Photo credit: SOPA Images for AP

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – Slippery Rock University alumna and former women's soccer standout Sofia Harrison played all 90 minutes of an historic upset at the FIFA Women's World Cup Tuesday, helping the Philippines to a 1-0 shutout win over co-host New Zealand in front of 33,000 fans at Wellington Regional Stadium.
 
The "Filipinas" became the first of eight debutants at the World Cup to earn a victory and Harrison and her teammates etched their name in Philippines history books as the first national team to ever win a World Cup game.
 
"I am just beaming with pride and in tears over here watching Sofia show the world what we have known all along, that she is a tenacious player and an incredible teammate," said Jessica Giegucz, SRU head women's soccer coach. "We are just so proud of everything she has accomplished and we cannot wait to see what the future holds for her."
 
The Filipinas opened their debut at the World Cup with a 2-0 setback against Switzerland last week, but bounced back on the biggest stage the team has ever played on Tuesday night against the co-hosts of the tournament. The "Football Ferns" entered the game ranked No. 26 in the latest FIFA world rankings, 20 positions higher than the Filipinas' No. 46 ranking.
 
Sarina Bolden put a shock into the sold-out stadium with a towering header that found the back of the net in the 23rd minute for the first World Cup goal in Philippines history and the first goal scored by any of the eight teams making their World Cup debut this year.
 
New Zealand appeared to find the equalizer with 20 minutes left in the game, but Jacqui Hands' goal was ruled offside after video review. The Football Ferns best chance at stealing a point away came in stoppage time, but Philippines goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel made a remarkable diving save to deny Grace Jale's shot and preserve the historic victory.
 
Harrison was stellar on defense against the much larger forwards from New Zealand, playing the full 90 minutes and helping to secure the first World Cup shutout in Philippines history. She was active up and down the field all night and cleared numerous scoring chances away from dangerous areas in addition to drawing a yellow card on former University of Tennessee All-American Hannah Wilkinson, New Zealand's most threatening forward.
 
The only non-Division I player out of the 137 former or current NCAA players on World Cup rosters, Harrison has played every minute as the starting left back for the Philippines through the first two games of the World Cup. She will look to make her third straight start when the Filipinas play their final group stage game Sunday, July 30 against Norway.
 
All four teams in Group A are still alive with a chance to advance to the knockout stages. Switzerland leads the group with four points, followed by New Zealand and the Philippines with three points and Norway with one point. The Filipinas can guarantee themselves a spot in the knockout rounds with a win or a draw against Norway AND a Switzerland win against New Zealand.
 
Sunday's game against Norway will kick off at 3 a.m. ET and will air live on Fox Sports 1 in the United States.
 
 
 
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