For the second match in a row, the U.S. women’s national team fell victim to world-class game-winning goal and lost to Norway, this time by 2-1 score in a closed door international match played in blustery winds at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Fla. The USA fell to Norway on Feb. 6, 3-2, when midfielder Dagny Mellgren fired a 25-yard rocket in the upper left corner with just seconds left in the match. This time it was veteran Hege Riise, the second all-time leading scorer in Women’s World Cup history, that did in the Americans with a spectacular strike. With the score tied at 1-1 just seven minutes into the second half, Norwegian defender Bente Kvitland launched a ball from near midfield. The wind carried the ball into the penalty box where the sprinting Riise hit a tremendous volley, gathering herself under the ball and striking it with the inside of her right foot from eight yards out, sending a rocket over goalkeeper Siri Mullinix, who replaced Briana Scurry at halftime. “Obviously, we are disappointed in the result,” said U.S. captain Carla Overbeck, who played the entire first half before making way for Sara Whalen at halftime. “It’s not the Olympics, but we still want to win every game. Still, it’s a great experience every time, especially for the young players, to play against such a quality team like Norway.” At the end of the physical match, which saw Norway commit 19 fouls to the USA’s 11, there were just three players from the 1999 Women’s World Cup Team on the field. “The slower you integrate the new players, the more you prolong the decisions,” said Heinrichs, who used 25 players over the two matches. “The fact that we have a light at the end of the tunnel gives us some urgency, which is good. We are just a little bit vulnerable right now and are having too many lapses in concentration.” The loss marked the first time since 1993 that the USA has lost two games in a row and the first time since 1992 that the Americans have lost two in a row on home soil. Coincidentally, both of the losses in 1992 were to Norway. The USA will have several weeks off before regrouping in Orlando, Fla., on March 2 for a week-long training camp in preparation for the 2000 Algarve Cup in Portugal, taking place from March 12-18. The USA’s Algarve Cup opponents will be announced in the near future. International Friendly Feb. 9 in Boca Raton, Fla. United States 1, Norway 2. Goals: Welsh 13; Pettersen 16, Riise 52. USA — Scurry (Mullinix, 46th), Slaton, Overbeck (Whalen, 46th), French, Pryce, MacMillan (Fair, 46th), Akers (Wagner, 46th), Venturini, Kluegel, Milbrett, Welsh (Ramsey, 70th). Norway — Nordby, Kvitland, Kringen, Tonnesen (Bekkevold, 55th), Sandaune, Riise, Rapp (Gulbrandsen, 28th), Jorgensen (Lehn, 70th), Knudsen, Saethe (Thun, 55th), Pettersen (Mellgren, 55th). Ref.: Perry (USA). Att.: n/a.