The USWNT were never threatened against Ireland and Canada, outscoring opponents by combined 11-0 in three matches
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. women's national team closed out their three-match summer campaign by defeating Canada 3-0, just days after beating the Republic of Ireland twice – both by 4-0 scorelines. Given the history of U.S. vs. Canada, this final match was going to be the biggest test of the three-game run.
And, although USWNT head coach Emma Hayes started a fairly inexperienced team, they completely dominated Canada, extending their all-time record against the Canadians to 54 wins, four losses and nine draws. Beating a nation 54 times? That's the most for the U.S. against any opponent.
Hayes experimented with just about everyone on the roster across the three games, with the match against Canada the closest (roster wise) to what we saw in the opening match-up against Ireland. The only change was Lynn Biyendolo in for Ally Sentnor in the No. 9 role.
Across all three matches, the USWNT scored 11 goals and kept a clean sheet. Many players earned first appearances, and Claire Hutton and Avery Patterson recorded their first international goals. Hayes called on Coffey and Biyendolo to lead the squad, and both chipped in goals across the three-match window. Coffey scored her third of the year, and the fourt of her career. Biyendolo's finish against Ireland was her 25th career goal.
The USWNT will take a brief break until the fall which will allow for Hayes to get back to the drawing board and think about what she's going to do with all of this talent. Mind you, we haven't even talked about Sophia Wilson, Mallory Swanson and Trinity Rodman, as "Triple Expresso" were not in this camp.
So who stood out? Whose stock rose against the Republic of Ireland and Canada, and whose fell? GOAL takes a look.
Getty ImagesStock up: Rose Lavelle
The USWNT midfield missed Rose Lavelle. And if you ask Lavelle, she certainly missed her teammates. The Gotham FC midfielder returned to the USWNT after a six-month period in which she was sidelined with an injury. In her first game back, she chipped in a goal and an assist. These contributions were a clear reminder to everyone just who the dog-loving, Cincinnati-native is.
In the second meeting against Ireland just a few days later, Lavelle was understandably limited in minutes, but still managed to enter the match to give her hometown fans a heartfelt wave. Hayes almost to let Lavelle into the match when the stadium started erupting with a chant "We want Rose!" Against Canada, Lavelle's two set pieces resulted in goals for her team; a testament to her attention to detail and execution.
The first set piece couldn't have been drawn up any better. Lavelle played a lofted ball from about 30 yards out into the box. The weight and placement of the ball forced Canada to step up which resulted in a less-than ideal clearance from Casey Stoney's side.
USWNT defender Avery Patterson settled the poorly cleared header, laying up Sam Coffey for an easy first-time finish. Lavelle also was involved and even got the assist in the game's second goal. In the 26th minute Lavelle took a corner from the right side with her left foot. The ball found the head of the 19-year-old Hutton who headed it home for her first-ever international goal.
"Shout-out to Claire, I think she jumped just so high and kind of levitated for a second," Lavelle said.
Lavelle says she has some niggles she wants to work through when it comes to being fully back, but based on of her performances and impact on her teammates, chances are Lavelle is going to be in the mix moving forward.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesStock down: Midfielders not named Sam Coffey, Claire Hutton or Rose Lavelle
It's wild to think that the USWNT has other midfielders that aren't Sam Coffey, Rose Lavelle and Claire Hutton. In this camp, Hayes called in Sam Meza, Olivia Moultrie and Croix Bethune. While all players were able to get into at least one match, the Coffey, Lavelle and Hutton combination proved untouchable.
Meza found herself in good spaces, but had a hard time keeping the tempo of the match. Moultrie was effective in moments, but didn't make the same type of impact others around her did. Bethune has been out with injury so Hayes calling her into this camp was a nod to just how good she is in that attacking midfield spot.
Bethune had some sparkly moments, but didn't gel quite the same with everyone else in the same way Coffey, Lavelle and Hutton did. The amazing thing? Hayes also has Lindsey Heaps and Lily Yohannes. Both were given this camp and stretch of games off after long seasons in Europe.
Getty ImagesStock up: Claire Hutton
Emma Hayes has put her trust in Hutton to play a double pivot role that isn't her natural state. Hutton is a true six, like Coffey, in the way she plays and moves about the field. However, like Coffey, Hutton has adjusted seamlessly and looks like she's been playing that way for years.
Hutton is a no-brainer for Hayes as she looks ahead. She is not only a hardworking and ball-winning center midfielder, but can also add to the attack and fill in gaps defensively.
Against Canada, Hutton scored her first international goal and it had her teammates, fans, and everyone watching in disbelief about just how she got up and headed the ball like a young Abby Wambach. Lavelle's placement was spot on, but the fact that Hutton was able to get up and over the Canada players to redirect the ball and drive it past goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan was a work of art.
"Claire plays well beyond her years," Lavelle said. "This is the first time that I've gotten to play with her, but just watching the game, since I've been away, I think she's been somebody who's been really fun to watch. The sky's the limit for her and she's already commanding in the midfield."
And the progress is tangible.
"With each camp, I gain more confidence," Hutton said after the Canada game. "I gain the experience with [my teammates] and just the culture that we have here makes it so welcoming. Every camp gets a little bit easier, just on the field and off of the field."
Getty ImagesStock down: Mandy McGlynn
Mandy McGlynn is certainly not out of the conversation in the goalkeeper pool, but after Phallon Tullis-Joyce's performances a couple months ago and now Claudia Dickey's two match run during this camp, she could be falling down the ranks. Of the keepers in this camp, McGlynn had the most experience to date.
She played the entire match against Ireland in the second meeting and managed to keep a clean sheet, although recorded zero saves. Whichever keeper got called on for the Canada game was likely going to have more action, and that was definitely the case on Wednesday night in D.C.
Dickey was able to put her stamp on the game, making some key saves and showcasing her ability to stop chances from a good attacking team, while also playing confidently with her feet when the opportunity arose. McGlynn will have to put in some work when she returns to Utah to ensure she's still on Hayes' radar come the fall.
Dickey was asked about the goalkeeper playing pool post-game.
"Everybody in this environment deserves being here," she said. "And I think it's a credit to the league, to the people overseas, to everyone involved. It's a competition, but like I think pushing each other every day is what matters, and it's exciting to me."