FARNAS, Sweden (July 19, 2008) – The U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team defeated Norway, 2-0, in its third and final group game to earn a place in the 2008 Nordic Cup championship game against Germany.

The U.S. team got an early goal from Ella Massar and clinched it with a late own goal from Norway to earns its 12th consecutive trip to the Nordic Cup final. The USA will be going for its 10th overall Nordic Cup title in the past 12 years. The USA has faced Germany in the Nordic Cup championship game four times, winning three of those (2000, 2002 and 2007). In 2006, Germany defeated the USA to break a string of seven straight Nordic Cup titles.

The USA went ahead 1-0 in just the 13th minute after Player of the Game Tina DiMartino played a ball to Kiki Bosio on the right wing. Bosio drilled it across the penalty area and Ella Massar crashed the goal box to score into the right side of the net.

The USA out-shot Norway 15-4, but would not get any breathing room until 15 minutes remained in the match when Bosio once again sent in a hard cross on the ground at the top of the six-yard box. A Norwegian defender tried to slide and knock it away, but inadvertently kicked the ball into her own net.

"We didn't play well but got the result,” said U.S. head coach Bill Irwin, whose team racked up its third straight shutout. “Again we created loads of chances and didn't capitalize on them, but our defense has been solid all tournament."

U.S. goalkeeper Val Henderson has yet to be scored on in the tournament, but gave way to Cori Alexander for the final 10 minutes of the Norway match.

In the Group A games, Germany tied Sweden, 2-2, but it was good enough to send them to the championship game based on superior goal difference. Finland defeated Scotland, 2-0, relegating the Scots to the match for seventh place. In the other Group B match, England beat Switzerland, 1-0, to pick up its first win of the tournament.

U.S. Under-23 Women's National Team Match Report

Participants: U.S. Under-23 Women's National Team vs. Norway
Competition: 2008 Nordic Cup - Group B
Location: Farnas, Sweden
Date: July 19, 2008
Attendance: 348
Weather: Cloudy, Rainy – 58 degrees

Scoring Summary: 1    2   Final
USA                            1    1     2
NOR                           0    0      0

USA - Ella Masar (Kiki Bosio)              13th minute.
USA - Own Goal                                       75.

Lineups:
USA: 1-Valerie Henderson (18-Cori Alexander, 80) 11-Meghan Schnur; 15-Becky Sauerbrunn, 4-Nikki Krzysik (12-Kasey Moore, 77), 7-Katherine Reynolds; 13-Tina DiMartino (6-Lorraine Quinn, 84), 9-Brittany Klein; 10-Yael Averbuch; 5-Kiki Bosio; 8-India Trotter (16-Katy Larkin, 70), 3-Ella Masar (14-Kerri Hanks, 56).
Subs Not Used: 2-Marissa Abegg, 17-Katy Frierson.
Head Coach: Bill Irwin

NOR: 12-Runa Barli; 2-Nora Holstad; 9-Kine Bjerk; 6-Camilla Aseng (8-Stine Sannaess, 83), 5-Trude Johannessen; 4-Gry Tofte Ims; 7-Nasra Abdullah;10-Ingrid Schjelderup;11-June Pedersen (16-Kristin Jonvik, 80), 21-Line Smorsgard (3-Janne Stange, 66), 20-Aimee Edris (14-Inger Ane Hole, 31).
Subs Not Used: 1-Lill Yvonee Karlsrud, 15-Tine Wulf Eikeland, 18-Gunilla Forseth.
Head Coach: Goril Kringen

Statistical Summary:  USA / NOR
Shots:                                 15 / 4
Shots on Goal:                    8 / 2
Saves:                                   2 / 6
Fouls:                                    9 / 12
Corner Kicks:                       6 / 2
Offside:                                  6 / 1

Misconduct Summary: None.

2008 Nordic Cup Schedule - Sweden
July 15-21, 2008

Group A Standings
Teams       W   L   T   Pts.   GF  GA   GD
Germany   2    0   1     7        9     2     +7
Sweden     2    0   1     7        6     3     +3
Finland      1    2   0     3        3     4      -1
Scotland    0    3   0     0        0    10   -10

Tuesday, July 15
Sweden 3, Scotland 0
Germany 2, Finland 0

Thursday, July 17
Sweden 2, Finland 1
Germany 5, Scotland 0

Thursday, July 19
Sweden 2, Germany 2
Finland 2, Scotland 0

Group B Standings
Teams          W   L    T   Pts.  GF  GA   GD
USA                3    0    0     9     6     0     +6
Norway          1    1    1     4     4     4     +0
England        1    2    0     3     1      5     -4
Switzerland  0    2    1     1      2      4    -2

Tuesday, July 15
USA 1, Switzerland 0
Norway 2, England 0

Thursday, July 17
USA 3, England 0
Switzerland 2, Norway 2

Thursday, July 19
USA 2, Norway 0
England 1, Switzerland 0

Monday, July 21
7th Place Match Switzerland vs. Scotland
5th Place Match England vs. Finland
3rd Place Match Norway vs. Sweden
Championship Match USA vs. Germany