GEORGE'S, Grenada -- Second-half substitute Frankie Tagliaferri scored four goals during a 17-minute span to lead the United States to an 8-1 Group B victory over Jamaica in the CONCACAF Women's Under-17 Championship at Grenada National Stadium on Friday.
Civana Kuhlmann and TSG player of the match Ashley Sanchez added two goals apiece.
The Americans took the group lead on goal differential over Mexico, 3-2 winners over Costa Rica in the first game of the doubleheader.
Kuhlmann lifted the USA into the lead in the 16th minute as she latched onto a through ball by Briana Pinto, beat two defenders and goalkeeper Sydney Schneider from eight yards. She also scored against Jamaica in the 2013 competition.
The Jamaicans, who had seven USA-based players among their Starting XI, caught their foes napping to equalize in the 32nd minute. Sylvia Smart used her pace to fire home an 11-yard shot into the far right corner past goalkeeper Laurel Ivory. It was only the fourth goal the USA had allowed in 21 tournament matches.
Sanchez quickly restored the Americans' lead with a brilliant individual goal in the 35th minute. She penetrated into the left side of penalty area, put a spin move on her defender and looped the ball into the far corner for a 2-1 lead.
The USA wore down Jamaica in the second half.
Kuhlmann ran onto another through ball and scored from close range in the 50th minute. Sanchez tallied off another marvelous effort to increase the lead to 4-1 in the 56th minute as she ran through the left side of the defense, converting from seven yards.
Barely a minute after entering the match for Sydney Zandi, Tagliaferri put home substitute Sophia Smith's right-wing cross from eight yards in the 71st minute. Only three minutes later, Tagliaferri connected off a fine individual run off a counterattack that began with a cleared corner kick.
Tagliaferri completed her hat-trick, converting another Smith feed from the right side in the 82nd minute before scoring from close-range in the 88th minute..
The USA will play Mexico on Sunday, while Jamaica will meet Costa Rica.
