United States forward Midge Purce, left, dribbles the ball past Dominican Republic defender Brianne Reed during the first half of their CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup group stage match on Tuesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
United States forward Olivia Moultrie, far left, celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the first half of their CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup group stage match against the Dominican Republic on Tuesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. Moultrie scored twice in a 5-0 win. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
United States forward Lynn Williams, right, kicks the ball past Dominican Republic defender Renata Mercedes (16) during the first half of their CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup group stage match on Tuesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
United States forward Sophia Smith kicks the ball while defended by Dominican Republic midfielder Jaylen Vallecillo, left, during the first half of their CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup group stage match on Tuesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
United States defender Jenna Nighswonger controls the ball as Dominican Republic midfielder Lucia Marte, left, approaches during the first half of their CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup group stage match on Tuesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
United States defender Jenna Nighswonger (3) converts a penalty kick for a goal during the second half of their CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup group stage match against the Dominican Republic on Tuesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
United States defender Jenna Nighswonger (3) celebrates with teammates United States midfielder Samantha Coffey (17) and midfielder Rose Lavelle (16) after Nighswonger converts a penalty kick for a goal during the second half of a CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup group stage match at Dignity Health Sports Park Track in Carson, Calif. on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. United States won 5-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
United States midfielder Rose Lavelle, left, vies for the ball with Dominican Republic midfielder Winibian Peralta during the second half of their CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup group stage match on Tuesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
United States forward Jaedyn Shaw chases the ball during the second half of their CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup group stage match against the Dominican Republic on Tuesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
United States forward Alex Morgan, left, kicks the ball during the second half of their CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup group stage match against the Dominican Republic on Tuesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
United States midfielder Rose Lavelle, left, recovers the ball in front of Dominican Republic defender Stella Tapia during the second half of their CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup group stage match on Tuesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
United States forward Trinity Rodman watches the ball come down during the second half of their CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup group stage match against the Dominican Republic on Tuesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
United States forward Alex Morgan (7) takes a shot against Dominican Republic goalkeeper Paloma Pena (20) during the second half of their CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup group stage match on Tuesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
United States forward Alex Morgan runs up the field as she awaits a pass during the second half of their CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup group stage match against the Dominican Republic on Tuesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
United States forward Trinity Rodman controls the ball during the second half of their CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup group stage match against the Dominican Republic on Tuesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
United States forward Olivia Moultrie (13) is attended by team staff after an injury while teammate forward Midge Purce, top, consoles her during the second half of a CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup group stage match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. United States won 5-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
United States head coach Twila Kilgore looks on from the sideline during the second half of their CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup group stage match against the Dominican Republic on Tuesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
United States defender Emily Fox controls the ball during the second half of their CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup group stage match against the Dominican Republic on Tuesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
United States defender Abby Dahlkemper heads the ball during the second half of their CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup group stage match against the Dominican Republic on Tuesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
United States forward Sophia Smith dribbles the ball between Dominican Republic midfielder Winibian Peralta, left, and defender Brianne Reed during the second half of their CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup group stage match on Tuesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
United States forward Lynn Williams dribbles the ball during the second half of their CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup group stage match against the Dominican Republic on Tuesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
United States midfielder Korbin Albert, left, controls the ball as she is chased by Dominican Republic defender Stella Tapia during the first half of their CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup group stage match on Tuesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
United States head coach Twila Kilgore looks on from the sideline prior to their CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup group stage match against the Dominican Republic on Tuesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
United States forward Olivia Moultrie (13) controls the ball during the first half of their CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup group stage match against the Dominican Republic on Tuesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
CARSON — The last time the U.S. women’s national soccer team played in a tournament, things ended earlier than they’re accustomed to with a Round of 16 exit at the World Cup.
With the new year comes a new look, coach and opportunity to get the program back on the tournament-winning track.
First up is the new edition of the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup. The USWNT controlled its Group A opener from the outset and came away with a very comfortable 5-0 victory over the Dominican Republic in front of 3,242 on a rainy and cold Tuesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park.
The Americans had the perfect start as Lynn Williams scored off of a corner kick in the second minute. However, it was ruled that Sophia Smith impeded the vision of the Dominican Republic goalkeeper and the goal was waved off.
Nearly five minutes later, a breakthrough came as 18-year-old Olivia Moultrie tapped in a Midge Purce cross for the 1-0 lead in the seventh minute.
In the 30th minute, Williams finally had her goal, tapping in a cross from Midge Purce for a 2-0 lead.
Moultrie, making just her third appearance with the national team and her first start, added a second goal in the 58th minute, redirecting a pass from Purce into the goal for a 3-0 lead.
Moultrie became the third-youngest player in USWNT history to score multiple goals in a match. The other two are Cindy Parlow Cone and Mia Hamm.
“I’m pretty ecstatic right now. I was just so happy to be on the field tonight, to have the opportunity to start is amazing,” Moultrie said.
Jenna Nighswonger, a Huntington Beach resident, capped the scoring when she converted a penalty kick in the 86th minute for a 4-0 lead and her first national team goal.
Alex Morgan added another successful penalty kick in the 90th minute to close the scoring. It was her 122nd international goal.
The USWNT recorded 30 shots, compared to none for the Dominican Republic.
With the SheBelieves Cup and the Paris Olympics on tap for this year, the recent training camp was the first opportunity for players to make a first impression on the coaching staff.
The initial Gold Cup roster consisted of 11 players who are 25 or younger. Due to injuries to Alana Cook and Mia Fishel, a pair of trusted veterans were called in (Becky Sauerbrunn and Morgan).
The Dominican Republic defeated Guyana, 1-0, in the preliminary round on Saturday to qualify for the group stage.
Before the start of the game, the U.S. suffered a setback with Fishel suffering an ACL injury in her right knee on Monday. Morgan was called on to replace her and entered the game as a substitute in the 67th minute.
Morgan, who normally wears No. 13, wore Fishel’s No. 7 because of CONCACAF rules.
The game was not only the first in a tournament with Twila Kilgore in charge as the interim coach, but it was also her first in her native Southern California. Kilgore was born in Downey and went on to attend Harvard-Westlake High.
“It’s a great opportunity to come home, it’s been amazing,” Kilgore said. “A couple of my club coaches surprised me at training the other day and it was like a full circle moment for me. This is a great city that loves football.”
It was the sixth victory for the United States under Kilgore, who took over when former coach Vlatko Andonovski departed the team following the World Cup last summer.
Kilgore is serving in the interim role until May while new coach Emma Hayes completes the current Women’s Super League season with Chelsea. Purce said Kilgore did a good job of making sure everyone was on the same page.
“I think that we’re playing against a low block so it gives us an opportunity for a lot of creativity,” Purce said. “And we have a lot of creative players on the front line. So it was really fun. It was a fun day.”
Mexico and Argentina played to a scoreless draw in Tuesday’s first game. Mexico had a chance to take the lead early but Rebeca Bernal missed a penalty attempt in the 10th minute.
That tie definitely opens up the race for second place in the group.
The group will be back in action Friday with Mexico and the Dominican Republic squaring off at 4:30 p.m., followed by the USWNT and Argentina at 7:15 p.m. Both matches will again be in Carson.
There are three four-team groups in the tournament, with other matches being played in San Diego and Houston.
Mexico forward Kiana Palacios, right, controls the ball during the second half of their CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup group stage match against Argentina on Tuesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park Track in Carson. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Mexico defender Karina Rodriguez, right, heads the ball against Argentina forward Larroquette during the first half of their CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup group stage match on Tuesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park Track in Carson. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Mexico forward Kiana Palacios, right, controls the ball during the second half of their CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup group stage match against Argentina on Tuesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park Track in Carson. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Mexico defender Karina Rodriguez, left, lines up against Argentina defender Braun (13) during the first half of their CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup group stage match on Tuesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park Track in Carson. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Mexico defender Karina Rodriguez runs across the field during the first half of their CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup group stage match against Argentina on Tuesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park Track in Carson. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Mexico forward Kiana Palacios, center, kicks the ball during the second half of their CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup group stage match against Argentina on Tuesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park Track in Carson. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Mexico forward Kiana Palacios runs up the field during the second half of their CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup group stage match against Argentina on Tuesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park Track in Carson. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Mexico forward Kiana Palacios runs across the field during the second half of their CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup group stage match against Argentina on Tuesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park Track in Carson. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
