Europe blanks U.S. at Solheim

? The European dream team goes much deeper than just the unbeatable Carin Koch and unflappable Annika Sorenstam.

In fact, the entire team was splendid Saturday in the Solheim Cup, putting together a 4-0 sweep of the Americans in the afternoon best-ball matches to take a 9-7 lead after Day 2.

Europe’s afternoon delight was topped by Koch and Sorenstam, who made big putt after big putt in a 4 and 3 victory against Beth Daniel and Wendy Ward.

The Swedish pair was the only European team to win in the morning alternate-shot matches. Koch improved to 7-0 lifetime in the Solheim Cup and joined Dottie Pepper as the only player in the history of the event to go 4-0 in one year.

“It’s just a little more exciting here with all the people,” said Koch, who has only one LPGA Tour victory in her career. “Plus, in match play, you can take more chances, go for everything. Being aggressive is good for my game.”

With their amazing afternoon, the defending champions need just five wins in the 12 singles matches today to bring their total to 14 points and keep the cup.

The Americans need 1412 points to avoid losing the women’s version of the Ryder Cup on their own soil for the first time.

“I had to quiet them down a bit, because nothing’s over yet,” European captain Dale Reid said.

Koch the Swede with the blond pigtails and the sweet putting stroke closed out the Americans in 2000 with a 10-foot putt in her final singles match.

She’s once again looking forward to the pressure of the final day, when she’ll face Daniel in the second-to-last match.

“When I’m in a pressure situation, I remind myself that that was the most pressure I’ve ever had, and I did fine,” Koch said. “It’s nice for tomorrow. Maybe the player I play against knows that, too.”

On Saturday, Koch and Sorenstam were a dogged one-two combination.

In the afternoon match, on the par-3 14th hole, Sorenstam knocked her tee shot to 3 feet. But Koch never gave her a chance to tap it in. She made a 15-foot putt of her own for birdie to put Europe 4-up with four to play.

“I had the putt there,” Sorenstam said in mock consternation. “She stole my hole.”

Koch’s putt was the sixth hole out of seven the Europeans won, and after No. 15, they had a decisive victory after falling behind by two holes early.

“We were playing well, so we just told ourselves we had to be patient,” Sorenstam said. “We figured eventually the putts would start falling.”

In the morning alternate-shot match, Sorenstam and Koch beat Cristie Kerr and Michele Redman, also by a 4 and 3 score.