Moultrie stars as U.S. women defeat Portugal, 3

EAST HARTFORD — Alyssa Naeher, who retired from the U.S. women’s national team last year , predicted the fans in her home state would see a “youthful exuberance” in the players she has left behind.

It didn’t take long. Within 44 seconds, Olivia Moultrie scored, and within 10 minutes, she scored again. It may have been a breakthrough performance for one of the next wave of American players, as the U.S. team defeated Portugal, 3-1, Sunday at Rentschler Field.

Moultrie, 20, has been a soccer prodigy, accepting a college scholarship offer, from North Carolina, at the age of 11, turning professional at 13, bringing an anti-trust suit to break down the NWSL’s age limit and take the field for the Portland Thorns at age 15 in 2021.

Dom Amore’s Sunday Read: Olympic hero Alyssa Naeher to be