Perris-Redding’s Hat Trick Lifts USA Past Italy
Updated: 5 hours ago
The Eagles built a 23-point lead before Italy rallied, with Bella Vogel’s kicking proving decisive in a 36–27 victory.
For much of the opening 50 minutes, the USA Women’s Eagles gave Italy a game to chase. By the closing stages, the visitors were giving the Americans a lead to protect.
Georgie Perris-Redding scored a hat-trick, and Hope Rogers added two tries as the Eagles defeated Italy 36–27 at Texas Health Mansfield Stadium on October 17, 2026. The Americans led 26–10 at halftime and stretched that advantage to 33–10 early in the second half before Italy mounted a comeback.
Bella Vogel’s late penalty helped secure a result that extended the Eagles’ winning streak to four Tests and kept them unbeaten through three WXV Global Series matches. For the Americans, the victory brought both encouragement and unfinished business: their attack established control, but Italy made them work to keep it.
Perris-Redding Turns Pressure Into Points
The Eagles’ opening score came through sustained pressure near the Italian line. A series of carries brought Perris-Redding within striking distance, and the co-captain finished before Vogel added the conversion.
Italy responded through Francesca Granzotto, refusing to let the hosts settle into an uncontested opening. But the Americans’ next scoring movement showed how dangerous their attack could become when their running and support play came together.
Vogel broke through midfield and found Freda Tafuna, who drew a defender before releasing Perris-Redding for her second try. The sequence was built on timing and connection, with each player extending the opportunity created by the one before her.
Rogers then crossed twice, helping the Eagles turn their early advantage into a substantial halftime lead. Vittoria Vecchini’s try before the break kept Italy in the contest, but the visitors still faced a 16-point deficit.
When Perris-Redding completed her hat-trick early in the second half, and Vogel converted, the gap reached 23 points. The Eagles had scored five tries and put themselves in position to dictate the remainder of the match.
Italy Changes the Contest
The Americans’ fifth try proved to be their last.
Italy began working back into the match through Aura Muzzo, then struck again through Vittoria Zanette. Suddenly, the scoreline had shifted from 33–10 to 33–22, and the Eagles’ comfortable cushion had narrowed considerably.
The Italian response exposed the difference between building a lead and closing out a Test.
The Eagles had finished their opportunities effectively during the opening period, but they could no longer rely on a steady flow of tries to keep the visitors at a distance.
For Italy, the comeback gave substance to a performance that could otherwise have slipped away early in the second half. Their attack kept producing, forcing the hosts to defend the value of their strong start.
Vogel supplied the next American points with a late penalty, moving the score to 36–22. Granzotto crossed again near the finish, but Italy ran out of time to build further.
The Points That Separated Them
The final scoring breakdown explained why the Eagles prevailed.
Both teams scored five tries, worth 25 points apiece. Vogel added four conversions and a penalty for 11 points, while Italy managed one conversion. The nine-point difference from the tee matched the final margin exactly.
Perris-Redding supplied the finishing performance that shaped the American lead. Vogel ensured the Eagles received enough value from those tries to withstand Italy’s response.
That combination carried the USA through a match whose momentum shifted sharply. The Americans showed they could create and finish chances, then survived a second half in which their opponents scored more.
Mansfield offered a clear lesson for the Eagles’ continued development. Their attack could put a Test within their grasp. Sustaining that command remained the next challenge.
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