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GUATEMALA CITY - Summer Green scored another three goals and led the United States past Mexico 3-0 on Monday, sending the Americans to a semifinal meeting against Panama at the CONCACAF Under-17 Women's Championship.
The result earned the United States the Group B title, relegating Mexico to second place and a semifinal meeting against Group A winner and defending champion Canada.
The winners of Thursday's semifinals and the third-place game will earn berths in the U-17 Women's World Cup in Azerbaijan September 22-October 13.
Green's goals in the 17th, 32nd and 36th minutes marked the third straight game she has scored and gave her nine for the tournament, three more than her closest rival.
The Americans finished the first round with three wins in as many games and having outscored their opponents 18-0, but will be looking to avoid the fate of its 2010 predecessors, who outscored teams 38-0 but lost on penalties to Canada after a 0-0 draw in the semifinals and were eliminated.
Like its victories over the Bahamas (10-0) and Trinidad (5-0), the United States dominated from the start, generating its first shot 14 seconds after the opening kickoff when Green put a try just short of the right post.
Mexico mustered some possession but little danger before Green converted a penalty.
Margaret Purce, who had three goals against the Bahamas, sprinted past Mexican defender Paulina Solis - resulting in Solis grabbing Purce's shirt - down the right side of the area. Purce turned inside Solis and Mariana Cadena and was knocked over by Solis to earn the penalty.
Green drove the spot try low and left. Mexican keeper Gabriela Paz was able to get her fingertips to it, but not enough to keep it out of the goal.
With rain beginning to fall in the 24th minute, Green doubled the lead in the 32nd on a notable individual effort. Taking the ball on the left side of the area, Green turned defender Celinna Montano and then spun toward the byline, dribbling to the edge of the six-yard box before driving a low, right-footed shot across goal into the far-side netting.
Green completed her scoring nine minutes before halftime, running in from the center circle, avoiding three defenders and hitting a right-footed shot past Paz from 25 meters.
U.S. keeper Jane Campbell was not severely tested, recording a third shutout in five days.
