The Americans, defending the trophy won in Virginia two years ago, seemed set to establish a narrow lead on Friday by shading the afternoon fourballs at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands.
Lauren Coughlin and Nelly Korda were in pole position in the final match after Spanish pair Carlota Ciganda and Julia Lopez Ramirez had both failed to find the 18th fairway.
Lopez Ramirez drove into a bunker, which she stayed in after hitting the face, and Ciganda went way right before chipping her third shot to 20 feet.
But with world No.1 Korda and Coughlin leaving match-winning birdies short, Ciganda drained her par putt to spark European cries of 'Ole, Ole' and boost the hosts in a contest that was as changeable as the weather.
"We fought hard and we got half a point at least, which I think is very important," Ciganda told Sky Sports.
"It gives us big momentum going in to tomorrow and hopefully we can win both morning and afternoon sessions."
On a day mixed with bright sunshine and dark rainy skies, the Americans wore custom pins on their garments and hats on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks to honour those who lost their lives.
Europe paired Lottie Woad and Charley Hull, the world number seven and eight, in both sessions in what looked a very strong partnership on paper.
But the English duo picked up only half-a-point from their two outings, shaking hands on a fourballs half with Angel Yin and Yealimi Noh on the 18th green.
Hull and Woad were three up after 11, but Noh tied the match with a birdie on the penultimate hole.
Rookies Mimi Rhodes and Nastasia Nadaud did put a full point in the European column with a 2&1 success over Allisen Corpuz and Auston Kim.
The US has taken the first fourballs point as Alison Lee and Megan Khang overwhelmed Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Celine Boutier 4&3.
The morning foursomes had been shared 2-2 after the US made a quickfire start to lead 2-0.
Hull and Woad were taken down 4&3 by Corpuz and Korda before Lee and Coughlin closed out a 3&2 win over Madsen and Boutier.
Linn Grant and Maja Stark put the first European point on the board by beating Rose Zhang and Jennifer Kupcho 3&2.
Leona Maguire and Esther Henseleit beat Andrea Lee and Lindy Duncan two up to tie up the opening session.
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