U.S. under-21 women

Adams hat trick drops Norway, earns Nordic title berth against Germany.

Danesha Adams' penalty kick in the 78th minute proved to be the difference of the Unioted States advancing to the Nordic Cup title match and playing for third place. -- UCLA web site photo --

SANDNES, Norway (July 20, 2006) -- The United States under-21 women's dreams of a eighth straight Nordic Cup championship remain alive.

In a match the U.S. needed to win, striker Danesha Adams scored three times, including putting the Americans ahead for good in the fifth minute, en route to a 4-0 whitewash of Norway before 250 at Sandnes Stadium today.

Adams' penalty kick in the 78th minute gave the U.S. the goal differential in needed to win Group B and advance to Saturday's championship match against Group A winner Germany at Viking Stadium in Stavanger. Germany (3-0, 9 points) slipped by England 3-2 today.

After the U.S. and Iceland tied 1-1 Tuesday, both nations were on top of Group B with 1-0-1 records and four points though the Americans were plus-3 in goal differential, the first tiebreaker, to plus-1 for Iceland.

Iceland drubbed Denmark 6-1 today, but while it matched the U.S.'s 2-0-1 record and seven points, the U.S. finished with a plus-7 goal difference to plus-6 for Iceland. Iceland will meet England Saturday to decide third place.

The Iceland game was completed before the U.S. started, so the Americans knew they needed to win by at least four goals. Had the U.S. won only 3-0, Iceland would have to advanced to the title game -- with both nations tied at plus-6 in goal differential, Iceland would have won the second tiebreaker by scoring more goals (10-7).

The final three U.S. goals came in a 10-minute period, starting midway through the second half and culminating with Adams' PK.

The U.S. advanced to the Nordic championship game for the ninth consecutive year and will meet Germany for the third time in the final of the premier event for the under-21 women. The Americans edged host Germany 1-0 in the 2000 title game and captured the 2002 crown by besting the Germans 3-1.

Knowing its challenge, the U.S. got off to the fast start it needed. Goalkeeper Val Henderson started the sequence leading to the first tally with a long boot that was flicked on by that was flicked on by the head of midfielder Noelle Keselica. Adams raced behind the Norway defense, caught up to the ball and lobbed it over goalkeeper Jeanette Stavshoit from 20 yards to make it 1-0 with less than five minutes expired.

Henderson and Adams are both rising juniors at UCLA, where they play for under-21 coach Jillian Ellis. Another starting forward Bristyn Davis also plays at UCLA.

"We were just all over them. We never took our foot off the gas," Ellis said. "Danesha was just incredible. She was absolutely relentless, chasing balls down, working hard all over the field, making things happen and causing havoc."

Despite some excellent chances, the U.S. could only take its one-goal advantage into the halftime break. Then, Adams made it 2-0 with a header in the 68th minute, elevating to put away a right-side cross from fellow forward India Trotter into the left corner of the net.

Three minutes later, Keselica converted a header of her own for a 3-0 lead. One more tally was needed for a title shot.

"We were pushing and pushing and after we got the third, we just knew it was going to happen," Ellis said.

Adams completed her hat trick and secured advancement to the final with a clutch penalty kick with 12 minutes left in regulation.

The U.S. allowed only two shots on goal, holding a 19-12 shots advantage, 9-2 on frame. "Our back line was great in the way they dealt very well with the balls in behind and with the numbers Norway then sent forward," said Ellis of the back-line of Lauren Wilmoth, Rachel Buehler, Kendall Fletcher and Brittany Taylor, as well as Keselica, the defensive midfielder. "The overall team performance, front to back, was amazing. I've been around the game for a long time and I've really never been a part of something like this. They willed the win."

In the other Group A match, Sweden rolled past Finland, 3-0. Norway will face Sweden for fifth place Saturday, while Denmark and Finland square off for seventh place.

Championship
Germany (Group A, 3-0, 9) vs. United States (Group B, 2-0-1, 7)

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