- Slug: Sports–SheBelieves Cup, 900 words.
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By Cooper Burns
Cronkite News
GLENDALE – U.S. Women’s National Team coach Emma Hayes brought 10 players to the SheBelieves Cup who had never played a match in the prestigious tournament before.
And four of her 10 players had never stepped foot on a pitch in international competition before, even in a friendly.
Despite all of that, the U.S. women will play for gold in the SheBelieves Cup for the ninth time in the event’s 10-year history after a 2-1 victory over Australia Sunday at State Farm Stadium.
The U.S., which faces Japan Wednesday at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego in the match which will decide the cup, was coming off a rousing victory over Columbia in Houston. In that match, Hayes rolled out an entirely different starting lineup than in Glendale.
It was all in keeping with the USWNT strategy to grow the team, and the game, through the SheBelieves Cup.
“The objective for camp was to deepen the playing pool by giving opportunities to less experienced players in high pressure situations,” Hayes said. “So I think we’ve achieved that by playing everybody in our squad in these first two games.”
Just 60 seconds into the match, U.S. forward Lynn Biyendolo put one past Australian goalkeeper Teagan Micah, then the game slowed and Hayes began to implement her plan.
Three of the four players who were making their international debuts in this tournament made a significant impact against the Aussies.
Midfielder Claire Hutton got her very first international start Sunday and did not disappoint.
At only 18 years of age, Hutton was tasked with not only attacking, but also defending some of the world’s best midfielders.
Despite having only one shot on goal throughout the game, Hutton showed why she is one of the bright young stars internationally and in the National Women’s Soccer League.
“Claire grew into the game,” Hayes said. “But like anyone, she’s 18, and it’s preseason and this is her first international cap. So I felt 60 minutes was the right way to manage her, and I’m super pleased for her because I know how much today meant to her.”
Hutton said that even though it was her first international match, she was not feeling nervous. She added that most of her teammates are about the same age and playing in the same scenario that she is.
“It’s cool to look to my left and right and to know that some of these girls are in exactly the same position as me, young and new on this team,” Hutton said. “That is comforting, and it’s nice to be with them.”
At halftime, Hayes began to make several substitutions, bringing in even more of her younger players, including Michelle Cooper, who was also making her SheBelieves Cup debut.
Hutton and Cooper are teammates with the Kansas City Current of the NWSL and have played together in USWNT camps and development programs for years.
Like Hutton, Cooper was not overwhelmed by the moment. Just six minutes into the second half, Cooper put a ball into the back of the net to extend the U.S. lead to 2-0.
“It felt absolutely surreal, and I kind of blacked out in the moment,” Cooper said.
While winning is the ultimate goal in sports, the tournament is about young players on the pitch and in the stands.
“I think it’s exciting to see that we have all these young players that have so much potential and to know that Emma trusted us to come into this camp and make a difference is huge,” Cooper said. “But to know what we can do in a couple of years from now because we’re all so young is super exciting.”
With some of the more experienced players out for the lineup, other veterans had to step up to mentor younger players. Biyendolo has taken on that role for the team.
“Anytime they have a question, anytime they have to worry about something, I’m going to be here,” Biyendolo said. “I’m a sounding board.
“They have been very professional, and they’ve been very focused and diligent about what they are doing and it’s cool to see. A lot of them have come from youth (soccer) together so they have each other.”
Lily Yohannes and Gisele Thompson made their SheBelieves Cup debuts this year and have leaned on Biyendolo’s leadership.
Yohannes is just 17 and made her debut in the Cup opener against Columbia.
“(I’m) Just trying to be myself, continuing to grow the game, and hopefully I can inspire young girls and boys and anybody who looks up to me,” Yohannes said.
Thompson, 19, made her first start for the USWNT alongside her sister Alyssa against Australia. They are only the second sisters to start a USWNT game together.
Luke Yohannes, Gisele sees herself as a role model who can inspire the next generation of players, which is what the SheBelieves Cup aims to achieve.
“Just being a younger player on this team, it shows that when you’re young you can do whatever you want or whatever you put your mind to, nothing is impossible,” Thompson said.
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