U.S. Soccer Communications media release
CHICAGO (July 7, 2017) – The U.S. Women’s National Team will take on New Zealand on September 19 at Nippert Stadium on the campus of the University of Cincinnati. The match will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET and air on FS1.
This will mark the first visit to Cincinnati for the U.S. Women since 2008 and its first match at Nippert Stadium, home to FC Cincinnati of the United Soccer League. The club has drawn fantastic crowds since its debut in 2016.
The USA last faced New Zealand in the opening game of the 2016 Olympics, a 2-0 victory in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, that featured goals from Carli Lloyd and Alex Morgan.
The match in Cincinnati will be the second of a two-game set vs. New Zealand. The teams will also play on Friday, Sept. 15 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo. (8 p.m. MT on ESPN2).
“The fall friendly matches are an important transition period to 2018 and we want to get the most out of them by continuing to play teams with World Cup and Olympic experience like New Zealand,” U.S. head coach Jill Ellis said. “Denver has been a fun place to play for our team over the years, but we also enjoy going to cities where we haven’t been in a while, like Cincinnati. The fans there have shown extraordinary support for their USL team and we’re looking forward to an enthusiastic crowd for our match as well.”
Tickets
Tickets go on sale to the public Friday, July 21, at 10 a.m. ET through ussoccer.com and by phone at 1-800-745-3000. [Note: Tickets are not sold at Nippert Stadium except on the day of the event.] Groups of 20 or more can order at ussoccer.com.
Ultimate Fan Tickets (special VIP packages that include a premium ticket, a custom-made official U.S. National Team jersey with name and number, VIP access to the field before and after the game, and other unique benefits) are also available for both games exclusively through ussoccer.com.
Additional Notes:
The USA is 12-1-1 all-time against New Zealand, which is ranked 20th in the world.
The teams have played once before in Cincinnati, a 6-0 U.S. win in 2004 on the post-Olympic tour after the USA won the gold medal in Athens, Greece. Goals in that game came from Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly, Aly Wagner, Julie Foudy and Cindy Parlow (2).
These will be the first meetings with New Zealand on U.S. soil since a 4-0 win in St. Louis on April 4, 2015 in the lead up to the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The USA’s only loss to New Zealand came in the first match between the teams back in 1987, a 1-0 victory for the Football Ferns. The USA has gone 12-0-1 since.
U.S. WNT midfielder Rose Lavelle hails from Cincinnati and played for youth club Cincinnati United.
The USA’s three previous matches in Cincinnati were played at Galbreath Field (1993) and Paul Brown Stadium (2004 and 2008).
- ussoccer.com -
