by Brandon Call
Daily Lobo
A bruised and battered U.S. Women's National Team narrowly avoided an upset by Mexico on Saturday.
With the U.S. team fresh off its third-place finish at the 2007 Women's World Cup in China, the injured Women's National Team concluded its three-game series with Mexico at University Stadium on Saturday.
After winning the first two contests in St. Louis and Portland, Ore., by a margin of 9-1, the U.S. tied Mexico 1-1.
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"It's our third game in a row against Mexico, and we're tired right now," U.S. head coach Greg Ryan said. "We're exhausted from the World Cup, and I think that showed. We didn't have the kind of energy or the kind of rhythm that we normally have, and I think that's normal after the kind of intense World Cup we experienced."
The U.S. defense was also lacking as defenders Christie Rampone, Marian Dalmy and Tina Ellertson sat out due to injuries.
"We only had one real defender on the field," team captain Kristine Lilly said. "We put a lot of players out there. It was great to see so many players step up for us."
Heather O'Reilly scored the lone American goal on a cross from Natasha Kai
during the 62nd minute to even the score at 1-1.
O'Reilly said she attributed her goal to Kai who set her up in the box.
"Natasha started it off with her explosiveness," O'Reilly said. "If you work hard, you are going to get rewarded, and that's what I tried to do to get in the box. She played a very unselfish ball across."
Ryan said his team showed resilience to score the game-tying goal.
"To go down a goal and come back quickly, I'm proud of the players mustering up the effort to get a goal back," Ryan said. "Mexico scored a goal, and we dug a little bit deeper and found a way to get back in the game."
Mexico dominated most of the first half, outshooting the Americans seven to four.
U.S. goalkeeper Briana Scurry had her work cut out for her, saving three shots on goal and staying busy with 11 total shots by the Mexican offense.
Scurry was unable to save the Monica Ocampo goal that put Mexico in the lead 1-0 in the 56th minute.
"I think Mexico has shown a lot of improvement," Ryan said. "They have a very young team out there and they are getting better all the time. ... I want to give credit to Mexico because (Mexico head coach) Leo (Cuellar) has done a great job developing a very young group of very talented players."
The U.S. team ends 2007 with a 19-1-4 record, with the only loss coming to Brazil in the semifinal of the 2007 Women's World Cup. While the 2008 schedule and the qualifying tournament for the 2008 Olympics has yet to be finalized, the U.S. team will take a much needed break for rest and recuperation.
"No one is 100 percent healthy," O'Reilly said. "It's tough, but it's something that we do for our fans back home. We have a lot to celebrate for 2007, and that is what this tour is about. We are definitely tired, but it's a nice thing for the fans, and it's a nice way to come back to the States and celebrate with the people who have supported us."
