U.S. Women’s Futsal National Team Defeats Costa Rica 2-0 in Program’s Inaugural Match

San Jose, Costa Rica (February 25, 2025) – The U.S. Women’s Futsal National Team earned a historic 2-0 win over Costa Rica in the program’s inaugural match Tuesday night in an international friendly at the host’s BN Arena. Jeanette Fieldsend scored the team’s first and second goals - both in the first half - as the Futsal WNT became the 27th U.S. Soccer National Team to play a competitive match. Fourteen players will go in the books as having made their international debuts on the night, with goalkeepers Ellie Goodrich and Martha Lord each playing a half to register the clean sheet.

The USA and Costa Rica will play two more friendlies on Thursday and Saturday as both teams continue preparation for April’s Concacaf W Futsal Championship in Guatemala.

After six domestic trainings camps since the program launched in 2023, and five training sessions since arriving in Costa Rica last Friday, head coach Diego Burato’s starting five in the team’s first match featured Ellie Goodrich in goal, Janae Braun at fixo, Sarah Martin at pivo and alas Jeanette Fieldsend and Carlie Banks, who also wore the captain’s armband.

If the team felt nerves, they didn’t show it early on.

Less than two minutes in, Goodrich lifted a pass over half court that Banks deftly brought down before getting a shot off just inside the penalty area on goalkeeper Genesis Mendez, who did well to deny from close range.

Braun then picked off an errant pass and hit a solid shot angling for the top right corner that Mendez also pushed away.

The pressure paid off just a few minutes later as Fieldsend took possession at midcourt and played a quick ball to Martin down the center. The two worked a nice give-and-go, drawing Mendez out and leaving Fieldsend to finish alone on the right side for her first international goal.

Costa Rica nearly leveled after ten minutes, when Braun attempted a pass across the penalty area that Mariela Alfaro blocked to redirect on goal. Goodrich, moving to her right, reacted quickly and made the save diving to her left at the goal line.

Goodrich was forced to make three more saves in a short span, the most challenging coming with less than four minutes remaining in the half when Ariel Barquero played a short free kick to Yerlin Varela at the top of the box, who set up a left-footed shot through traffic that Goodrich stopped low.

Fieldsend then doubled the lead with seconds remaining. Picking off a pass inside the area, Fieldsend’s initial shot was saved by Mendez, but the ball fell back to the 19-year-old who put away her second attempt.

Costa Rica nearly cut into the lead early in the second half when Barquero’s shot hit the right post. Barquero remained a threat, forcing saves from second-half substitute Martha Lord, none better than a quick right-footed kick-save with six minutes to play.

Fieldsend almost completed a hat trick in the final minute when she got on the end of a Martin corner kick, but Mendez was again there to make another nice near-post save.

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

Match: United States Futsal Women’s National Team vs. Costa Rica
Date: February 25, 2025
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Costa Rica Football Federation Arena BN
Attendance: (closed door)
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. local time)
Weather: 78 degrees

Lineups:
USA:12- Ellie Goodrich, 5-Jeanette Fieldsend, 6-Sarah Martin, 9-Janae Braun, 11- Carlie Banks (Captain)
Substitutes: 1-Martha Ford, 2-Jorden Felton, 3-Zaneta Wyne, 4-Luciana Setteducate, 8-Auryn Tillette, 10-Paige Pierson, 14-Citlali Luna, 17-Hayley Wilson, 18-Viet-Thy Tran
Did not play: 7-Emanuelly Ferreira, 13-Kelsey Smith, 15-Brianna Harshe, 16-Nicole Grimaldo
Head coach: Diego Burato

CRC: 1-Genesis Mendez, 5-Pamela Gorgona, 7-Mariela Alfaro, 8-Karol Arias (Captain), 10-Tatiana Cascante
Substitutes: 2-Saray Espinoza, 3-Fabiola Valverde, 4-Roxini Lopez, 6-Yendri Villalobos, 9-Ariel Barquero, 11-Yerlin Varela, 13-Charlot Solis, 14-Mariela Solis
Did not play: 12-Karen Arrieta, 18-Maria Jose Arce
Head coach: Alex Ramos

Stats Summary: USA / CRC
Shots: 25 / 20
Shots on Goal: 15 / 8
Saves: 8 / 13
Corner Kicks: 5 / 2
Fouls: 2 / 3

Misconduct Summary:
USA - Hayley Wilson (caution) 15’43” (First Half)

Officials:
Referee: Andy Leon (CRC)
Second Referee: Kimberly Valverde (CRC)
3rd Referee: Krystan Pahia (USA)
Timekeeper: Marco Azofeifa (CRC)