Carli Lloyd scored three times in the opening 28 minutes and assisted on Alex Morgan’s goal late in the first half as the U.S. women’s soccer team began play in 2016 with a 5-0 victory over Ireland Saturday at Qualcomm Stadium.
The match was watched by a crowd of over 23,000 fans, the most to see the U.S. women’s national team in its six games in San Diego.
Lloyd scored off assists by Alex Morgan in the sixth and 21st minutes and took advantage of a poor back pass to run past the Irish defense and score an unassisted goal in the 28th minute.
Morgan tapped in a rebound of a header by Lloyd that hit the goalpost in the 45th minute.
Mallory Pugh headed in a cross by Christen Press in the 83rd minute in her debut with the U.S. women’s national soccer team. At 17 years, eight months and 25 days, Pugh is the youngest player to score for the team in 16 years and the sixth-youngest ever, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
Hope Solo made two saves for her 91st career shutout.
The U.S. is 12-0-0 against Ireland, scoring five goals in seven of those games.
The U.S. is 5-0-1 in San Diego with five consecutive victories after tying Japan, 0-0, on Jan. 12, 2003, in their first game there.
City News Service contributed to this article.
