Carli Lloyd’s Earns Sixth Hat Trick
Soccer News: The U.S. Women’s National Team opened its 2016 campaign with a dominant 5-0 shutout against the Republic of Ireland at Qualcomm Stadium in front of 23,309 fans, a record crowd to watch a WNT game in San Diego.
It was all USA from the beginning as midfielder Carli Lloyd scored three goals in 28 minutes with her first coming in the sixth, and was assisted twice by Alex Morgan. The scoring duo swapped roles just before the break as it was Lloyd who provided the assist for Morgan for a 4-0 halftime U.S. lead.
Forward Mallory Pugh, the captain of the U-20 Women’s National Team that will compete at the U-20 Women’s World Cup in Papua New Guinea later this year, came in for Morgan in the 58th minute of the game to make her USWNT debut.
At 17 years, 8 months and 25 days, she is the youngest player to make her debut in the last 11 years of the program and became the 19th player to score in her first cap when she added the fifth and final goal of the game in the 83rd minute of the game.
The WNT is now 12-0-0 all-time vs. Ireland. Of the 12 meetings, seven have seen the USA score five goals.
California native and former UC Berkeley forward, Morgan also celebrated her 100th game with the WNT. Before the start of the game, Morgan was given a #100 USWNT Jersey. Morgan also had over 100 friends and family members in attendance at the game.
Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Carli Lloyd (Alex Morgan), 6th minute: Alex Morgan ran deep into the attacking third down the left side and crossed the ball on the ground. An unmarked Carli Lloyd outran the defense and finished with her right foot into the back of the net. USA 1, IRL 0 (SEE GOAL)
USA – Carli Lloyd, (Alex Morgan), 21st minute: Tobin Heath began the play with a deep run on the left flank and crossed the ball towards the back post. Alex Morgan headed it on goal but Ireland’s goalkeeper Emma Byrne punched it out. Carli Lloyd took advantage of the poor clearance and headed it to the back of the net from close range for her second goal of the day. Carli was shaken up after she knocked heads with an Ireland defender on the play but was okay and returned to the game shortly after. USA 2, IRL 0. (SEE GOAL)
USA – Carli Lloyd, 28th minute: Carli Lloyd stole possession thanks to a poor Ireland pass to run past the defense and slot the ball past the goalkeeper for her third goal of the game.USA 3, IRL 0 (SEE GOAL)
USA – Alex Morgan (Carli Lloyd), 45th minute: Crystal Dunn played a great ball from the right side to the middle of the box. Carli Lloyd jumped up for the header but the ball bounced off the post. Alex Morgan was there for the loose ball and tapped it in for the USA’s fourth goal of the game. USA 4, IRL 0
USA – Mallory Pugh (Christen Press), 83rd minute: Christen Press made the first run to get inside the box and looked to cross the ball before running out of bounds. The cross reached Pugh, who was quick to head it to the near post for her first international goal in her first cap. USA 5, IRL 0. FINAL.
Key Saves and Defensive Stops:
USA – Hope Solo, 80th: Late in the game, U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo was called into action on back-to-back plays, but both times she was ready to preserve the shutout for the USA.
Next on the Schedule: The U.S. WNT heads to Texas to begin the 2016 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship that will run from Feb. 10-21 in Houston and Dallas. The USA will open the Olympic Qualifying Championship in Group A against Costa Rica on Wednesday, Feb. 10, at 7:30 p.m. CT. The U.S. will be attempting to qualify for a sixth consecutive Olympic Games and win the CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship for the fourth consecutive time.
