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No letdown U.S. Olympic women confident despite goal drought
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- After a seven-goal outburst a week ago against Russia, the U.S. women's soccer team has struggled to score in two games. There is only one match remaining for the United States before it begins defense of its Olympic gold medal. That's no cause for concern, however, U.S. midfielder Kristine Lilly said after a 1-1 tie with Canada on Sunday. It was the second straight game -- the U.S. team tied Russia 1-1 on Tuesday -- in which the Americans scored just one goal -- and both came on penalty kicks. "I think our team's pretty confident right now," Lilly said. "We created a lot of chances on net, and we know we're going to get them." Lilly should know about staying confident when the ball won't go in the net. Until she stepped up in the 73rd minute and converted a penalty kick to put the United States ahead Sunday, she had gone 19 games without a goal. That streak included a missed penalty kick on June 27, in a 0-0 tie with Brazil. The difference this time, she said, is that "I didn't change my mind this time. I knew where I was going to put it." That was the only shot the U.S. team was able to get past Canadian goalkeeper Karina Leblanc, despite a 31-6 advantage in shots. Leblanc, who plays for the University of Nebraska, made nine saves in preserving Canada's first draw in four meetings with the United States this year. The U.S. team won the first three by a combined score of 17-2 - 9-1, 4-1 and 4-0. "I think the past games we've had this summer, games like that you just want to forget about as soon as possible," said Canadian midfielder Amy Walsh, who scored the game-tying goal in the 75th minute. "But by the same token, we needed those games to better ourselves. I think we showed today that we've closed a part of that gap. "The U.S. is still the premier women's team in the world," said Walsh, who also played at Nebraska. "But as many games as we get against them, we're only going to improve every time out." As the U.S. fans were still celebrating Lilly's first goal since May 5, Walsh headed Kristina Kiss' free kick away from U.S. keeper Briana Scurry and into the goal mouth. American defender Kate Sobrero cleared the ball, but not before it was ruled a goal. "I don't think it's a letdown," Lilly said, "but it's something we have to focus on and be ready for. After a goal, there's a high-percentage chance that there's going to be another goal for one of the teams." Scurry, one of the heroes of the Americans' 1999 World Cup victory, made just her third appearance of the year for the U.S. team and it was an unplanned one. Scurry, who has been battling injuries all year, came on in the 25th minute to replace injured starter Siri Mullinix. "I wasn't up to my normal standards," Scurry said. "That ball that they got the score on, I'd normally get to that ball. I'm a little rusty, but it's all right." In the 21st minute, Mullinix and Canadian midfielder Charmaine Hooper both slid for a ball in the penalty area. Hooper's cleats appeared to catch Mullinix in the upper arm. The U.S. team said Mullinix was taken out as a precaution. She later appeared with her knee bandaged and the team said she had also bruised her knee on the play, but did not say how serious the injury was. Hooper, who also lay on the field for several minutes, received a yellow card for dangerous play.
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