Match Recap: WNT Falls to Canada at NACHC Championship
by Matthew Collins
In their first match at the 2023 NACHC Women's Championship, USA Team Handball's Women's National Team fell to Canada, with a final score of 26:11.
The US most recently played the Canadians in two matches in November 2022 for Pan American Games Qualification, dropping both matches.
In front a mix of US, Canada, and home Greenland fans, Daisy Licea got the USA on the board in the 3rd minute, and another USA goal allowed the Americans to hold a 2:1 lead until the 11th minute, courtesy of several spectacular saves on Canadian breakaways by Goalkeeper Sophie Fasold. Goalkeeper Sanna Wheeler replaced Fasold for a 7 meter shot in the 8th minute and stopped the penalty for the USA.
After goals from Ashley Butler, Beatriz Cangas Perez, and Kathy Darling, the Americans found themselves in a 8:5 deficit. After some costly turnovers and missed opportunities, Team Canada extended their lead to 14:6 by the time the clock stroked halftime.
Coming out of the break, Head Coach Edina Borsos' side looked to make some tactical changes to stop the Canada attack and break through the opponents' defense.
A 7 meter penalty save by Sophie Fasold in th 33rd minute held the Canada at nine, 16:7.
The US and Canada traded goals back and forth, and in the 41st minute, the difference was ten with Canada leading 19:9.
The American side was not going down without a fight and a Daisy Licea attack led to a 7 meter penalty, which WNT veteran Kathy Darling converted to make the score 23:10.
In that late stages of the match, Borsos substituted Katie Timmerman and Payton McCarthy into the game who, along with Cangas Perez, had their first international appearance for the United States at any level. Cedar Bellows, Zarinna Monroy, Laisha Martinez, and Daisy Licea made their first Senior Indoor National Team appearance in this game.
A successful Kathy Darling 7 meter shot in last thirteen seconds of the match settled a 15 goal defeat for the US, with a final score of 26:11.
Due to her outstanding performance, stifling the Canadian attack on multiple occasions and adding multilple 7 meter penalty saves, Goalkeeper Sophie Fasold was named Team USA's Player of the Match.
The USA looks to bounce back from the defeat on Wednesday against a Greenland side, who defeated the Canadians 30:19 in their first match of the tournament.
All USA matches will be streamed live on the USA Team Handball YouTube channel (LINK).