Trending
The United States Women's National Soccer Team is trying to reestablish its dominance in the game and build some scoring power.
The team is doing that now by flexing its scoring muscle at the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Women's Gold Cup. The U.S. demonstrated some scoring power in its 4-0 victory over Argentina in its first game as Jaedyn Shaw scored twice early, Alex Morgan scored on a header, and Lindsay Horan converted a penalty kick. Shaw has the type of scoring power the U.S. has been looking for as she has scored in her first six appearances with the team and is the youngest player to do so.
The team's offense also ran rampant in a 5-0 win over the Dominican Republic. Olivia Moultrie, 18, notched a goal. The pairing of Moultrie and Shaw marked the first instance where two teen-agers netted multiple goals for the U.S. in consecutive matches.
The U.S., however, lost to Mexico on Monday, 2-0, and finished as the No. 2 team in Group A.
The U.S. women will face Colombia in the quarterfinals on Sunday night in Los Angeles. The semifinals and finals will be held in San Diego on March 6 and March 10, respectively.
After the Gold Cup, the U.S. women will focus on the 2024 SheBelieves Cup. USA will host Brazil, Canada and Japan in the four-team field.
This will be a great tune-up for the 2024 Summer Olympics as all four teams are in the top 11 in the world. The U.S. took first place last year.
The women will look to redeem themselves in this Summer's Olympics after a disappointing World Cup finish. They will be going for their fifth Olympic gold medal. The Olympic tournament will feature 12 teams with seven venues across France from July 25 to Aug. 10.
The U.S. has already qualified for the Paris games. With all the prolific firepower from the youth, veteran Lindsay Horan, 29, is the team's top scorer with 31 international goals. The team will be led by new head coach, Emma Hayes.
MLS begins
The Major League Soccer season has kicked off, and defending champion Columbus Crew and star forward Cucho Hernandez will face some stiff new competition.
Superstar Lionel Messi, 36, returns to MLS with Inter Miami. He will be playing with his close friend, Luis Suarez. Inter Miami will definitely be the team to watch this upcoming season, trying to win Miami's first MLS title in the league's 29-year history.
The MLS has a problem, however, as it is in the middle of a labor dispute with its referees.
The Professional Referees Organization, which oversees MLS refs, has said it will lock out match officials after it rejected a proposed collective bargaining agreement just days before the start of the season.
Energy beaten
The u-16 FC814 girls Team Energy -- playing in Tampa this past week to try and qualify for the United States Youth Soccer National Championships in Orlando -- dropped a heartbreaking game on penalty kicks to the Coppermine Soccer Club 2008 Elite girls team from Maryland.
The following day, the Energy dropped a hard-fought 1-0 decision to St. Croix, Minn.
That spelled the end of their national championship hopes for this year, but not before they had captured the Great Lakes Conference National Classic League, won the PA West championship and advanced to the final elimination round in Tampa.
Energy coach Marc Frye was also voted PA West Girls Classic Coach of the Year.
Tom Schmitt writes a monthly soccer.