Wilkinson earns Ferns draw in Columbus

• by Soccer America , Oct 30, 2013

[USA-NEW ZEALAND] University of Tennessee junior Hannah Wilkinson scored a goal for New Zealand in the 88th minute to give the Ferns a 1-1 tie with the USA on Wednesday at Columbus Crew Stadium that broke their 10-game losing streak that followed a New Zealand win in 1987.
 
Wilkinson fired a shot past a diving Hope Solo, who had denied the Kiwi on two near-goals earlier in the match. The goal was Wilkinson's second in four days against the USA. On Sunday, she had scored the lone goal for New Zealand in the USA's 4-1 win in San Francisco.
 
"This means quite a lot," Wilkinson said to reporters after the match. "It's awesome. Facing the U.S. is always such a challenge. They're the best in the world. To draw a point against them is amazing. I couldn't be more proud of my team today."
 
The U.S. goal came on a header from Sydney Leroux off a cross from Kristie Mewis in the 43rd minute. It was the only shot that eluded the Ferns' 40-year-old keeper, Jenny Bindon, a native of Belleville, Ill.

The draw kept the USA unbeaten at 12-0-3 in 2013. It has a chance to complete an undefeated year with double-digit victories for just the second time in women's national team history.

Its final game of the year is against Brazil on Nov. 10 at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando.

-- In other action, Christine Sinclair, Brittany Timko and Adriana Leon scored for Canada in a 3-0 win over South Korea.



Oct. 30 in Columbus, Ohio
USA 1 New Zealand 1. Goals: Leroux 42, Wilkinson 87.
USA -- Solo; Krieger, Sauerbrunn, Rampone (Buehler, 46), Mewis; Averbuch (Lloyd, 70), Rapinoe, Holiday; O'Reilly, Wambach, Leroux (Press, 78).
New Zealand -- Nayler (Bindon, 46); Erceg, Percival, Riley, Stott; Yallop (White, 79), Hoyle, Longo (Hassett, 60); Gregorius (Collins, 67), Hearn, Wilkinson (Lee, 90+2).
Referee: Sabina Charles-Kirton (St. Lucia).
Att.: 15,139.