Hedge nets game-winner

for U.S. U-20 team

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea — Kelcie Hedge, a former Post Falls High standout who is redshirting this year at the University of Washington, scored the game-winner for the United States Under-20 women’s national team in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in the third minute of stoppage time, sending the Americans to a 2-1 win over Mexico on Friday.

Hedge entered the match in the 68th minute, scored from 8 yards out, sending the shot into the lower left corner of the net.

“We call our subsitutes game-changers because that’s the expectations we have for them when they come in,” U.S. coach Michelle French said. “We started Sabrina Flores who hasn’t played a minute (to that point in the tournament) and Ally Watt comes in and again changes the game by getting the goal. Kelcie Hedge, again someone who hasn’t played at all, comes in and finds a way to get that ball in the back of the net. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

The U.S. will face Group A winner Korea DPR in the first semifinal on Tuesday at 10 a.m. (FS1). North Korea defeated Spain, 3-2 in overtime to advance.