University of Colorado soccer standout Nikki Marshall helped anchor the defense as the United States won the women’s under-20 World Cup on Sunday in Santiago, Chile, beating defending champ North Korea 2-1.
The U.S. allowed just three goals in six games in the tournament. Marshall, a first-team All-Big 12 forward in 2007, played every minute on defense for the U.S. in Chile.
First-half scores from Sydney Leroux and Alex Morgan proved the difference in beating North Korea. Cha Hu Nam scored for North Korea in the 90th minute.
The American players celebrated their victory by holding a large white sign reading “Gracias, Chile” in large red letters in front of 12,000 cheering fans.
Earlier, Marie Pollmann scored a first-half hat trick to give Germany a 5-3 win over France for third place.
Pollmann found the net in the 10th, 29th and 31st minutes, while teammates Julia Simic scored a goal in the 67th and Lisa Schwab in the 80th also scored.
Marine Pervier scored twice for France, her first coming just before halftime and her second in the 75th. Marie-Laure Delie added a third in injury time.
