Aly Wagner scored the first goal and set up the next one as the U.S. under-21 women's national team defeated Switzerland, 4-0, in the rain at the Nordic Cup in Nurnberg, Germany, on July 28. The
United States, with three points from its first game of the tournament, is tied for the Group B lead with Finland. Against the Swiss, Wagner scored from five yards out in the 25th minute and then
created a chance for Aleisha Cramer three minutes later to make the score 2-0. Veronica Zepeda, who will be Wagner's teammate this fall at Santa Clara, scored the third goal in the 37th minute. The
University of Connecticut's Mary-Frances Monroe capped the scoring with a strike in the 53rd minute. The match began an hour late because the U.S. bus was caught in rain-related traffic and arrived
late. Due to the late start, the match had to be moved at halftime to a field with lights. "The players responded very well to the adverse conditions," U.S. coach Jillian Ellis said. "Aleisha
Cramer did a great job of controlling the midfield defensively. She won balls and was excellent at spraying passes around in the second half. Her change of the point of attack was awesome.
Mary-Frances Monroe also had an excellent game playing behind the forwards, she was our engine, and Michelle French and Jena Kluegel were fantastic on the flanks." In other Group B action in
Nurnberg, Finland blanked Sweden, 1-0. Over Group A in Stegaurach on July 28, Norway routed Denmark, 4-0, and host Germany beat Iceland, 3-1.
July 28 in Nurnberg, Germany United States
4, Switzerland 0. Goals: Wagner 25, Cramer 28, Zepeda 37, Monroe 53.
USA -- Branam, Kraus, Pryce, French, Bush (Wallis, 69), Cramer, Wagner (Zepeda, 33), Kluegel (Putz, 77), Ramsey,
Welsh (Reddick 56), Monroe.
Switzerland -- Unavailable.
Att.: 125.
