The U.S. women’s dominance continued as they beat Italy 2-0 to win U.S. Women’s Cup ’97. The 11,208 in attendance at RFK Stadium witnessed the fourth consecutive U.S. Cup title for the U.S. women and the 30th match without a loss for the Olympic champion. It was the second largest crowd to see the U.S. women at home outside of the Olympics and the largest to see the U.S. at RFK. The win also gave the U.S. a 4-3 lead in the all-time series with Italy, which beat the U.S. the first three times they played, including a 1-0 result in the first-ever match for the U.S. Aug. 18, 1985, in Jesolo, Italy. In the most recent meeting, Kristine Lilly set up both goals to maintain the United States’ undefeated record in U.S. Cup ù a competition that began in 1994. Italian star striker Carolina Morace ù the second-most capped women’s player (145) in the world to Sweden’s Pia Sundhage (146) ù had a 20-yard shot saved by U.S. goalkeeper Briana Scurry for her only shot on goal. She was not a factor again until much later. But each of her late scoring chances were snuffed out by substitute defender Thori Staples. The U.S. defense as a whole clamped down on Italy, allowing only seven shots on goal. While Italy sat back and waited to counter, the U.S. attacked and almost scored from two early Christie Pearce chances that were stopped by Italian goalkeeper Giorgia Brenzan. Missed opportunities ù a Mia Hamm goal in the 10th minute was called back because Hamm ran into Brenzan first ù frustrated the U.S. until the second half. In the 68th minute, Lilly crossed from the left flank to the onrushing Cindy Parlow, who rose above the Italian defense to head the ball past Brenzan. Hamm’s goal came in stoppage time, shortly after an Italian defender undercut her as she jumped for a header and landed on her shoulder. Shaking it off, Hamm converted another Lilly cross from the left side with a shot from 12 yards out. That goal gave her the tournament goalscoring title with six. Three days earlier, Hamm scored twice in a 9-1 hammering of Australia in Ambler, Pa. Parlow also scored twice, but the real story was striking partner Milbrett, who set a national team record by dishing out five assists.