Janine Beckie, Carli Lloyd and Nichelle Prince returned to action as the U.S. Women’s National Team and Canadian Women’s National Team played to a 1-1 draw at B.C. Place in Vancouver yesterday.
Alex Morgan gave the USWNT the lead in the 30th minute after her volley deflected off Rebecca Quinn into the bottom corner of the goal.
Canada equalized in the 57th minute after Beckie won a corner kick by forcing a save from U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher with a long-range strike that was pushed over the crossbar. Christine Sinclair collected the ensuing free kick and found Adriana Leon for the equalizer.
Prince played 71 minutes and Beckie was on the pitch for nearly the full match, coming out in the 89th minute. Canada almost equalized in the 35th minute after Beckie’s cross found Leon, but her shot was saved by Naeher. The rebound eventually found Prince but her effort went wide of the top corner of the goal.
Lloyd and the USWNT returned to B.C. Place for the first time since winning the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The forward entered the game in the second half to earn her 245th cap with the national team.
Beckie was also called to defend the Canadian goal as she cleared two shots inside the six yard box from Alex Morgan in the 76th minute.
Beckie, Lloyd and Prince, along with U.S. goalkeeper Jane Campbell, return to action on Sunday at 8 p.m. for the second leg of the home-and-series at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif.
