Wisconsin Soccer Central

The U.S. Under-20 national team won each of its first two matches at the National Training Center Invitational this week in Carson, Calif, and Andrija Novakovich (Muskego) played an integral role in both victories.

The Reading FC striker came off the bench to head in the equalizer as the Americans rallied past Chile 2-1 in Monday's opener, then scored the opener and drew a penalty kick that led to another goal in a 4-0 rout of Bermuda on Wednesday.

Just 2 minutes after entering the game against Chile, Novakovich got up and nodded in a cross from fellow substitute Zach Pfeffer to level the score at 1 in the 65th minute. Pfeffer added what proved to be the winning goal in the 73rd. (Watch highlights and interview below)

On Wednesday, Novakovich was left alone in front of the goal and was able to tap in a cross from defender Caleb Smith in the 27th to put the U.S. ahead. Twelve minutes later, the Wisconsinite was taken down by Bermuda's Jaylon Bather in the box and Pfeffer – who plays for Major League Soccer's Philadelphia Union – converted from the spot to make it 2-0. Novakovich played 79 minutes in the convincing victory.

The four-team tournament concludes Friday with the U.S. and Australia playing in what amounts to a championship game – both teams are 2-0-0, but the Americans need only a draw to claim the title thanks to a superior goal differential. The match will be streamed live on the U.S. Soccer website at 9 p.m. Central.

On Twitter: @AndrijaNovakov3

• UW midfielder Rose Lavelle was named to the United States' 21-player roster for the FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup, which is Aug. 5 to 24 in Canada. Lavelle, the Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Year last fall, has been a regular for coach Michelle French's side and won the Golden Ball as the top player as the Americans won the CONCACAF Under-20 Women's Championship in January. The U.S. will play Germany in a rematch of the 2012 final in its tournament opener Aug. 5, and also will take on Brazil on Aug. 8 and China on Aug. 12 in Group B action.
• One of Lavelle's college teammates, Kinley McNicoll, will wear the captain's armband for Canada at the tournament. McNicoll, who will be a junior this fall, was joined by UW recruit Victoria Pickett on the Canadian roster announced by coach Andrew Olivieri on Wednesday. Pickett will join the Badgers this fall, according to the Canadian Soccer Association, her club (Glen Shields SC) and multiple media reports, but the school hasn't confirmed that the 17-year-old defender is part of UW's recruiting class. Canada will face Ghana, Finland and North Korea in Group A. Lavelle, McNicoll and Pickett are expected to miss the Badgers' first two regular-season games, Aug. 22 against Oregon and Aug. 24 against Tennessee.