U.S. Under-23 women only manage draw with Northern Ireland

The U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team tied the full Northern Ireland Women\'s National Team in Belfast on May 15 as neither team could score over the 90 minutes. The USA piled up a 15-3 shot advantage, but couldn’t find a way past Northern Irish goalkeeper Tiarna McKenna.

“We played well, created chances, and dominated the game, but failed to put anything away,” said U.S. head coach Bill Irwin, himself a native of Northern Ireland. “Northern Ireland made the game difficult. They got numbers back and they certainly battled for 90 minutes.”

The U.S. team was to play the full National Team of Ireland, but that match was cancelled and the U-23s will instead play an Irish women’s select side in its second and final game of the tour.

Match: United States U-23 Women\'s National Team vs. Northern Ireland
Date: May 15, 2009
Competition: Friendly
Venue: Belfast, N. Ireland
Weather: 60 degrees, cloudy and cool

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA                            0 0 0
NIR                             0 0 0

Lineups:
USA: 18-Kristin Arnold; 6-Lauren Barnes, 4-Brittany Taylor, 16-Lauren Fowlkes, 12-Kat Reynolds (20-Jessica Tsao, 52); 25-Christen Press, 5-Kylie Wright, 2-Ali Hawkins (19-Katie Oakes, 52), 7-Kelley O’Hara (15-Kendra Chandhoke, 58); 23-Katie Schoepfer, 8-Kiki Bosio (10-Ashley Bowyer, 65)
Subs not used: 21-Keelin Winters, 22-Bri Young, 24- Kristen Olsen
Head Coach: Bill Irwin

NIR: 1-Tiarna McKenna; 2-Laura Gillespie, 5-Julie Nelson, 6-Ashley Hutton, 3-Kelly Bailie; 4-Nadene Caldwell, 8-Makayla Mullholland (16-Claire Timoney, 72), 10-Roisin Havelin (15-Clare Carson, 69), 11-Rachel Furness, 9-Demi Vance; 7-Catherine Hyndman (17-Avilla Bergin, 35)
Subs not used: 12-Patterson, 13-Armour, 14-Wade
Head Coach: Alfie Wylie

Stats Summary: USA / NIR
Shots: 15 / 3
Shots on Goal: 6 / 2
Saves: 2 / 5
Corner Kicks: 5 / 3
Fouls: 11 / 10
Offside: 3 / 0

Misconduct Summary:
None