Last-minute starter Ashley Hatch scored the first goal and Rose Lavelle added two goals and an assist as the U.S. women’s national team completed a two-match sweep of New Zealand with a 5-0 victory in Auckland, New Zealand, on Saturday (local time).
Mallory Swanson and Taylor Kornieck scored in the follow-up of a 4-0 victory in Wellington, New Zealand, on Wednesday.
New Zealand did not attempt a shot against U.S. goalie Casey Murphy. The United States had 22, 10 on goal.
Unlike the previous match, which was scoreless at halftime, Hatch put the U.S. on top in the 22nd minute and Lavelle followed in the 39th. Swanson added her third goal in three matches at the 53-minute mark.
Lavelle scored in the 74th, and her corner kick found the head of Kornieck for a 5-0 lead in the 80th minute.
Hatch replaced Alex Morgan after warmups when the star forward felt muscle tightness. Morgan is the active goal leader on the U.S. roster with 120, including one on Tuesday, in 201 matches.
Trinity Rodman, who had two assists in the first game, set up Hatch for her fifth goal in 15 U.S. games.
“It’s an opportunity everybody wants to start for this team so always ready, always prepared,” Hatch said on HBO Max at halftime.
Lavelle, who wore the captain’s armband in Morgan’s absence, made it 2-0 by taking on overhead ball from Sofia Huerta on the left side of the box and slamming a left-footed volley.
Swanson upped her international total to 28 goals in 84 games with an open look from the middle of the box. Lavelle scored a similar unmarked goal for the 4-0 lead, getting her left foot on the cross by Lynn Williams.
Auckland is the site of the Americans’ first match (vs. Vietnam, July 21) and third match (opponent to be determined, Aug. 1) in the 2023 World Cup that will be co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia. The final is set for Aug. 20 in Sydney, Australia.
Next up for the U.S. is the first of three matches in the SheBelieves Cup, a matchup with Canada on Feb. 16 in Orlando.
–Field Level Media
