Tuesday, February 16, 2016

U.S. WNT TOPS OLYMPIC QUALIFYING GROUP AFTER 10-0 VICTORY AGAINST PUERTO RICO

Dunn Ties WNT Record with Five Goals;
 Lloyd, O'Hara and Press Score; Mewis Tallies First International Goal
USA Travels to Houston for Feb. 19 Semifinal with Olympic Berth at Stake
FRISCO, Texas (Feb. 15, 2016) - The U.S. Women's National Team finished atop Group A at the 2016 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship, securing nine points and a 3-0-0 record after a 10-0 shutout of Puerto Rico at Toyota Stadium.
Crystal Dunn scored five goals in the match - a brace in the first half and three in the second - to lead the way for the USA. Dunn's performance ties a U.S. WNT record for most goals scored in a match as she became the seventh player to achieve the feat in the 31 years of the WNT program.
Captain Carli Lloyd and Kelley O'Hara added a goal each to put the U.S. up 4-0 at the half. In the second half the USA added three goals in a span of one minute and 56 seconds, beginning with an own goal from Puerto Rico's Ashley Rivera, followed by scores from Dunn and Christen Press. Samantha Mewis wrapped up the scoring in stoppage time with her first international goal.
Earlier in the day, Costa Rica defeated Mexico 2-1 in Group A action to finish second in Group A with six points and advance to the semifinal round where it will play the winner of Group B.
The USA now travels to Houston for the semifinal match on Feb. 19. Its opponent will be determined tomorrow following the conclusion of the Guyana vs. Trinidad & Tobago match in Group B. Guyana needs a win or a tie to advance, while Trinidad & Tobago needs to win to secure a place in the semifinals. The winners of the semifinal matches qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.
Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA - Crystal Dunn (Mallory Pugh), 6th minute: 
Mallory Pugh made a dynamic run down the left flank, taking the ball to the top of the 18-yard box before passing it square to Dunn in the middle of the area. Dunn received the ball, controlled it and spun before rolling her shot on the ground into the lower right corner. USA 1, PUR 0 (SEE GOAL)

USA - Carli Lloyd (penalty), 18th minute: Mallory Pugh cut into the penalty box from the left side and was taken down by Selimar Pagan. Carli Lloyd hit a precise strike into the upper right corner for the second goal of the game and her 11th overall in Olympic Qualifying. USA 2, PUR 0 ( SEE GOAL)

USA - Crystal Dunn (Christen Press), 21st minute: Jaelene Hinkle crossed a ball from the end line that was punched down by Puerto Rico goalkeeper Karly Gustafson, but it went right to Press. With her back to goal and Gustafson charging at her, Press found Dunn, who with her first touch sent a left-footed strike into the open net for her second goal of the match and first multi-goal game of her career. USA 3, PUR 0 (SEE GOAL )

USA - Kelley O'Hara (Stephanie McCaffrey), 45th minute: Carli Lloyd lofted a ball over the defense on the right to Stephanie McCaffrey, who controlled it and ran it into the box. McCaffrey's cross on the ground found Kelley O'Hara who used a nifty heel-flick to score the fourth game of the match and second of her career. USA 4, PUR 0 (SEE GOAL )

USA - Ashley Rivera (own goal), 60th minute: 
Mallory Pugh made a run on the right side and sent a cross that was intended for Alex Morgan. The ball deflected off Puerto Rico's defender Ashley Rivera and into her own net. USA 5, PUR 0 (SEE GOAL)

USA - Crystal Dunn (Alex Morgan), 61st minute: Following a Puerto Rico turnover in their own defensive third, Alex Morgan recovered the ball and passed it to Dunn, who ran it to the top of the box and sent a low shot that was deflected by a defender just inside the left post for her first career hat trick. USA 6, PUR 0 ( SEE GOAL)

USA - Christen Press, 62nd minute: A clearance at the top of the Puerto Rico penalty box rolled right to Press at the top of the box and she sent a powerful strike into left side of the net for her second goal in this Olympic Qualifying tournament. USA 7, PUR 0 ( SEE GOAL)

USA - Crystal Dunn (Meghan Klingenberg), 85th minute: Samantha Mewis passed the ball from the top of the 18-yard box to Meghan Klingenberg on the right side. With her first touch Klingenberg sent a cross into the middle to Dunn who sent a hard volley into the net for her fourth goal of the match. USA 8, PUR 0 ( SEE GOAL)

USA - Crystal Dunn (Morgan Brian), 87th minute: Morgan Brian chipped a ball over the top of the defense to Dunn inside the penalty area. Dunn got a step on her defender and easily rolled her left-footed shot into the lower right corner from closer range for her fifth goal of the match, thus doubling her career goal total in one game.USA 9, PUR 0 (SEE GOAL)

USA - Samantha Mewis (Crystal Dunn), 90+1 minute: Crystal Dunn passed the ball to Samantha Mewis just past the midfield point and Mewis ran with it into the box, beat two defenders and spun a shot just inside the right far post for her first career goal and final goal of the match. USA 10, PUR 0 FINAL ( SEE GOAL)

Next on the Schedule: The U.S. WNT heads to Houston to play in the semifinal round of the 2016 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship against the second place team from Group B on Friday, Feb. 19 at 7:30 p.m. CT. The winner of each semifinal game advances to the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. The U.S. is attempting to qualify for a sixth consecutive Olympics and win the CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship for the fourth consecutive time. The USA's semifinal match can be viewed live on NBCSN, NBC Universo and NBC Live Extra.

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