Box Score I Video Highlights
PORTLAND, Ore. --- Katie Scheopfer scored her second goal of the match in the 84th minute to give the United States Under-23 Women’s National Team a 3-2 win over the University of Portland Pilots Saturday night in an exhibition women’s soccer match before 2,234 fans at the Clive Charles Soccer Complex. Portland outshot the visitors by a 14-11 margin for the match, but the USA held on for the victory.
Both of Schoepfer’s goals came late in the second half and were assisted by Alex Morgan (California).
The USA got the scoring started with a goal on their first shot of the match: a strike by Santa Clara’s Kiki Bosio after splitting a pair of Pilot defenders. Bosio tapped the ball around Portland goalie Kelsey Davis and finished to the left post from 20 yards past a pair of retreating Pilot defenders.
Portland tied it at 1-1 right before the half when Danielle Foxhoven beat USA goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher (Penn State) to a through ball and tapped it inside the right post. The two players collided immediately after the touch and Naeher was forced to leave the game with an undisclosed injury.
Schoepfer (Penn State) put the USA back on top in the 76th minute on a give-and-go with Morgan which left Davis again alone in a one-on-one situation. Schoepfer finished to the upper right.
The Pilots equalized again in the 78th minute when reserve Halley Kreminski was knocked to the turf from behind while trying to head in a corner kick. A penalty kick was called and Sophie Schmidt knocked the PK past reserve goalkeeper Kristin Arnold to make it 2-2.
The tandem of Morgan and Scheopfer struck for the golden goal less than seven minutes later as Morgan fought off a Pilot defender in the box and laid a sitter for Schoepfer from 10 yards out. She blasted the shot down the middle for the game’s final goal.
Portland nearly tied it again late in regulation when reserve Sara Jackman was left unmarked at the far post on yet another corner kick. Her header appeared net-bound, but a USA defender cleared it off the line to preserve the victory.
Davis made four saves in goal for the Pilots, while the USA made five total saves as a team. Portland also had a 5-2 edge in corner kicks for the match.
