Sheridan stars as Canada downs Argentina in penalty shootout at SheBelieves Cup

By Canadian Press on March 7, 2026.

HARRISON — Goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan stopped two penalties to help Canada defeat Argentina 3-2 in a penalty shootout after a scoreless 90 minutes at the SheBelieves Cup on Saturday.

Under tournament rules, there is no extra time with drawn matches going straight to a penalty shootout.

Sheridan stopped Aldana Cometti and Sophie Braun with Vanina Preininger firing her shot over the bar to end Argentina”s hopes.

Captain Jessie Fleming, Janine Sonis and Julia Grosso scored in the shootout. Grosso’s shot just made it, sliding in under Argentine goalkeeper Solana Pereyra.

Agostina Holzlieier and Agustina Vargas scored for Argentina. Pereyra denied Jordyn Huitema

The 10th-ranked Canadians opened the tournament in style last Sunday, snapping a five-game losing streak with an impressive 4-1 win over Colombia in Nashville. They then lost 1-0 to the second-ranked U.S. on Wednesday in Columbus.

Argentina lost 2-0 to the U.S. and 1-0 to Colombia.

Canada dominated the second half, penning the Argentines in their own end.

Argentina started to foul more as Canada continued to press. And the South American players wasted time, hitting the deck and requesting medical attention — no doubt with an eye to getting to penalties.

Substitute Cloe Lacasse had a chance to win it for Canada in the 89th minute, after a terrific through ball from Fleming, but her shot hit a defender.

The unbeaten U.S. faced Colombia in the late game Saturday in the tournament finale at Sports Illustrated Stadium.

Canada had won all eight previous meetings with Argentina, downing the South Americans 1-0 the last time they met in Langford, B.C., in April 2025. The Canadian women also won 1-0 when the teams faced off at the 2021 SheBelieves Cup in Orlando.

Canada coach Casey Stoney, whose side has been dealing with illness in camp, made seven changes to her starting lineup with Fleming, Huitema, Marie Levasseur, Brooklyn Courtnall, Kaylee Hunter, D.B. Pridham and Annabelle Chukwu slotting in.

Fleming did not start against the U.S., due to illness, while Awujo had to come off late in the first half. Mimi Alidou was suspended after collecting two yellow cards in the first two games.

Fielding Courtnall, Hunter (on debut), Pridham and Chukwu, who now have a combined eight caps, left the Canada starting 11 with 529 caps — compared to 611 for the starting 11 against the U.S.

The 28-year-old Pridham, the Northern Super League player of the year and Golden Boot winner with 20 goals for the Ottawa Rapid, and the 19-year-old Chukwu, who broke Christine Sinclair’s Canadian youth scoring record, started up front. Chukwu plays collegiate soccer at Notre Dame, where she is coming off a first team All-ACC selection as a sophomore.

Huitema and the 18-year-old Hunter, who was second to Pridham in NSL scoring with 16 goals for AFC Toronto, added to the attack from the flank.

The attacking foursome looked promising, while clearly learning each other’s tendencies.

Sonis forced a save from Pereyra in the first minute after a nice interchange with Chukwu. At the other end, Sheridan stopped Sofía Domínguez in the 16th minute after an errant pass by Fleming.

Pereyra denied Huitema in the 39th minute with an acrobatic save, pushing the ball off the crossbar.

Vanessa Gilles, Grosso and Sydney Collins came on to start a second half that saw Canada threaten early with a Hunter header that flashed just wide.

Evelyne Viens followed off the Canadian bench as the second half wore on, firing a hard shot directly at Pereyra in the 65th minute. Lacasse and Holy Ward also joined the fray.

Next up for Canada are games against No. 6 Brazil, No. 21 South Korea and No. 64 Zambia in April in Brazil as part of the expanded FIFA Series.

The 2026 Series follows a pilot project in 2024 which featured 24 teams playing in five locations across three continents. The 2026 edition features 36 men’s and 12 women’s sides, divided into 12 groups of four.

Canada is preparing for the eight-team CONCACAF W Championship in November that serves as a 2027 World Cup and 2028 Olympic qualifier.