U.S. WNT Ends 2017 On A High Note With 3-1 Win Against Canada

The U.S. Women's National Team finished its 2017 campaign with a 3-1 victory against Canada on Sunday night in front of a near sellout crowd of 17,960 at Avaya Stadium. Alex Morgan, Julie Ertz and Carli Lloyd each scored one goal for team USA.

The U.S. WNT opened up scoring in the 11^th minute when Megan Rapinoe bent a corner kick from the left side to the near post, and Ertz flicked a header into the back of net. The goal marked her sixth of the year, all of which came on set pieces.

Canada once again came out strong in the second half and tied the game up in the 50th minute of action. On the scoring sequence, and ball was played through down the right flank towards a sprinting Nichelle Prince. Prince took a touch to beat Abby Dahlkemper, then played a ball back towards the penalty spot to a wide open Janine Beckie. She then one-timed a shot past USA goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher for the equalizer.

However, this time the U.S. WNT would rally to earn the victory, starting with a Morgan goal just six minutes later. Christen Press took advantage of a bad touch by Jessie Fleming about 35 yards out in Canada's defensive third and played a ball through the penalty area to Morgan, who had stayed onside. She collected with her left foot and finished with her right for the second U.S. tally of the game. It was Morgan's team-leading seventh goal of the year.

Team USA put the game away in the 80th minute when Lloyd, who had just come into the game five minutes earlier, scored her 98th career goal. After a corner kick was cleared back to Rapinoe on the left side of the field, she re-served the ball into the box and Alex Morgan flicked it on towards the far post. Lloyd, who was making a back-post run, deflected the ball into the back of the net for a 3-1 advantage. The score would remain at the final whistle.

The U.S. WNT finished its 2017 campaign with a 12-3-1 record, going unbeaten in the last eight games (7-0-1). The USA will regroup early next year for its annual January training camp before embarking on its journey to 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification.

- U.S. Women's National Team Match Report -

Match: U.S. Women's National Team vs. Canada

Date: Nov. 12, 2017

Competition: International Friendly

Venue: Avaya Stadium; San Jose, Calif.

Kickoff: 6 p.m. PT

Attendance: 17,960

Weather: 64 degrees, clear

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F

USA 1 2 3

CAN 0 1 1

USA - Julie Ertz (Megan Rapinoe) 11^th minute

CAN - Janine Beckie (Nichelle Prince) 50

USA - Alex Morgan (Christen Press) 56

USA - Carli Lloyd (Alex Morgan) 80

Lineups:

USA: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 22-Taylor Smith (14-Casey Short, 66), 4-Becky Sauerbrunn (capt.), 7-Abby Dahlkemper, 5-Kelley O'Hara; 8-Julie Ertz (6-Andi Sullivan, 75), 9-Lindsey Horan, 3-Samantha Mewis (10-Carli Lloyd, 75); 23-Christen Press (12-Lynn Williams, 82), 13-Alex Morgan, 15-Megan Rapinoe

Subs not used: 24-Ashlyn Harris; 16-Emily Sonnett, 20-Allie Long

Head coach: Jill Ellis

CAN: 1-Stephanie Labbe; 2-Allysha Chapman, 4-Shelina Zadorsky, 5-Rebecca Quinn; 11-Desiree Scott (24-Ariel Young, 71), 17-Jessie Fleming, 20-Maegan Kelly (22-Lindsay Agnew, 60); 6-Deanne Rose (15-Nichelle Prince, 31), 12-Christine Sinclair (9-Jordyn Huitema, 60), 16-Janine Beckie (23-Julia Grosso, 90), 19-Adriana Leon (14-Jayde Riviere, 71)

Subs not used: 18-Sabrina D'Angelo, 21-Kailen Sheridan

Head coach: John Herdman

Stats Summary: USA / CAN

Shots: 12 / 8

Shots on Goal: 6 / 2

Saves: 1 / 4

Corner Kicks: 10 / 2

Fouls: 12 / 12

Offside: 1 / 0

Misconduct Summary:

CAN - Jayde Riviere (caution) 79^th minute

Officials:

Referee: Karen Abt (USA)

Assistant Referee 1: Felisha Mariscal (USA)

Assistant Referee 2: Deleana Quan (USA)

4th Official: Christina Unkel (USA)