CP International Friendly Series in Dublin this weekend.

Cassidy Leake and Isabella Stankunas each scored twice, and Jesslyn Kuhnel and Leah Glaser added one apiece. Stankunas was joined by Emeril Gordon, Madison Hahs and Kaia Spencer in making their CPWNT debuts in a match that saw all ten available players take the field.

In the team’s first match since the 2022 World Cup, head coach Tricia Taliaferro’s first-five were all returning players from that World Cup-winning side: Rebecca Ostrander was back in goal, and captain Leake, Kuhnel, Glaser and Michelle Cross ran the field.

The USA was on the front foot from the opening whistle, with Kuhnel opening the scoring after two minutes. Leake then scored twice and Glaser picked off a diagonal run and finished a fine solo effort for the fourth goal a 15 minute span. Ireland’s Heather Jameson got one back before the half as the game became more balanced.

Both teams made changes coming out of the break. The USA’s included the introduction of World Cup veteran Annie Wickett, and the international debuts for Gordon, Hahs, Spencer, and Stankunas - who scored both of the USA’s second half goals. Jameson then scored her second on an excellent header off a nice pass from Eva Walsh.

The USA will close the week of training and friendlies Sunday when they face Denmark at 11am local time. Ireland’s and Denmark’s CP Women’s Teams are two of the latest additions in this discipline of soccer, both having debuted in 2023. The three teams will meet again at the IFCPF World Cup in November.

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

Match: United States Women’s CP National Team vs. Ireland
Date: September 28, 2024
Competition: CP International Friendly Series
Venue: AUL Complex, Dublin, Ireland
Attendance: —
Kickoff: 11:00 a.m. ET
Weather: 54 degrees; Cloudy

Lineups:
USA: 1-Rebecca Ostrander, 2-Cassidy Leake (Capt.)(3-Annie Wickett, 26), 4-Michelle Cross (8-Kaia Spencer, 26; 11-Emeril Gordon, 40’), 9-Leah Glaser (6-Madison Hahs, 35’), 10-Jesslyn Kuhnel (5-Isabella Stankunas, 26)
Substitutes not used; none
Head Coach: Tricia Taliaferro

IRL: Reeva Merriman, Heather Jameson, Elsie Friel, Katie Finnegan, Eva Walsh
Substitutes: Ella Sherlock, Casey Heany, Robyn Ennis, Aine Monk, Shauna McGann Hanlon
Head coach: Mick Doyle

Misconduct Summary:
None