U.S. U-18 Women’s National Team takes down Norway 5-0 in Tricontinental Cup

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. – The U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team defeated Norway 5-0 to win its second game in as many tries at the 2020 Tricontinental Cup.

The USA also beat China PR, 2-0, on Jan. 25. The victory sets up a clash with Netherlands on Friday, Jan. 31 (6:30 p.m. ET) for the tournament title as both teams have won both their matches so far. The de facto championship match will be streamed on Twitter and YouTube.

The Netherlands defeated China PR, 2-0, in the first game on the second match day. The USA now sits in first place on goal difference, but a tie won’t be enough to take the championship as tournament rules dictate that tie games go straight to penalty kicks. Teams will get one point for losing the PK shootout and two points for winning. If either team wins in regulation, it will claim the inaugural Intercontinental Cup title.

2020 TRICONTINENTAL CUP STANDINGS

The USA went ahead in just the seventh minute as Grace Watkins picked off a Norway pass and played it square to Michelle Cooper who finished into the right side of the net.

The young Americans doubled the lead just three minutes later as Aislynn Crowder followed up a shot from Cooper that had been batted down by the goalkeeper and finished from close range.

The USA made it 3-0 after just 22 minutes off a short corner kick that was sent into the penalty by Tabitha LaParl and Karly Reeves finished first-time to send the USA into the break with a commanding lead.

Cooper put the game away in the 53rd minute when she picked off a pass from a Norway defender, raced in on goal and slotted her shot inside the right post.

Mollie Griswold added a capped two minutes before the end of regulation time as Reilyn Turner laid a pas back to her at the top of the penalty area and she smacked a driven shot on the ground that skipped into the lower left corner.

-U.S. UNDER-18 WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT-

Match: United States U-18 WNT vs. Norway
Date: January 28, 2020
Competition: 2020 Tricontinental Cup
Venue: Premier Sports Campus; Lakewood Ranch, FL
Weather: 63 degrees, clear
Attendance: 85

Scoring Summary:        1          2          F         
USA                              3          2          5
NOR                             0          0          0

USA — Michelle Cooper (Grace Watkins)             7th minute
USA — Aislynn Crowder                                     10
USA — Karly Reeves (Tabitha LaParl)                   22
USA — Michelle Cooper                                     53
USA — Mollie Griswold (Reilyn Turner)               89

LINEUPS:

USA: 12-Leah Freeman, 17-Nya Harrison, 19-Karly Reeves (5-Madison Perez, 78), 14-Dasia Torbert, 4-Tabitha LaParl, 6-Emily Mathews (13-Aki Yuasa, 61), 8-Aislynn Crowder (15-Mollie Griswold, 61), 10- Margaret Graham, 18-Michelle Cooper, 20-Grace Watkins (9-Reilyn Turner, 61), 2-Sally Menti (7-Quincy McMahon, 61)

Subs not used: 1-Mia Justus, 3-Samantha Kroeger, 11-Dilary Heredia-Beltran, 16-Sydney Jones

Head Coach: Chris Petrucelli

NOR: 12-Rugile Rulyte, 2-Andrea Broholm, 15-Hanna Rake Ellingsen, 3-Victoria Haugen, 14-Anette Jensen, 16-Justine Kielland (11-Joshualyn Reeves, 46’), 8-Ingrid Jåstad, 17-Mille Aune (6-Emilie Joramo, 69’), 7-Mille Dalen (19-Madelen Holme, 46), 9-Siri Berg-Johansen (10-Laura Gashi, 83), 20-Oda Edvartsen (21-Kaja Karlsen, 69)
Subs not used:  1-Sunniva Skoglund, 4-Nora Egenes, 5-Thea Loennecken, 18-Mia Authen

Head Coach: Alexander Straus

Stats Summary: USA / NOR                              
Shots: 13 / 4
Shots on Goal: 11 / 3
Saves: 3 / 6
Corner Kicks: 4 / 1
Fouls: 6 / 9
Offside: 1 / 1

Misconduct Summary:
NOR – Siri Berg-Johansen (caution)         54th minute

Officials:
Referee: Jamie Padilla (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Tiffini Turpin (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Melissa Gonzalez (USA)
Fourth Official: Samantha Martinez (USA)