KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Emma Sears scored three goals and Katarina Macario added two as the U.S. women’s national team defeated New Zealand 6-0 on Wednesday night.
This was the most points the United States had scored in a game under coach Emma Hayes. Michelle Cooper had two assists.
Cooper fed a backheel pass from Lily Johannes to Sears, who scored her first goal in the eighth minute to put the Americans ahead.
Macario, who plays for Chelsea, doubled their lead with the opener in the 34th minute, and Rose Lavelle curled a shot into the side netting from distance to make it 3-0 before half-time. This was Lovell’s 27th career goal.
Sears, who plays for Racing Louisville in the National Women’s Soccer League, scored her second goal in the 55th minute, again on an assist from Cooper. Macario added his second run in the 66th inning to make it 5-0. Macario has four games with the U.S. national team, scoring two goals.
Sears scored her third goal in the 84th inning, making her the first hat trick for a national team since Sophia Wilson did it against Uzbekistan in 2022.
Defender Kennedy Wesley started on his debut and became the 25th player to earn his first cap under Hayes. Wednesday’s starting backline had played just 11 games combined for the national team.
This was the team’s third international match. The United States lost the first game to Portugal 2-1 in Pennsylvania last week and took a 113-day break before winning the second game 3-1 on Sunday in East Hartford, Connecticut. The opening defeat against Portugal was only the third loss for Hayes’ side.
New Zealand lost to Mexico in both international friendly matches.
The match took place at CPKC Stadium, the world’s first women’s soccer-specific stadium and home of the NWSL’s Kansas City Current. Cooper is playing in Current.
Before the match, the New Zealand national team paid tribute to former captain Ali Riley, who has retired from professional football. Riley appeared in 163 games with the team.
The United States has been playing without many of its Olympic gold medal-winning stars. Trinity Rodman has injured her right MCL, and Wilson and Mallory Swanson are on maternity leave.
The United States entered the match with a 19-1-1 record against New Zealand. The last time these teams met was in the 2023 Women’s World Cup, which the United States won both times in Oakland.
The United States will play its final games of the year against Italy on Nov. 28 in Orlando, Fla., and Dec. 1 in Fort Lauderdale.
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AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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