After a poor second half in Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Sweden in Omaha, Neb. the United States Women's National Team was out to prove something against the Swedes Saturday night at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Conn. and could not be stopped by anything - not even Mother Nature.  Abby Wambach struck twice and Megan Rapinoe added another to give the U.S. a 3-0 win.

Just 6:02 into the match, players were taken off the field for a rain storm that included lightning, but after a 31 minute delay, the U.S. settled into the game nicely through some impressive combination play.  Direct, over-the-top play also worked for the United States as the back line and midfielders continued to look for forward Amy Rodriguez over the top.

In the 15th minute, Lori Lindsey played perfect lofted ball to Rodriguez, who out-muscled Swedish defender Malin Levenstad to fire a shot from just 12-yards out.  However, Swedish goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl came out to make a huge point-blank.  

The breakthrough would come for the United States in the 33rd when Rapinoe found net for the first time in 2010.  Meghan Schnur played a nice ball to Shannon Boxx on the corner of the 18-yard box and Boxx fired a low shot that Lindahl saved, but Rapinoe pounced on the rebound to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead.

As halftime approached Sweden looked as though it would contain the U.S. to just a goal, but Wambach had other ideas.  Lori Lindsey delivered a perfect corner kick to the head of Wambach, who out-jumped Swedish defender Linda Sembrant to slam the ball into the back of the net in the 45th minute.  The goal deflated Sweden and the U.S. entered the half up 2-0 on the visitors.

Unlike Tuesday in Omaha, the U.S. was able to put together a full 90 minutes of solid play Saturday and came out strong in the second half despite making four substitutions (three at halftime).  Sweden's most dangerous chance of the half came in the 66th minute when Josefine Oqvist - a player that gave Schnur trouble all night - served a great ball to the back post and found second half substitute Kosovare Asllani.  Asllani's shot went just over the bar, though, and U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo would preserve the clean sheet.

Wambach scored in the 72nd minute on another header to give the U.S. a 3-0 advantage and seal the fate of the match.  Rachel Buehler, who had just shifted to left back, served a great ball into Wambach and the 5-foot-11-inch forward headed the ball into the side netting for a spectacular goal.

Kristine Lilly, playing in her home state for the first time since July 14, 2007, entered the match for Rapinoe at halftime to the delight of the crowd of 5,887 and had some dangerous moments, including a great header in the 76th minute off a cross from Wambach that was saved by Lindahl.  She would not score, however, and 3-0 is how it would end.

"We scored three goals and we didn't concede any goals, so I think overall the performance was very good," U.S. Head Coach Pia Sundhage said.  "Sweden is a good team but I think we controlled the team pretty much from the very beginning."

The match offered signs of improvement for the United States in a much more convincing performance than the 1-1 draw between the two teams Tuesday.

"Well, we did a similar thing both first halfs," Sundhage said.  "We had Megan Rapinoe and we tried two new outside backs and I have to say regardless of who played I think we did a pretty good job and it's pretty good attacking and defending."