PUGH’S ASSIST HELPS U.S. WOMEN IN WIN
AND» Alex Morgan
G L AS G O W , S C OT L scored late in the first half off an assist from MountainVista High School alumna Mallory Pugh, and the U.S. national team wrapped up the year with a 1-0 victory Tuesday over Scotland in Glasgow.
The U.S. team is undefeated this year with 19 wins and two ties. The Americans have an unbeaten streak of 28 games (25 wins, three ties) dating to a 1-0 loss to Australia in the Tournament of Nations last year. It was also the team’s 12th shutout of the year.
“It’s been great this year being undefeated. I don’t feel like this was our strongest performance by any means, but I do have to give credit to Scotland. I feel like they played very well, pretty physical team, and, first half, there was a lot of times they dominated play. It’s a team we could very well see in the World Cup,” Morgan said.
The U.S. team is the defending World Cup champion and it qualified for next year’s tournament in France at the CONCACAF women’s championship last month.
The United States is currently the top-ranked team in the world, while Scotland is No. 19 and has qualified for its first World Cup.
Morgan scored her 98th career goal in international play in the 39th minute off a cross from Pugh. Morgan has 25 goals in her last 26 matches.
University of North Carolina sophomore defender Emily Fox made her second straight start for the national team, while regular starters Megan Rapinoe and Lindsey Horan of Golden were given the night off. Carli Lloyd wore the captain’s armband.
Lloyd’s penalty kick in the 62nd minute hit the crossbar and caromed away.
Atlanta’s Martino wins MLS coach honor.
ANTA» Gerardo “Tata”
AT L
Martino was voted coach of the year in Major League Soccer in his last season with Atlanta United.
Martino guided Atlanta through another record-breaking season. Backed by record crowds, Atlanta United won a playoff series for the first time by beating New York City FC in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Atlanta will play the New York Red Bulls in the first leg of the conference final Nov. 25.
Martino, the former Barcelona and Argentina national coach, is leaving Atlanta after the playoffs. He reportedly is headed to Mexico’s national team.
Martino received 32.7 percent of the votes by MLS team officials, players and media. Bob Bradley of Los Angeles FC was second at 22.34 percent.
» The Myrtle Beach Bowl is coming to South Carolina’s Grand Strand resort area in 2020, and will be shared by Conference USA, the Mid-American Conference and the Sun Belt.
The conferences and ESPN Events announced the new Myrtle Beach Bowl. The network will own, operate and televise the game.
The three conferences will participate in the game four times each between from 2020-25. The game will be played at Brooks Stadium, home of Coastal Carolina.
The new game would bring the number of FBS bowls to 40 if all the current bowls are still operating in 2020.
Indiana college suspends football program.
R ICHMOND, I ND .
» Earlham College has suspended its football program after a fifth consecutive winless season and a Division III record 53 straight losses.
The Quakers finished the season with a 70-6 loss to Rose-Hulman last Saturday. On Tuesday, interim President Avis Stewart announced the college will suspend the program for the 2019 season. A committee of alumni, faculty, athletes and current and former Division III coaches and athletic directors will review the viability of the school having a football team.