Mass. Native Scores in U17 Loss

Mewis Goal Can't Give U.S. Win in First World Cup

October 30, 2008

HAMILTON, New Zealand – Hanson’s (Mass.) Kristen Mewis scored in the 51st minute but the U.S. Under-17 women’s soccer team lost in its first-ever U17 World Cup match, dropping a 3-2 decision to Japan at Waikato Stadium.

The win for Japan was its first ever over the United States in a FIFA women’s event. The loss for the U.S. was the first in an international match for this group of players.

The match marked the first game for the U.S. women in a U-17 World Cup and forward Vicki DiMartino made history by scoring the USA’s first goal just 139 seconds into the match.

The goal came off a long throw-in from the left sideline by Cloee Colohan that bounced inside the penalty box before Japanese goalkeeper Saki Nakamura made a play for it. DiMartino challenged hard inside the six-yard box and crashed into the Japanese ‘keeper, who had bobbled the ball. The referee saw no foul as DiMartino bundled the ball into the net to give the USA the early lead.

The rest of the first half belonged to Japan, which attacked with speed and sophistication while slicing through the U.S. defense. Chiaki Shimada’s brilliant strike from 35 yards out slammed off the crossbar and rebounded into the middle of the U.S. penalty area. Forward Mana Iwabuchi was first to the rebound, settling the ball before slotting into the left corner from eight yards out past stranded U.S. goalkeeper Taylor Vancil.

Japan’s goal was a just reward after dominating the final 30 minutes of the first half, and the young U.S. team was fortunate to head into the break with a 1-1 draw.

In the second frame, the U.S. took advantage of its pressure to force a poor Japanese clearance that skipped right to Mewis who was outside the penalty area on the left side. She chipped in a shot from 22 yards out that initially did not look dangerous, but the ball wrong-footed the Japanese goalkeeper, who was perhaps screened by her own defender as well, before skipping into the left corner.

Japan had looked dangerous from distance all match and their tying goal came from 36 yards out as Natsumi Kameoka crushed a world class shot that sailed over Vancil and under the crossbar.

The goal seemed to embolden Japan and unsettle the U.S., which gave up the game-winner six minutes later. It came off a long ball that settled onto the head of Akane Saito at the U.S. restraining line. The Japanese forward deftly flicked the ball with her head to substitute Kei Yoshioka, who settled with her chest at the top of the penalty area and hit a sizzling volley into the upper left corner.

The Americans fought desperately to get a tying goal, and came close several times as sisters Kristie and Samantha Mewis each created danger in the waning minutes.

In order to keep their quarterfinal dreams alive, the U.S. team will now have to rebound with a win against Paraguay in its second Group C match on Nov. 2 in Hamilton.

U.S. UNDER-17 WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM GAME REPORT

Scoring Summary:
USA – Vicki DiMartino (Cloee Colohan) 3rd minute.
JPN – Mana Iwabuchi (Chiaki Shinmada) 31st
USA – Kristie Mewis 51st
JPN – Natsumi Kameoka (TBA) 68th
JPN – Kei Yoshioka (Akane Saito) 74th

Lineups:
USA: 18-Taylor Vancil; 3-Amber Brooks, 6-Cloee Colohan (capt.), 17-Rachel Quon; 5-Erika Tymrak (19-Elizabeth Eddy, 32), 13-Julia Roberts, 11-Samantha Mewis (9-Samantha Johnson, 86), 14-Mandy Laddish (20-Olivia Klei, 52), 10-Kristie Mewis, 8-Vicki DiMartino, 7-Courtney Verloo

JPN: 1-Saki Nakamura; 2-Kozue Chiba, 3-Minori Chiba, 5-Natsuki Kishikawa (Capt.); 6-Natsumi Kameoka, 7-Chiaki Shimada (20-Yoko Tanaka, 59), 8-Yuko Takeyama, 12-Yuiko Inoue (14-Kei Yoshioka, 69); 9-Chinatsu Kira (19-Haruka Hamada, 91+), 10-Mana Iwabuchi, 11-Akana Saito

Return from Mass. Native Scores in U17 Loss to US National Teams

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