Match Report

Valerie Gauvin, one of 17 French players with professional experience, struck for four goals to lead her team to a 5-0 victory over the United States on Saturday at the Mokpo Football Center.

Both sides now are 1-1 at the World University Games and are three points behind Pool D leader Canada, which defeated South Africa, 2-0, at Naju Public Stadium.

Gauvin found the net in the first minute when she chased down a ball sent over the top and went in alone on goalkeeper Rowan Frederiksen.

Laura Bourgain doubled the French lead in the 10th minute when her shot from 16 meters hit the crossbar and went down over the line.

Fifteen minutes later, Gauvin scored on a header from 10 meters off a corner kick.

Team USA had an opportunity to get on the board in stoppage time off a set piece, but could not convert on the ball in the box.

Gauvin completed her hat trick in the 51st minute when she took the ball down the right side and scored on a tough angle shot to the far post. With just over a minute remaining, she controlled a cross with her body at the top of crease and finished in the top right corner. 

The United States generated more chances in the second half when it launched all four of its shots.

French goalkeeper Amandine Guerin kept her clean sheet intact when she punched the ball away 10 minutes into the second half, and then saw a shot by Kaeli Vandersluis sail just outside the post in the 73rd minute.

"Today was a great day in terms of getting real international experience," head coach Geoff Bennett said. "I've been around Division 1 soccer for a very long time and I have not seen a team as fluid and as talented as the France team we just faced.

"This will help our team in the long run as we now know what it takes to play at the top level. We need to rebound quickly to get ready to put our best first foot forward versus Canada."

The United States plays Canada on Monday, July 6, at 4:30 p.m. local time, 1:30 a.m. MT.

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