Marshall, U-20 National Team Wins Four Nations Tournament
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LA SERENA, Chile - University of Colorado women's soccer sophomore and U.S. Under-20 Women's National Team member Nikki Marshall helped USA blow past host Chile by a 5-1 score to win its third straight match, and the championship, of the Four Nations Tournament in La Serena. It was the first tournament victory under new U.S. head coach Tony DiCicco. The USA also won the Fair Play Award.
"Every opportunity I get to play with them is always amazing," said Marshall. "The girls on the team are phenomenal players and getting the chance to play with them is awesome. Being able to travel and play soccer in different countries is definitely an amazing experience because soccer is such a huge part of their culture."
The USA won its first two matches of the tournament, defeating England, 1-0, and Norway, 2-1. Originally a defender, Marshall was moved up to forward in the final match and recorded her first international goal and an assist.
The U.S. team was the aggressor throughout the final game against Chile and tallied first in the 28th minute as Marshall sent a cross on the ground that forward Kelley O'Hara finished first-time from six yards out.
The half ended with the USA holding just a 1-0 lead, but it didn't take long for the USA to blow the game open, scoring in the first minute of the second half and added three more goals in a 21-minute span. The second goal was scored by Marshall, who shot from 12 yards out after receiving a pass from Michelle Enyeart and making space for herself with a few quick touches. Marshall's goal proved to be the gamewinner.
"I was jut more excited to start at forward than anything else," said Marshall. "I've been playing a lot on defense so getting a chance at forward was definitely the coolest part about it. It felt awesome to score, but as usual it was all about the assist. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time."
The tournament proved to be excellent preparation for the Americans as all three of the opponents that they defeated have already qualified for the 2008 U-20 Women's World Cup, to be held in Chile from Nov. 20-Dec. 7.
2008 Four Nations Tournament Standings - La Serena, Chile
Team W L T Pts. GF GA GD
USA 3 0 0 9 8 2 +6
CHI 1 1 1 4 5 8 -3
NOR 0 1 2 2 6 7 -1
ENG 0 2 1 1 2 4 -2
U.S. Results 2008 Four Nations Tournament- La Serena, Chile
Date Match-Up Venue
Feb. 11 U-20 USA 1, U-20 England 0 La Serena, Chile
Feb. 13 U-20 USA 2, U-20 Norway 1 La Serena, Chile
Feb. 15 U-20 USA 5, U-20 Chile 1 La Serena, Chile
U.S. UNDER-20 WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM GAME REPORTS:
GAME #3 ? Match-up: USA vs. Chile
Competition: Four Nations Tournament
Venue: Estadio La Portada; La Serena, Chile
Date: February 15, 2008
Attendance: 8,000
Weather: Hot, 86 degrees
Scoring Summary:
1 2 F
USA 1 4 5
CHI 0 1 1
USA - Kelley O'Hara (Nikki Marshall) 28th minute.
USA - Nikki Marshall (Michelle Enyeart) 46.
USA - Kelley O'Hara (Michelle Enyeart) 57.
USA - Michelle Enyeart (unassisted) 59.
USA - Keelin Winters (Casey Nogueira) 67.
CHI - Karen Araya (unassisted) 91+.
Statistical Summary:
USA / CHI
Shots: 15 / 4
Shots on Goal: 8 / 1
Saves: 1 / 3
Corner Kicks: 5 / 5
Fouls: 7 / 10
Offside: 3 / 0
GAME #2 ? Match-up: USA vs. Norway
Competition: Four Nations Tournament
Venue: Estadio La Portada; La Serena, Chile
Date: February 13, 2008; Kickoff ? 10:00 a.m. local / 8:00 a.m. ET
Attendance: 2,500
Weather: Warm, breezy ? 82 degrees
Scoring Summary:
1 2 F
USA 2 0 2
NOR 0 1 1
USA -- Keelin Winters (Unassisted) 11th minute.
USA -- Teresa Noyola (Casey Nogueira) 42.
NOR -- Gunhild Herregardern (n/a) 76.
Statistical Summary:
USA / NOR
Shots: 14 / 5
Shots on Goal: 7 / 1
Saves: 1 / 5
Corner Kicks: 4 / 1
Fouls: 10 / 11
Offside: 0 / 0
GAME #1 ? Match-up: USA vs. England
Competition: Four Nations Tournament
Venue: Estadio La Portada; La Serena, Chile
Date: February 11, 2008; Kickoff ? 10:00 a.m. local / 8:00 a.m. ET
Attendance: 2,500
Weather: Warm, cloudy ? 77 degrees
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 1 0 1
ENG 0 0 0
USA ? Teresa Noyola (Nikki Washington) 45th minute.
Statistical Summary:
USA / ENG
Shots: 11 / 9
Shots on Goal: 6 / 4
Saves: 4 / 5
Corner Kicks: 3 / 3
Fouls: 11 / 14
Offside: 1 / 0