As the United States Women’s National Team claimed its 600th win when it beat Ireland 4-0 Sunday, June 29 at TQL Stadium, they put a generation of youngsters, looking to deliver part of the team’s next 100 victories, in the spotlight.
The starting eleven, with an average of 4.1 caps excluding veteran and first-time captain Lynn Biyendolo, began the thumping shortly after the American Outlaws supporters’ group unveiled a tifo that read, “THEIR BREAKTHROUGH. OUR LEGACY.”
Defender Izzy Rodriguez scored her first goal in her debut, forward Yazmeen Ryan put away her first score in her 12th cap, forward Emma Sears logged her second assist in her eighth appearance and Alyssa Thompson netted her second goal this camp.
The USWNT, who experimented with a fully-switched lineup more than in their 4-0, Thursday, June 26 victory against Ireland, now has had 36 different players have started at least one match for the the team this year, tied for the most in a six month span ever, according to OptaJack.
“I feel like everybody is not just trusting the proccess, but they are carrying out all the things we asked them to do,” Hayes said.
The USWNT opened scoring when the 24-year-old Sears, an Ohio State graduate, assisted Biyendolo on a cross in the 11th minute.
“Over the past few months, it’s been really helpful each camp,” Sears said of her development with the team. “Specifically, I’m working on my movement off the ball and making quicker decisions, and so that’s something that I can focus on in this camp. And I think that translated into the translated into the game today.”
In the 42nd minute, Rodriguez, also a former Buckeye, put away a rebound off Sears’ shot to double the USWNT’s lead. According to OptaJack, she became the first starter to score in their debut since forward Christen Press in 2013.
“It’s really competitive, and I love a good competitive training environment, so I think being thrown into that has been super exciting, but also super helpful from all the players, all the staff,” Rodriguez said of her USWNT camp experience. “They’re really (welcoming)”
For the USWNT’s third goal, 19-year-old midfielder Olivia Moultrie and the 26-year-old Ryan connected as Ryan slotted away the team’s score in the 66th minute. Sears was involved in the play with a “hockey assist” as she used her pace to save the ball from going out of bounds before passing it to Moultrie.
Finally, Thompson slotted in the USWNT’s fourth goal and her second in as many games in the 86th minute after finding space behind Ireland’s back line with a well-timed run.
Rose Lavelle returns home
Among the youngsters was midfielder Rose Lavelle, who returned to her hometown in the USWNT kit for the first time since 2021. After recently coming back from an ankle injury and playing considerable minutes in the first match against Ireland, she came on in the 86th minute Sunday.
Many fans at TQL Stadium sported Lavelle kits and cheered on their local star at every opportunity as a poster of the 30-year-old hung outside the stadium. In the 73rd minute, “we want Rose” chants broke out before Lavelle quickly headed towards the touchline to warm up.
The roars were even louder when she entered the match as she ambitiously looked to produce for her team. One of her shots from outside of the box was too high as collective “oh’s” released from the crowd.
Lavelle said Hayes told her to “go get (her) flowers moments before substituting her into the match. The coach explained postgame that she planned for the Cincinnati native to be more involved in the first and third games of the window, but she still wanted her to have a moment in front of the TQL Stadium crowd.
“The fans are amazing,” Lavelle said. “I love every time I have the opportunity to come home. I think this is like the best atmosphere in the world. And I think they showed that today.”
A USWNT camp designed for growth
On Thursday, the USWNT’s starting eleven also included a plethora of fresh talent with five players starting the match with 10 or fewer appearances.
That evening, defender scored Avery Patterson scoree her first goal and 20-year-old forward Alyssa Thompson netted her second score for the USWNT. Meanwhile, defender Lilly Reale, in her debut, logged an assist, and goalkeeper Claudia Dickey kept a clean sheet while earning her first cap.
While some of the inexperienced players in this camp might not be in the USWNT’s immediate plans for senior major tournaments, Hayes said the camp experience is beneficial for their development.
The coach pointed to Thompson’s development, as she wasn’t on the 2024 Paris Olympics roster following appearances at 2023 Women’s World Cup, but has since become a stable addition to the squad, while shining with five goals through 12 NWSL matches this season.
“They probably benefit in a number of ways,” Hayes said Saturday, June 28. “The first is the level, and you get a sense of that. Two, aspirationally, I want them to want to remain here, but in order to remain here, there’s things you have to keep developing.”
The USWNT will close out the camp Wednesday, July 2 against Canada.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Young talent get first taste as USWNT secures 600th victory in win versus Ireland
Reporting by Kamran Nia, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
