Pugh makes Olympic soccer roster - #lakewoodnews

Mallory Pugh displays a professional, no-frills attitude whether she is scoring a goal or delivering an assist in a soccer match.

So her reaction July 12 to being named a forward on the U.S. Women's Olympic Soccer team for the Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was no surprise to her father Horace.

"She was very excited, but kind of focused and all business," Horace Pugh said. "When she found out, it was like OK, let's move forward, and she just focused on performing well down in Rio."

Pugh, who graduated from Mountain Vista High School in May, becomes the second youngest American women's soccer Olympian. She is about a month older than Cindy Parlow was during the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.

Parlow was 18 years, two months and three days old. Pugh will be 18 years, three months, and 13 days when the U.S. team begins Group G play against New Zealand on Aug. 3 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

"It's been a wild ride with her making the team and doing what's she's been doing," Horace Pugh said.

Pugh isn't the only Colorado player to make the team.

Midfielder Lindsey Horan, a 2012 Golden High School graduate who didn't play high school soccer, also was named by coach Jill Ellis to the 18-player U.S. team that will play its final Olympic warmup game July 22 against Costa Rica in Kansas City.

Horan, who is expected to be a starter along with Pugh, was the first player to sign a professional contract out of high school in July, 2012.

Pugh, the only amateur on the team with the 17 other players being professionals, leads the U.S. team with seven assists this year, including one in a 3-3 tie against Japan on June 2 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City. Horan scored a goal in that match.

If Pugh should score a goal in the Olympics, she would be the youngest U.S. player to score in the competition since Parlow did not in 1996.

"Mal has had a fairly seamless --; at least it appears that way --; transition into this environment," Ellis said after the team was announced. "She fits in well socially, the soccer piece has been very, very good and what I like about her is that she's come in, held her own and she doesn't get fazed or rattled.

"She's a quality player and she's a big part of this future, this program going forward. It's not just bringing her in to get experience, it's bringing in a player that can help us down there and impact the game."

Pugh played on a variety of U.S. national teams during her career and was on the under-20 team as a 16-year-old. She didn't play for Mountain Vista during her senior year but attended all the Golden Eagles' games and sat on the bench.

"That's Mallory," said her dad. "She wasn't able to play for (Mountain Vista) but she wanted to be there and support them because she said `those are my teammates. I played with them last year and nothing changes.'

"Believe me, it was like trying to pull the reins back. She wanted to play. U.S. highly advised her not to play, and understandably so."

The Americans, who have won four of the past five Olympic gold medals, will be trying to become the first team to win Women's World Cup and Olympic titles in consecutive years.

from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.com/stories/Pugh-makes-Olympic-soccer-roster,226766