Ally Sentnor’s goal propels USWNT past Canada in SheBelieves Cup

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ally Sentnor scored in the 55th minute and the United States beat Canada, 1-0, on a soggy Wednesday night in the SheBelieves Cup tournament.

Sentnor scored her seventh international goal off a corner kick from Rose Lavelle, gathering the ball on a bounce before punching it past two defenders and Canada goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan from 12 yards out.

It was the Americans’ seventh consecutive shutout. The team hasn’t allowed a goal since a 3-1 victory over Portugal last October.

“Honestly, our goal was just to win the game,” Sentnor said. “I think going into a rivalry game, we knew what was going to happen. It was going to be on the line and Canada gave us an incredible performance, and we really had to work for this win.”

The U.S. sits atop the SheBelieves standings with two wins (six points) and needs only a point in the final match to clinch its eighth title in the tournament’s 11 years. Canada (1-1) and Colombia (1-1) each have three points, while Argentina (0-2) is winless after falling to Colombia, 1-0, in the earlier match Wednesday at ScottsMiracle-Gro Stadium.

The United States is 55-4-9 against Canada since their first meeting in 1986. The U.S. won the previous meeting, 3-0, in July 2025.

The Canadians’ last win in the series came at the Tokyo Olympics, when Jessie Fleming converted a penalty shot in a 1-0 semifinal victory. Canada went on to win the gold medal.

U.S. coach Emma Hayes included Trinity Rodman in the starting lineup despite Rodman taking a hit in the back late in Sunday’s 2-0 SheBelieves victory over Argentina in Nashville. Rodman struggled with a nagging back injury last year.

Hayes made 10 changes from Sunday’s match. The lone holdover was defender Gisele Thompson, who played behind her midfielder sister Alyssa Thompson on the left side. This was the third time the Thompsons started a USWNT match together and the fifth time they played in the same match.

They nearly gave the U.S. the lead going into the break. Gisele found Alyssa on an overlap and she moved toward the goal before unleashing a shot from outside the box that changed direction after being deflected by a Canadian player.

Sheridan made the adjustment for a stretching save with her right hand at the left post and was able to push the ball out of play for her one save of the first half. Phallon Tullis-Joyce also had one for the Americans.

The game was scoreless after the first half despite the Americans dominating possession by nearly 70%.

In the second half, Sheridan twice denied Alyssa Thompson’s quest to increase the lead.

Sentnor, who plays professionally for the NWSL’s Kansas City Current, broke the stalemate with her third goal of the year. The 22-year-old was named U.S. Soccer’s Young Player of the Year in 2024.

The U.S. finished with 18 shot attempts (four on goal), while Canada had 14 (one on goal). The Americans dominated possession (65.5%) and took more corner kicks (11-2), while their opponents had more fouls (14-7) and yellow cards (2-0).

Canada coach Casey Stoney felt her team showed “huge progress” from the last time the teams squared off, but was disappointed about conceding on a set piece.

“I think we were competitive throughout the game. I think we kept our distances better, we had good discipline,” Stoney said. “I think we had moments in their box where we can have a little bit more composure.”

Canada, which defeated Colombia, 4-1, in the tournament opener, was without Fleming because of an illness.

Colombia will play the United States on Saturday in the tournament finale in Harrison, New Jersey. Canada plays Argentina in the early game.

The U.S. saw its five-year run of SheBelieves Cup titles snapped last year by Japan. France won in 2017 and England was the champion in 2019.

Canada is making its fourth appearance in the tournament.