U.S. U-17 women open with resounding 4-0 win

• by Soccer America , Feb 6, 2014

[NTC INVITATIONAL] The U.S. under-17 women’s national team got two goals each from Kelcie Hedge and Mallory Pugh and rolled to a 4-0 victory over China in the first game of the 2014 Women’s NTC Invitational in Carson, Calif. The U.S. U-17s finished with an 18-2 edge in shots and 7-0 edge in corner kicks.

The tournament is a tuneup for China, Japan and New Zealand, the other two participants, but it is the last outing for the U.S. U-17s, who failed to qualify for the Under-17 Women's World Cup to be held in Costa Rica in March.

Pugh, the USA’s leading scorer in this cycle, scored her 12 and 13th international goals at the U-17 level.

Japan defeated New Zealand 5-0 on goals from Rikako Kobayashi, Yui Hasegawa, Hina Sugita, Meika Nishida and Asato Miyagawa.

Play continues Friday and Sunday at the Glenn “Mooch” Myernick Field at the U.S. Soccer National Training Center at StubHub Center.

Feb. 5 in Carson, Calif.
USA 4 China 0. Goals: Hedge 13, 34, Pugh 15, 46.
USA -- Hess; McGrady, Jacobs, Morse, Jean; Racioppi (Bailey, 63), Canales (Paschall, 82), Pugh (Rodriguez, 78); Xiao (Schultz, 63), Haley (Redei, 46), Hedge (Pruitt, 78).
Referee: Jasmine Peralta (USA)