USA opens with 2-0 win at Concacaf Women's U-20 Championship

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Jan 20, 2018

Goals by Virginia's Taryn Torres and Stanford's Civana Kuhlmann on either side of halftime gave the USA a 2-0 win over Nicaragua in their opening game at the Concacaf Women's U-20 Championship.

Right place, right time. Taryn Torres did not hesitate to put the first one away vs. , assisted by Savannah DeMelo.

on the striker: https://t.co/jo7MkLSMCv pic.twitter.com/oqZ4JFeKgt

— U.S. Soccer YNT (@ussoccer_ynt) January 19, 2018

Savannah DeMelo, who set up Torres' goal in the 17th minute, and Ashley Sanchez are the only holdovers from the team that played in the 2016 tournament who faced Nicaragua, which stymied the U.S. attack for much of the game with it defensive tactics.

Jan. 19 in Couva
USA 2 Nicaragua 0. Goals: Torres 17, Kuhlmann 53.
USA -- Ivory; I.Rodriguez, K.Rodriguez, Morse, Pickett, Howell, Villacorta (Coffey, 73), DeMelo; Kuhlmann (Turnbow, 81), Sanchez (Kim, 64), Torres.
Nicaragua -- Norori; Ortega, K.Perez, S.Flores (Humphreys, 88), Orellana (Paiz, 72); Cruz, Pereira; Vega, Gilday, Treminio (Bermudez, 62); Y.Flores.
Att.: 125.