Hometown star Abby Wambach scored twice in the first half to lead the USA to a 3-1 win over Mexico in a women's friendly Wednesday night at the new PAETEC Park in Rochester, N.Y.,
Lindsay Tarpley also scored for the USA, which improved its 2006 record to 11-0-3.
''I thought that [Wambach] just gave so much to this game tonight,'' said U.S. coach Greg Ryan. ''You saw her intensity, her focus and a big heart. You see her leadership on the field, she's helping the young players, and she's talking to them and directing people. That's all good stuff. The direction she is giving them is like having another coach on the field.''
The USA's two remaining friendlies before the Women's Gold Cup take place Oct. 1 against Chinese Taipei at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., and Oct. 8 in Richmond, Va., against Iceland.
GAME SUMMARY
Sept. 13 in Rochester, N.Y.
USA 3 Mexico 1. Goals: Wambach pen. 18, 39, Tarpley 22; Ocampo 21.
USA — Solo, Chalupny (Frimpong, 83), LePeilbet (Lopez, 46), Rampone, Mitts, Osborne, Lloyd (Hucles, 46), Wagner (Rapinoe, 76), Tarpley (Kai, 67), Wambach, Lilly.
Mexico — S.Perez, Castillo, Sandoval, Gonzales, Romero, Saucedo, Vergara (Leyva, 46), Padilla (Worbis 64), Perez (Morales, 81), Mora (Valdez, 76), Ocampo.
Referee: Rachel Woo.
Att.: 6,784.