Carlota Ciganda’s clutch shots keep the Solheim Cup in European hands
CASARES, Spain — Carlota Ciganda starred on Spanish soil on Sunday with two of the best shots of her life, finishing with two birdies for a clutch win over Nelly Korda that assured Europe of retaining the Solheim Cup with the first tie in history.
The matches at Finca Cortesin finished at 14-all. Europe retains the cup as the defending champion. The Americans last won the Solheim Cup in 2017.
The Americans appeared to be in control of the Sunday singles session until Caroline Hedwall of Sweden won five of the last six holes to flip her match against Ally Ewing. That set the stage for Ciganda. She was all square with Korda until hitting it tight on the 16th for birdie, and then hitting a tee shot on the par-3 17th to 2 feet for birdie and a 2-and-1 victory.
That assured Europe the 14 points it needed to retain the cup. Ciganda, the only Spanish player on the European team, went 4-0 for the week.
Shenandoah safety Haley Van Voorhis is first woman non-kicker to play in NCAA football game
WINCHESTER, Va. — Haley Van Voorhis, a safety for Division III Shenandoah University, became the first woman to appear in an NCAA football game at a position other than kicker on Saturday.
The 5-foot-6, 145-pound junior registered a quarterback hurry in the first quarter of Shenandoah’s 48-7 home win over Juniata. She brought the quarterback to the ground just after he released the ball, and the third-down pass was incomplete.
“It’s an amazing thing,” Van Voorhis told The Washington Post. “I just wanted to get out and do my thing. I want to show other people this is what women can do, to show what I can do. It’s a big moment. I made the impossible possible, and I’m excited about that.”
Van Voorhis’ achievement was the latest milestone for women in college football. In 2020, Vanderbilt’s Sarah Fuller made two extra points to become the first woman to score in a Power Five conference game.
Liz Heaston became the first woman to score in college football with two extra points for Willamette of NAIA on Oct. 18, 1997.
Katie Hnida became the first woman to score at the FBS level when she made two extra points for New Mexico on Aug. 30, 2003. April Goss was the second to make an extra point when she scored for Kent State in 2015. Tonya Butler was the first woman to kick and make a field goal in an NCAA game for Division II West Alabama on Sept. 13, 2003.
Megan Rapinoe gets
triumphant send-off as United States beats South Africa 2-0
CHICAGO — Megan Rapinoe got a triumphant send-off, and the United States beat South Africa 2-0 on Sunday.
Trinity Rodman and Emily Sonnett scored, and the U.S. sent its captain toward retirement with one final victory as a member of the national team.
The 38-year-old Rapinoe was presented a framed jersey representing her 203 games
with the United States prior to the win, and she raised her arms as the crowd roared.
Rodman gave the U.S. more to celebrate when she drilled the ball into the net off a cross from Alex Morgan in the 18th minute. Rapinoe was the first to hug her.
Sonnett made it 2-0 with a header in the 49th minute and then jumped into Rapinoe’s arms. Rapinoe came close to scoring, but missed just high on a free kick. She exited the international stage for one final time to a standing ovation
in the 54th minute, kissing and hugging her teammates and blowing a kiss to the crowd and bowing.
Rapinoe announced in July that she was retiring after an illustrious career that included a pair of World Cup championships as well as gold and bronze medals in the Olympics and countless victory poses with her feet together and arms raised wide as she grinned ear to ear. She used her platform make an impact beyond the pitch, fighting for equal pay and social justice.