Top recruit Pugh leaving UCLA soccer team

Mal Pugh (2) of the U.S. dribbles the ball as Russia's Elena Terekhova (10) and Anastasiia Pozdeeva, left, close in during an international friendly match April 9 in Houston. (Tim Warner / Getty Images)Mal Pugh, who last summer became the youngest U.S. player to score a goal in Olympic soccer competition, is leaving UCLA to turn pro after playing just three spring games for the Bruins.

Pugh, 18, who also scored in her international debut last year, enrolled at UCLA in the winter quarter and was due to begin her freshman season next fall.

“This decision was certainly not easy for me to make,” Pugh, who was the top recruit in the country coming out of Colorado’s Mountain Vista High School, said…