In their first of three matches in the annual 10 Nations tournament in La Manga, Spain, the U-20s overcame their counterparts from Norway, 2-0. (Echoing a 2-0 win their older compatriots earned over Norway a few weeks ago in the U-23 tournament on these same fields. As well, the senior US team played Norway on the 4th, in the Algarve cup in Portugal, coming away with a 2-1 win.)
Young star Mallory Pugh scored both goals, both resulting from errors in the Norwegian defense. The first five came minutes before halftime and the second a few minutes before the final whistle.
Mal Pugh, Kaliegh Riehl, and Taylor Racioppi are the three holdovers from the last U-20 cycle; Pugh and Riehl both played the full 90 minutes, while Racioppi stayed on the bench. Of the two “new” players – Jordan Harr and Savannah DeMelo, both called up for the first time from the U-18s for this tournament – just DeMelo played, subbing in for final 20 minutes.
The US will next face the Netherlands tomorrow, March 7th, and then Sweden on the 9th.
Scoring Summary
USA – Mallory Pugh – 40′
USA – Mallory Pugh – 88′
Misconduct Summary
None
Lineups
USA: 1-Casey Murphy, 3-Maddie Elliston, 19-Natalie Jacobs, 5-Kaliegh Riehl, 6-Sabrina Flores, 22-Courtney Petersen (10-Marley Canales, 70), 2-Emily Ogle, 8-Parker Roberts (7-Mikaela Harvey, 46), 17-Megan Buckingham (20-Savannah DeMelo, 70), 11-Michaela Abam (4-Ally Watt, 46), 9-Mallory Pugh
Subs not used: 12-Jordan Harr, 14- Jessie Scarpa, 15-Taylor Racioppi, 18-Samantha Leshnak, 21-Rachel Corboz, 22- Zoe Redei, 23- Annia Mejia
Head Coach: Michelle French
NOR: 1-Aurora Wattern Mikalsen, 14-Kristine Leine (17-Sara Eriksen, 66), 3-Marit Clausen, 4-Tuva Hansen, 5-Marit Bratberg Lund, 8-Karoline Heimvik Hughland (19-SinaTosterrud, 78), 6-Karina Saevik, 7-Cecile Hoegh Dekkerhus, 10-Vilde Hasund, 9-Johanne Fridlund, 11-Pernille Velta (20-Vilde Fjelldal, 46)
Subs not used: 2-Alma Botten, 12-Oda Marie Hove Bogstad, 13-Marikken Kleppe, 15-Nora Eide Lie, 16-Maria Hiim, 18-Ida Marie Fikseth Fossem
Head Coach: Nils Lexerod