U.S. women

Parlow's three goals help send Americans past Haiti 8-0, to Olympic qualifying semifinals.

HEREDIA, Costa Rica (Friday, February, 27, 2004) - Most people don't like working on their birthday and at least United States women's coach April Heinrichs didn't have to work too hard on her 40th.

CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Group B
Team	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA
United States	2	0	0	6	15	0
Mexico	2	0	0	6	13	1
Haiti	0	2	0	0	0	13
Trinidad & Tobago	0	0	2	0	1	15
February 25 United States 7, Trinidad & Tob. 0 Mexico 5, Haiti 0 February 27 Mexico 8, Trinidad & Tobago 1 United States 8, Haiti 0 February 29 United States vs. Mexico Trinidad & Tobago vs. Haiti

Striker Cindy Parlow scored three goals and added two assists times while running mate Shannon MacMillan added a goal and two assists for the U.S which rolled over Haiti 8-0 without allowing a shot in the CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament before an estimated 2,000 at Estadio Eladio Rosabal Cordero tonight.

With Sunday's Group B finale against Mexico remaining, the U.S. has already clinched a spot in the tournament semifinals. The winners of Wednesday's two semifinals clinch berths in the Summer Olympics in Athens.

Mexico (2-0) also clinched advancement to the semifinals by opening the evening by romping over Trinidad & Tobago 8-1.

Following a 7-0 rout over Trinidad & Tobago (0-2) to open Group B Wednesday, a match in which the Americans outshot their opponent 27-1, the U.S. held a 29-0 shots advantage over Haiti (0-2), putting 19 on frame.

"The big picture is what comes to mind in terms of this result," Heinrichs said. "We've secured ourselves a position in the semifinals and that's the most important thing. We've been able to come together as a team . . . There were some brilliant things going on out there and some great combination play down the flanks. We created some great chances and finished eight goals."

A misty, swirling rain fell on the stadium for most of the night, making for cooler conditions than the Americans had experienced previously in Costa Rica, as well as making the field a bit slicker, which benefited the USA's quick combination play. Heinrichs started seven of the eight players who did not start Wednesday against Trinidad & Tobago.

"I'm very pleased about being able to start some different players and rest another group," Heinrichs said. "We've worked very hard and I think we can be a little fresher for our game against Mexico. I'm a little concerned about our shots to shots on goal ratio, but on the whole, I'm very pleased about this game and hopefully we are gaining momentum."

Parlow's hat trick was the seventh of her international career, tying her for second place with Michelle Akers in the U.S. record book.

In the 12th minute, Parlow took a pass from midfielder Leslie Osborne in the penalty area and toe-poked the ball to midfielder Aly Wagner who stuffed her shot in the left corner from six yards for her 13th career international goal and a 1-0 lead.

Five minutes later, defender Kate Markgraf (nee Sobrero), who played a brilliant first half attacking down the left flank, crossed to Parlow in the six-yard box. Parlow took a touch and then lifted the ball over prone Haiti goalkeeper Gina Montinard into the net to make it 2-0.

In the 41st minute, U.S. midfielder Angela Hucles carried into the right side of the box and bounced off several defenders. Montinard rushed out to challenge, but the ball popped loose with Judith Fenelon's clearing attempt instead hitting the roof of her own net, increasing the American advantage to 3-0.

The U.S. scored five times after intermission on a visibly tired Haiti team, scoring five of its eight goals after the break. <-p>"I was pleased with the mental approach of the people who came off the bench," Heinrichs said. "In a game like this, to a certain extent, you are happy to get out of it without any yellow cards or injuries. But those aren't our goals. Our goals are to get better. Shannon MacMillan and Abby Wambach came off the bench to have great games."

MacMillan made it 4-0 in the 47th minute, taking a pass from Parlow and hammering home a shot from seven yards.

"I found Cindy in the box and just kept running," said MacMillan of the sequence leading to her 60th international goal. "Her pass was just a perfect setup. It's one of those ones where you get all of it and I don't think the goalkeeper even saw it."

Tarpley made it 5-0 after Hucles tackled a ball away from Haiti just outside the penalty area on the left side. The ball skidded to the Tarpley and the 20-year old midfielder carried into the box and shot from a steep, skipping her shot off the wet grass, off the shoulder Montinard and into the net for her fourth career goal.

Tarpley created the sixth goal, whipping a left-side cross into the middle of the box where Parlow knocked it into an empty net after Montinard failed to handle it

Wambach made it 7-0 in the 81st minute with her 16th international goal in 26 appearances and Parlow closed the scoring six minutes later with her 68th career goal, fifth on the U.S. scoring list.

Osborne, and defenders Heather Mitts and Amy LeiPeilbet earned their second caps. U.S. keeper Siri Mullinix picked up the shutout without doing much. Haiti failed to even force a corner kick.

"We got a good lesson on how to beat a bunker, because they definitely hung in there," MacMillan said. "I think we showed a lot of patience in knocking the ball around and not trying to force it and get frustrated."

Mexico was led over T&T by three goals from Maribel Dominguez, who now has five to lead the tournament, and two from Patricia Perez. and one each from Juana Lopez, Iris Mora and Alma Martinzez. All of Mexico's goals were stylish and well taken. T&T got some solace from a 41st minute penalty kick by Tasha St. Louis.

Championship
Semifinal winners, 9 p.m.