[UH SOCCER]
Kai helps U.S. reach
championship game
Natasha Kai had a role in every goal as the United States Under-21 Women's National Team advanced to the 2004 Nordic Cup championship game with a 3-0 victory over Germany yesterday at Dalvik, Iceland.
The Americans will go after their sixth consecutive Nordic Cup title tomorrow when they play Sweden in Akureyrarvollur Stadium in Akureyri, Iceland.
Playing in very windy conditions (gusts up to 40 mph) and 60-degree weather yesterday, the Americans (12-2-2 overall) found the range in the second half to finish pool play in Group B with a 3-0-0 record without allowing a goal.
Kai, a Hawaii Rainbow Wahine striker, scored what proved to be the game winner in the 56th minute on a header 6 yards off the goal line.
That broke a scoreless tie that was largely the result of German goalkeeper Ursala Hall, who stuffed three U.S. breakaways -- by Kai, Carli Lloyd and Kelly Wilson who all tried to dribble around Hall -- in the first half.
Lindsey Huie's corner kick from the left side set up the first goal. The kick was cleared to Sarah Huffman. She played it back to Huie on the flank. Huie crossed the ball into the middle where a darting Kai dove to beat Hall with a head shot into the net.
Kai, the leading scorer for the U.S. in 2004 with 12 goals, set up the second score with a great pass in the air to Lloyd from the right side. Hall saved Lloyd's head-shot attempt, but the rebound went to Huffman who first-timed a low shot into the right side of the net from 12 yards out for a 2-0 lead in the 64th minute.
"The competition in this tournament is really good. But, we've been to China and Brazil and faced some great teams, so that really prepared us for the Nordic Cup," Kai said.
She scored her second goal in the 78th minute, then was replaced by Julianne Sitch, a move U.S. coach Chris Petrucelli has made in each match of the tournament.
Kai, making a slashing run above the right side of the penalty area, received an excellent pass from Manya Maksoki. Kai used her speed to get a step on the German defender, turned the corner into the penalty area and blistered a shot from a tough angle across the goal mouth. The ball kissed the left post before landing in the side netting. It was a strike that even drew applause from Germany's head coach Helmut Horsch.
"It has been an outstanding team performance so far," said Petrucelli. "We were basically in the toughest group and our players have dominated it. The big thing for us is that everyone has stepped up. A number of people have scored goals and our back four has been really good."
Jill Oakes, who was on the 2001 Nordic Cup champions and leads the defense in the middle along with Keeley Dowling, said, "I think this team is in a good state of mind. We are very confident and focused and that confidence will be a big factor in the final. We know we can win if we play the way we have been so it's just a matter of going out and doing that."
Sweden (2-0-1) tied Iceland 2-2 yesterday.
Tomorrow's championship match is the third time in the last four years the U.S. has played Sweden for the title, winning 6-1 in 2001 and 2-1 last year.
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