Colorado Real alumni Mallory Pugh has endured a long absence from national team play. But on Sept. 16, before 14,000-plus avid U.S. National Team supporters, the 23-year was firing on all cylinders and delivered for both herself, her teammates, and U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) head coach Vlatko Andonovski.
Pugh not only made the starting XI, but she also contributed right from the get-go during her 58-minute showing in Cleveland, Ohio’s First Energy Stadium. When she was subbed out for fellow Real Academy product, Sophia Smith, the free-spirited Pugh shoveled off a career-high three assists to help under right the Lady Yanks 9-0 battering of Team Paraguay.