Macario and Shaw score in 2-0 USWNT win over Italy to end 2025

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Catarina Macario scored in her third straight international match and the United States defeated Italy 2-0 on Monday night in the final game for the national team this year.

The United States has scored in 16 straight matches, including all 15 this year. The national team wrapped up 2025 12-3-0.

Macario scored the opening goal in the 20th minute with a strike from the corner of the box and up over Italy goalkeeper Francesca Durante’s head and into the side netting of the far post.

Jaedyn Shaw added a second goal before halftime, taking a pass from Alyssa Thompson before squaring up and calmly finishing out of Durante’s reach to make it 2-0.

Claudia Dickey earned her fifth clean sheet in her sixth appearance in goal for the United States.

Macario had a pair of goals a 3-0 victory over Italy on Friday night in Orlando, Florida. Olivia Moultrie, who scored the other goal on Friday, was available off the bench Monday.

“I really enjoyed the performances of these two games,” U.S. coach Emma Hayes said, noting the contributions across the roster. “I think they’re my favorite performances of the year."

Macario, who plays for Chelsea, led the team this year with eight goals, including seven goals in her last seven starts. She nearly got a second goal at Ft. Lauderdale's Chase Stadium but it was disallowed because of a foul, denying her a third brace in her last three international games.

Hayes celebrated Macario's goal on the sidelines, explaining how the forward had clearly regained her form after a series of unfortunate injuries over the past several years.

“That’s what I was celebrating was, she’s got a little swagger back and that matters to her, not to me, because I always think she puts in great performances. But I saw tonight that there really is another level to her to go," Hayes said. “And I think I know she feels when she’s in this environment she feels valued and seen and supported.”

Macario and Emily Fox were among the players named earlier Monday as nominees for the women's U.S. Soccer Player of the Year award, joining Rose Lavelle, Alyssa Thompson and Sam Coffey.

Hayes made five changes to the starting lineup from Friday’s victory in the first game against Italy, going with veterans Naomi Girma, Lindsey Heaps, Fox and Macario. Three teenagers started for the United States, including 19-year-olds Claire Hutton and Jordyn Bugg and 18-year-old Lily Yohannes.

The U.S. national team will next gather from Jan. 17-27 for the team's annual camp in Carson, California, with a match planned against Paraguay and another against an undetermined opponent.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Italy midfielder Giulia Dragoni (16) drives forward as United States midfielder Lily Yohannes (7) pursues during the first half of an international friendly soccer match, Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Italy goalkeeper Francesca Durante (22) jumps to deflect a shot against United States defender Jordyn Bugg (2) during the first half of an international friendly soccer match, Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

United States midfielder Jaedyn Shaw (8) celebrates after scoring her side's second goal against Italy during the first half of an international friendly soccer match, Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

United States forward Catarina Macario (20) celebrates after scoring her side's first goal against Italy during the first half of an international friendly soccer match, Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

CHICAGO (AP) — Matthew Boyd struck out 10 while pitching into the sixth inning, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Los Angeles Angels 6-2 on Wednesday.

Nico Hoerner had three hits for Chicago on a chilly and windy afternoon at Wrigley Field. Matt Shaw had two hits and two RBIs, and Alex Bregman reached three times in the rubber game of the three-game series.

Boyd (1-1) allowed two runs, one earned, and two hits over 5 2/3 innings in his second start of the season. The left-hander was tagged for six runs in 3 2/3 innings in a 10-4 loss to Washington on opening day.

Zach Neto had two of the Angels' four hits. Yusei Kikuchi (0-1) was charged with five runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Chicago grabbed control with five runs in the third inning. Miguel Amaya walked and scored from first on Hoerner's double into the gap in left-center. Bregman singled in Hoerner, and Dansby Swanson drove in Ian Happ with a sacrifice fly. Shaw and Pete Crow-Armstrong contributed two-out RBI singles.

First-year Los Angeles manager Kurt Suzuki wanted a replay review of the play at the plate when Amaya scored but was denied by the umpires because he took too long to decide on the challenge.

The Angels chased Boyd while scoring two runs in the sixth. Jo Adell singled in Neto, and Mike Trout scampered home on an error on Bregman at third.

The Cubs tacked on an unearned run in the seventh. Trout dropped Carson Kelly's leadoff flyball to center for an error, and Kelly scored on Shaw's one-out single.

Angels: Following an off day, LHP Reid Detmers (0-0, 5.79 ERA) starts for the Angels in their home opener on Friday night. RHP Bryan Woo (0-0, 3.00 ERA) takes the mound for Seattle.

Cubs: RHP Cade Horton (1-0, 2.84 ERA) starts the opener of a weekend series at Cleveland on Friday. LHP Joey Cantillo (0-0, 4.91 ERA) gets the ball for the Guardians.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Los Angeles Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Los Angeles Angels manager Kurt Suzuki, left, attempts to challenge a play with an umpire during the third inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong watches his RBI single during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Chicago, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Chicago Cubs' Matt Shaw watches his RBI single during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Chicago, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Chicago Cubs starter Matthew Boyd delivers a pitch during a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Chicago, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)