10/8/24 - The US Mini Football Women's National Team clinched the top spot in Group A with an 8-0 win over Costa Rica on a rainy Tuesday. It was the fifth straight World Cup shutout for the Americans going back to the 2021 WMF World Cup in Kiev, Ukraine.

With the win, the US, and historic arch-rival Mexico, who have beaten Romania 11-0 and Ukraine 4-0, earned slots in the Semifinals, where they will each face teams that advance from Wednesday's Quarterfinals.

Christy Zwolski scored the game-winning goal in just the third minute, finessing in an Emaly Vatne pass. Erin Yenney scored five minutes later from the same far post on a Kenne Kessler pass. Yenney returned the favor, setting up Kessler in the 12th minute.

The US blew the game open with goals by Kessler, Kelsey Keown, and Alivia Milesky in a three minute span near the end of the first half.

The US sat on its 6-0 lead throughout most of the second half until last minute goals by Keown and Gabby Byorth. Annabelle Hegeman made her tournament debut and picked up her first shutout.

“Anytime you are in an event like this, the idea is to try to improve each game," said US Head Coach Craig Rhodis. "There were stretches where we showed we have made progress, but we will need to be better in the semifinal. This is a special group and we are confident they can get it done.”

1-0 Zwolski (Vatne) 3'
2-0 Yenney (Kessler) 8'
3-0 Kessler (Yenney) 12'
4-0 Kessler (Gogolin) 19'
5-0 Keown (Vatne) 21'
6-0 Milesky (Gogolin) 22'

7-0 Keown 49'
8-0 G. Byorth 50'