WNT Brings 28-Player Roster for Final Matches of 2015 Victory Tour

CHICAGO (Nov. 24, 2015) – The 2015 Women’s World Cup champions will conclude their Victory Tour with four matches in December. The WNT will take on Trinidad &Tobago on Dec. 6 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu (3 p.m. local/8 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1/FOX Sports GO) and Dec. 10 at the Alamodome in San Antonio (8 p.m. CT on ESPN2/WatchESPN), before finishing one of the most successful years in program history with matches against China PR on Dec. 13 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (5 p.m. MT on ESPN2/WatchESPN), and Dec. 16 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans (7 p.m. CT on FOX Sports 1/FOX Sports GO).

The match in New Orleans will be the final game for retiring U.S. forward Abby Wambach, who is the world’s all-time leading international scorer with 184 career goals in 252 caps.

“It has been a fantastic and thrilling year and we are looking forward to ending it on a high note, and especially honoring Abby and her legendary career in New Orleans,” said U.S. head coach Jill Ellis. “T&T and China are very competitive teams and once again we’ll look to these games to continue the process of preparing for Olympic Qualifying, especially now that we know our path during the qualifying tournament in February.”

With the retirements of Lauren Holiday, Shannon Boxx and Lori Chalupny, who all played their final WNT matches in October, twenty players from the Women’s World Cup roster will be at all the venues. Ellis has once again added 2015 NWSL MVP and leading scorer Crystal Dunn to the roster. Dunn has scored three goals and added three assists for the USA while starting the last four matches of the Victory Tour.

Ellis has also called in seven additional players who will train with the U.S. team during the trip and are available to play in the matches.

Tickets for all of the December matches are on sale at ussoccer.com.

U.S. Women’s National Team Roster by Position

GOALKEEPERS (3): Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC)
DEFENDERS (10): Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Whitney Engen (Boston Breakers), Jaelene Hinkle (Western NY Flash), Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), Meghan Klingenberg (Portland Thorns FC), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Emily Sonnett (Univ. of Virginia)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Danielle Colaprico (Chicago Red Stars), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Rose Lavelle (Wisconsin), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), Samantha Mewis (Western NY Flash), Heather O’Reilly (FC Kansas City), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC)
FORWARDS (7): Lindsey Horan (PSG), Sydney Leroux (Western NY Flash), Stephanie McCaffrey (Boston Breakers), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Amy Rodriguez (FC Kansas City), Abby Wambach (unattached)

Additional Notes:

• Of the eight players named to the roster who were not members of the 2015 Women’s World Cup winning team, two are getting their first call-ups: Danielle Colaprico, the NWSL Rookie of the Year and a midfielder from the Chicago Red Stars, and Rose Lavelle, a junior midfielder at Wisconsin, who was one of the top players for the USA at the 2014 Under-20 Women’s World Cup. Colaprico is 22 years-old and Lavelle is 20.
• In addition, Ellis gave second call-ups to defenders Jaelene Hinkle and Emily Sonnett, as well as forward Stephanie McCaffrey, all of whom are 22 years old and earned their first caps in October in matches against Brazil. McCaffrey also scored her first international goal, bagging the fourth and final score in stoppage time of the 4-1 win against the Brazilians on Oct. 25 in Orlando, Fla.
• Should the University of Virginia advance to the NCAA College Cup, Sonnett, who is a senior for the Cavaliers, would not join the U.S. squad until the match in San Antonio.
• Rounding out the younger players on the roster are forward Lindsey Horan, who is currently playing in France for Paris Saint-Germain and earned her third cap on October 25 vs. Brazil, and Western New York midfielder Samantha Mewis, who earned her fourth cap against Brazil on Oct. 21. The 21-year-old Horan will not be with the team in Hawaii due to club commitments, but will join the squad for the final three games.
• The match in Honolulu on the island of Oahu marks the first trip for the U.S. Women to the 50th state and the first international match hosted by U.S. Soccer in Hawaii.
• It will also be only the second soccer match between national teams staged at Aloha Stadium. The Philippines defeated Chinese Taipei 1-0 at the venue in 1976 in a match that was a part of a triple-header that also featured the Hawaii All-Stars against the San Diego Jaws (which played one season in the NASL) and the New York Cosmos against Team Honda from Japan, a match that featured four goals from Pelé.
• Hawaii will be the 32nd U.S. state (not including the District of Columbia) in which the American women have played since the program’s inception in 1985.
• The U.S. WNT has played T&T eight times in its history, most recently a 1-0 victory during group play of the qualifying tournament for the 2015 Women’s World Cup. Abby Wambach’s goal in the 54th minute was the difference. Five of the eight games have been in CONCACAF qualifying competitions.
• The U.S. Women have played 12 matches all-time in the state of Texas, including two visits to San Antonio. The USA played at the Alamodome in October of 2013, a 4-0 victory against Australia. The USA also played a pre-Olympic warm-up match in San Antonio in 1996 at Blossom Field, a 3-0 win vs. Sweden.
• The USA will be making its third visit to University of Phoenix Stadium, home to the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, after playing there in November of 2011 (1-1 tie with Sweden) and December of 2012 (2-0 win vs. Ireland).
• The match in Glendale marks a homecoming for U.S. defender Julie Johnston, who was named to the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup All-Star Team. She hails from nearby Mesa, Ariz.
• China has been one of the most frequent opponents in U.S. history. The U.S. has played China 54 times, more than any country besides Canada.
• Since 1991 - a span of 24 years - the U.S. and China have failed to play a match in a calendar year only five times.
• The USA is 33-8-13 all-time vs. China.
• The USA’s most recent meeting with China came in the quarterfinal at the 2015 Women’s World Cup – a 1-0 win by the USA in Ottawa, Canada, on a goal from Carli Lloyd.
• The U.S. Women have played in New Orleans just once before. That match took place in 2003 at Tad Gormley Stadium. This one will be the first for the U.S. Women at the famed Superdome, home to the NFL’s New Orleans Saints.

Lavelle makes a name for herself on national stage

If someone were to ask a student who the best athletes are on the UW-Madison campus, most people would give names such as Nigel Hayes, Corey Clement or Lauren Carlini. One name unlikely to be mentioned is Rose Lavelle, which shouldn’t be the case. Lavelle is one of the best college soccer players in the nation and was rated as the preseason No. 2 player in the country byTopDrawerSoccer.com. 

Lavelle was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio and played high-school soccer at Mount Notre Dame High School. She was highly recruited and considered playing at Notre Dame, Louisville, Dayton, Florida and Purdue, but eventually decided to come to Wisconsin. Lavelle was drawn to Wisconsin by head coach Paula Wilkins, who had coached her before on an interregional team in high school. 

“I knew she was someone I would enjoy playing for and could help me get to the level that I wanted to,” Lavelle said. “And when I came on my visit I loved everything about the school.”

Lavelle has made a name for herself on the national scene by playing for the Under-20 and Under-23 national teams, where she gained valuable experience playing with players from across the country. 

“I took away some leadership aspects,” Lavelle said. “Having to play a role on the world stage is definitely something I can bring back to help lead this team.”

Wilkins added, “she has gained consistency and she is taking more control of the game.”

Lavelle has received plenty of individual accolades while playing for the Badgers. She made the First Team All-Big Ten team each of her three years, and was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2013. Even with all of these accolades piling up, the most important thing for Lavelle is the team’s success. 

“My focus isn’t on individual awards,” Lavelle said, “I try to just focus on our team goals.”

Even with Lavelle receiving accolades throughout her career, she hasn’t let that be a distraction and has continued to progress, according to Wilkins. 

“The biggest thing is consistency, she is better at breaking lines and connecting with the final pass,” Wilkins said. 

Wilkins has had the pleasure of coaching some great college players such as Christie Welsh and Ali Krieger. Both Welsh and Krieger played under Wilkins at Penn State, and they were also both on the U.S. Women’s National Team. Welsh won the Hermann Trophy, the most prestigious award in the sport, in 2001 and Krieger was a semifinalist for the award. Wilkins feels that Lavelle has just as much talent and potential as the other great players she has coached. 

“Skill-set wise, she is one of the best that I have had,” Wilkins said. “Her physical ability and her technical ability are a little better, so she ranks at the very top.”

Lavelle was called up Nov. 24 to the U.S. Women’s National Team to participate in the final four games of the team’s Victory Tour, which continues Dec. 6 against Trinidad and Tobago. She was one of eight players called up that were not on the World Cup team, and one of two college players called up to participate in the Victory Tour. If Lavelle plays well she could possibly earn herself a spot on the U.S. Women’s National Team for the upcoming Olympics.

During the college season, Lavelle knew there was talk of her joining the national team, but she didn’t allow that to draw her focus away from the field.  

“There are a lot of good midfielders in contention, so I guess I just have to be ready in case I get called on,” Lavelle said.

While Lavelle may be unsure of her future with the national team, Jill Ellis, the coach of the national team, seems to feel differently. In an interview with espnW in mid-October, Ellis mentioned Lavelle as a player that will likely be called in for a tryout in the future.

“We’ll definitely be taking a look at some of the top college players,” Ellis said. “Positionally, we’re looking at... a center mid for Wisconsin, Rose Lavelle.” 

Rose clearly made an impression on Ellis at the U-20 level national team. 

“Rose impressed me at the U-20 World Cup in Canada,” Ellis said “I think Rose has those physical qualities in college, and now I want to see her at our level.”

Lavelle was a key factor in leading the Badgers to a share of a Big Ten championship, leading the team in goals and points on the season. She will have the chance to bring another Big Ten championship and a possible NCAA tournament appearance in her senior year for the Badgers.

While Lavelle may not be a well-known name on the UW-Madison campus, she is one of the most talented athletes in the country, and she may soon be a nationally known player. 

World Cup Win Has Kelley O'Hara Eyeing the Olympics

The 27-year-old Georgia native had to wait her turn with the U.S. national team, change positions ahead of the Olympics, and overcome a serious injury. And now? She can't wait to get to Rio.

FOR MOST OF HER LIFE Kelley O’Hara has excelled at putting soccer balls past goalkeepers.

In high school, she was a two-time All-American, scoring 20 goals her senior year while leading Starr’s Mill High School to a state title. Over the next four years at Stanford University O’Hara would go on to score 57 more goals and win the Hermann Trophy as the nation’s top player.

During those years she also collected a remarkable 24 goals in 35 caps with the United States U-20 national team.

So it might come as a surprise that O’Hara, who has been playing with the U.S. senior team since 2010, headed into this summer’s World Cup having never tallied in 59 appearances for the Americans.

But in Canada, in the World Cup semifinals and on the world’s biggest stage, all of that would change.

In the 84th minute against No. 1-ranked Germany, and with the Americans clinging to a one-goal lead, O’Hara darted into the box to latch onto a driven service from teammate Carli Lloyd. O’Hara threw herself forward and karate-kicked the ball in midair. Her shot went in, giving the Americans a 2-0 lead and virtually assuring them a place in the World Cup final.

“It’s everything any player can ever dream of,” O’Hara told American Soccer Now. “It was incredible. I was just happy to be able to, at that level, at that moment, in that game, to be able to contribute to the team in a way to give everybody the confidence that, ‘We’re going to a World Cup final.’

"On top of that, as a personal achievement, you can’t dream up a better scenario to score your first international goal.”

The U.S. would go on to win the tournament—its first World Cup title in 16 years—by throttling Japan 5-2 five days later in Vancouver. Today, the U.S. is in the midst of a 10-game Victory Tour celebrating that win with its next context against Haiti on Sunday in Birmingham, Alabama (2:30pm ET, ESPN2).

For O’Hara, that goal against Germany and the team’s subsequent success capped off the latest high in an international career that has had plenty of ups and downs.

Breaking into the team in 2010, O’Hara earned only seven caps in her first two years with the U.S. and only started once. And at the 2011 World Cup, she didn’t see a single minute of action.

With a bevy of talented forwards (including Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan, Amy Rodriguez, and Lauren Holiday—who was then still named Cheney and still playing as a forward), competition for minutes up top was fierce. That group also didn’t yet include Sydney Leroux nor did it take into account head coach Pia Sundhage’s decision after the 2011 World Cup to move the team away from a two-striker set and into a 4-2-3-1.

Then came an odd proposal from Sundhage. With playing time unlikely for O’Hara at forward, the coach proposed a move to the backline—one that would challenge the Georgia native to develop a new skill set.

“It was difficult because it’s a different position," O'Hara said. "There are intricacies you have to learn and an entirely different mindset than playing forward.

"When Pia offered me—well, basically told me—that was her thinking going toward the Olympics, I said, ‘All right. I’m all in. Let’s do this.’ And that was my goal—to win a starting spot and play a big role in the Olympics.”

An ACL injury to Ali Krieger during Olympic qualifying pushed up the timeline on the experiment. Fortunately for the U.S., it did: O’Hara shined in the new position. The U.S. qualified for the Olympics and O’Hara would go on to play every minute for the Americans in the 2012 Olympics, helping the team to the gold medal.

Following the Olympics, Sundhage left and the U.S. hired a new coach, Tom Sermanni. In 2013, Sermanni began experimenting with a new cadre of players, with some of O’Hara’s minutes at outside back going to newcomers Crystal Dunn and Kristie Mewis. Then, O’Hara suffered an ankle injury that eventually required surgery and she faced a long spell on the sidelines.

“It was hard," she acknowledged. "It was a very hard year. I came off a great Olympic tournament and felt really good and felt good when Tom came on as the coach. And then, I got hurt pretty soon after he signed on. It was the type of thing where I tried to play through the injury and got to the point where it obviously was not going to work.

“That was the hardest part because it wasn’t an acute injury where it happened all in one play. I went from playing really good soccer to trying to play through this pain and through this injury and not playing 100% because my body wouldn’t allow it.”

The surgery put O’Hara out of action for seven months and, even when she returned, her recovery was uneven.

“Once I decided to have the surgery, coming back from that was difficult because the last time I had been playing, I wasn’t playing well because I couldn’t. So it was just trying to remember that I could play at this level and play to this ability at some point and that it would come back,” said O’Hara.

“It was hard—I had a total ankle reconstruction. It’s not something that goes quickly. Even though I came back with the team about six to seven months after I’d had surgery, I didn’t feel like my normal self until a year after the surgery. At that point, it’s 2014 and we’re heading into [World Cup] qualifying. It was a very long road to come back from that injury and feel like my normal self again.”

Shortly after O’Hara returned, the U.S. went through another transition as Sermanni was fired and replaced by Jill Ellis. The new coach quickly settled in on Meghan Klingenberg as her first-choice left back—with Ali Krieger still cemented in on the right—and O’Hara found herself again struggling for minutes.

Still, the Stanford alum remained upbeat.

“I knew where I stood,” O’Hara said. “I was coming back from an injury and I knew that I’m playing on the best team in the world, so you’re going to have to fight for a spot. It’s not going to be easy. A lot of it was getting my confidence back. I hadn’t had confidence in over a year. I think that was the hardest thing to do.”

When the U.S. got to Canada O’Hara couldn’t find the field—not even as a substitute. In the group stage, she didn’t play a single minute and watched from the sidelines as the U.S. beat Colombia 2-0 in the Round of 16. But during that match with Colombia, Megan Rapinoe picked up her second yellow card which meant she would be suspended for the quarterfinal with China.

Most tipped Christen Press to be Rapinoe’s replacement on the wing, but Ellis surprised everyone with her decision, including O’Hara.

"[Ellis] had mentioned at a practice, two practices before we played China, ‘We’re going to practice you at outside mid today—just FYI.’ That was her relaying what she was thinking,” O’Hara said. Then “she called me in two days before the game, sat me down, and said, ‘We’re going to start you at right mid.’ I was like, ‘Great. I’m ready. Let’s do this.’ I was obviously surprised, but at the same time, was ready and prepared for that. I was just excited for the opportunity because it’s not easy to sit on the bench.”

O’Hara played well against China, putting in a solid effort on the flank before being withdrawn in the second half with a nose injury. But she had done enough to stay in Ellis’ plans and provide another spark—this time coming off the bench—four days later against Germany.

But a few days later, when the would go on to beat Japan to reclaim their title as World Cup champions, O’Hara’s thoughts—oddly enough—turned almost immediately to the future.

“We were able to win and then, as soon as it’s over I’m thinking about the next thing—which is the Olympics,” she said.

“I’m so excited for the Olympics. I loved my experience last time. I’m so happy that we were able to achieve what we did this summer, but honestly, as soon as that whistle blew, I was so happy, but then, I’m also thinking about next summer.”

With Olympic qualifying just five months away, there won’t be much time to rest or reflect and O’Hara just hopes her teammates are ready for the ride to start all over.

“I hope everyone’s ready to do this again, because I am.”

John D. Halloran is an American Soccer Now columnist. Follow him on Twitter.

Lloyd Hat Trick, Dunn goal propel USWNT past Haiti

By MC Bousquette

Despite a valiant effort from the Haitian Women’s National Team, the USWNT came out on top 5-0 in front of a crowd of 34, 358 at Ford Field in Detroit, MI.

A hat trick from Carli Lloyd as well as goals from Christen Press and Crystal Dunn led the USWNT to victory. Dunn was the only player on the roster who was not with the USWNT in the World Cup, but her inclusion in tonight’s squad is a sign that Head Coach Jill Ellis is eyeing her for inclusion in the 2016 Olympics roster. Her goal and two assists tonight should certainly help her case.

The USWNT Starting XI v. Haiti (Credit: US Soccer)

The USWNT came out firing in the first half with the first chance of the match came in only the 2nd minute. Julie Johnston headed a free kick from Tobin Heath wide of goal. Despite the miss, the US was back a few minutes later, as Lloyd found a cross from Dunn perfectly on frame to put the US up 1-0 in the 6th minute. This marked Lloyd’s 72nd career international goal.

The US continued its frenetic assault on goal, with multiple dangerous efforts from Press, and one from Kelley O’Hara, which forced Haitian goalkeeper Edny Limage into a diving save in the 28th minute. Press returned a handful of minutes later, clearing the goal just high of the crossbar. Her efforts finally paid off to bring the US a 2-0 lead for her 25th career international goal in the 33rd minute, off another cross from Dunn.

Press didn’t stop there. She went hard into the box, but was brought down and awarded a penalty. Lloyd, naturally, took the penalty, and brought US’ advantage to 3-0. In a final stab at net to end the first half, Dunn surged in deep and right to the box but her shot nailed the crossbar.

After a half filled with near-misses, the United States led Haiti 3-0. Ellis switched up her side, bringing Ashlyn Harris in for Hope Solo, Ali Krieger for Kelley O’Hara, and Lauren Holiday for Morgan Brian.

The US came out strong, continuing the offensive pressure as Heath sent a ball across to Dunn, but the Haitian defenders cleared it. Krieger penetrated the box moments later, transitioning to Dunn and eventually to Lloyd, but Lloyd hit the crossbar to narrowly avoid completing a hat trick.

Alex Morgan had her first clear opportunity of the half in the 50th, but Limage cleared the ball off her feet to stop the attack. Johnston came in strong, hammering a shot to the right corner from yards above the top of the box, forcing Limage into another diving save in the 53rd minute.

As the half wore on, the US maintained the attack on Haiti, but continued to look slightly uncoordinated as they missed numerous chances. Ellis made three more substitutions in the 63rd minute, as Abby Wambach entered the game for the generally quiet Morgan, Christie Rampone for Heath, and Heather O’Reilly for Press.

The game paused for several minutes shortly thereafter, as a collision between Limage and Wambach left Limage on the ground for an extended period before getting up.

As play resumed, Dunn sent a fantastic cross in to Krieger in the 68th minute, but Krieger’s header ended in Limage’s hands. Holiday took the resultant corner, in which a perfect ball reached Lloyd’s head to complete Lloyd’s hat trick in the 69th minute.

O’Reilly charged into the box in the 73rd minute, but her efforts were thwarted by Haitian defenders as the ball was forced out for a corner. The US kept up the pace, but numerous effort ended with missed opportunities from Wambach. In the 85th, O’Reilly took the ball back in, but was stopped yet again by Limage.

The USWNT kept up pressure, and moments before the final whistle, a cross from O’Reilly found Dunn. Dunn connected solidly with her head, and recorded her first career international goal to bring the US to a final score of 5-0.

The USWNT faces Haiti again this Sunday, September 20th at 230pm EST at Legion Field in Birmingham, AL (ESPN2, WatchESPN).

VERSATILE CRYSTAL DUNN MAKES IMPACT WITH USWNT

DETROIT -- It turns out that not every playoff game is a win-or-go-home scenario. Sometimes they send you to Detroit when your season ends.

That's a reward, by the way.

In fact, as far as Crystal Dunn was concerned, the industrial hub that has seen more prosperous days was a more welcome destination in the aftermath of her team's loss this past weekend in a National Women's Soccer League semifinal than the French Riviera, Maui, Paris or Rio de Janeiro. Although, she may yet earn a trip to that last destination.

The NWSL's Golden Boot winner, and that league's likely MVP for her efforts with the Washington Spirit, Dunn was called to the national team and left most of the goal scoring to Carli Lloyd in a 5-0 win for the United States against Haiti.

Duane Burleson/Getty Images

Crystal Dunn jumps into the arms of Ali Krieger after scoring a goal for the U.S. in the second half of the match against Haiti.

Lloyd's fourth career hat trick for her country, while not as memorable as her third a few months earlier in the Women's World Cup final, was more than enough against an overmatched opponent for which the final score matched the most competitive of five all-time meetings. But as the first player to participate in the ongoing tour who was not on the roster during the World Cup itself, Dunn's contributions were the most revelatory.

"I said to her tonight, do what you've been doing," United States coach Jill Ellis said.

So, naturally, Dunn capped a night that began with two assists by scoring her first senior international goal on a header in the third and final minute of second-half stoppage time.

A crowd of 34,538 came to see Lloyd and the stars of the summer past. They left happy. They also left having seen a potential star of summers to come.

"I think what you saw tonight, the energy, the confidence -- she wasn't always looking to turn and take on and do those types of things with us [in the past]," Ellis said. "Sometimes when you're a younger player coming in with more senior players, sometimes the tendency is to defer a little bit and pass a little bit. I think her personality in the NWSL games grew, and she grew more confident that she was the go-to player."

She isn't the go-to player for this team, but cast Thursday in a variety of attacking roles that began with her wide right, she looked like a heck of a go-through player.

The first five minutes, a small sample size, were unsteady. She closed well on a Haitian player and got her first touch by blocking the same player's hurried clearance. But she also wasn't on the same page as Alex Morgan on a pass the forward tried to send down the flank and then lost another ball out for a goal kick when her touch betrayed her.

For 300 seconds, she looked like someone who not only might be nervous in her return but was also playing alongside these teammates for the first time in months.

Sometimes when you're a younger player coming in with more senior players, sometimes the tendency is to defer a little bit and pass a little bit. I think her personality in the NWSL games grew and she grew more confident that she was the go-to player.

USWNT coach Jill Ellis

Then, in the blink of an eye, she did what she has been doing.

Morgan Brian switched play to Kelley O'Hara on the right side. O'Hara slipped a pass toward Dunn that traced the line marking the short edge of Haiti's 18-yard box. It looked for a second as if the pass might have too much weight, but Dunn stretched to corral it without completely halting her stride, took one more touch in open space near the end line and served the ball across the face of goal for Carli Lloyd to head home.

Dunn has played just about every position, save goalkeeper, but admitted in the past the wide attacking role is her bread and butter.

"Playing out wide, it's very natural for me," Dunn said. "I just feel like with so many great headers we have on this team, you're bound to just close your eyes and lump the ball up there and somebody is going to score it."

She added she was happy Lloyd "allowed" her to get the assist.

That's a good laugh line, but it isn't an entirely accurate representation of Dunn's skill. With the game stuck in a one-sided stalemate after the first goal, the United States piling up possession and shots but unable to extend the lead, Dunn again used her touch to bring in a pass and her speed to get to the end line with runners in the box. She didn't just lump the ball toward goal and hope someone else would do the work. She picked out Christen Press making a run to the near post and took something off the cross. It left Press with a little work to do to get the ball in the back of the net for her 25th career goal, but it gave her that chance.

There should be little doubt we've seen the last of Dunn at outside back. Indeed, Ellis took some pains in Detroit to point out her decision to play Dunn higher up the field dated to January, including time on the field there in friendlies in England.

"You start to look at the skill set, look at what the strengths are, no question she's more comfortable higher up the pitch," Ellis said the day before the game against Haiti. "I think, for me, it would be looking at her both high [and] wide, and also central. I think that's where she's most comfortable."

People keep pushing Dunn higher and higher up the field. When she played for North Carolina coach Anson Dorrance as a senior, he joked any NWSL coach who played Dunn in the back instead of in the midfield should be shot. Not only would Washington Spirit coach Mark Parsons survive that firing squad, he said recently he didn't think it was wise to play Dunn in anything less than an attacking role, that she had proved too unstoppable there.

It seems the soccer world is at last on the same page.

"Respectfully, she didn't make the team as an outside back," Ellis added. "We had very little depth in the back, and that's part of why we looked at her there. But I think she is a special player playing in a more attacking role."

In some sense, the only team that had anything on the line Thursday was thousands of miles away and well into their Friday mornings by the time the ball was kicked inside Ford Field. Had it been on the field, Australia would have taken a shot at enhancing a reputation already burnished by a strong World Cup (and perhaps lived up to the words posted on the Australian federation's official website after the two teams met in a group game in Winnipeg, when a writer described the Americans as "rudimentary and "bog-standard," which presumably wasn't a compliment). That game certainly would have been a more competitive challenge for the world champions.

But the Australian players chose a bigger challenge, and inarguably a more important one, by electing not to play in pursuit of a collective bargaining agreement at home that provides them with something closer to a living wage.

The result of that is likely the only thing connected with Thursday that will have a lasting legacy.

And yet it's possible that as lopsided as the game between the United States and Haiti was, it also marked the beginning -- only the beginning -- of the transition from celebration to preparation. It wasn't a game that meant a lot to the United States. It did mean a lot to Dunn.

Dunn attributed some of her struggles in the year leading up to the World Cup to playing through injuries that would have been better served by rest (both she and Parsons have also attributed Dunn's success this summer in the NWSL to improved training). That she didn't take the time to heal in the past was because she felt she couldn't.

There was never any time to lose if she was going to make the World Cup roster. That isn't how she played Thursday. She played less like someone worried about Brazil next summer than satisfied with Detroit in September.

"I had a lot of fun today," Dunn said. "I really didn't stress myself out. I think this is a celebration for the women, what they've done this summer. For me, I'm just happy to be a part of it. ... I stepped into this game stress-free; I was like 'Hey, this is a celebration.'

"I think that's what I need to get back to is just kind of honing in on not over-stressing and just enjoying the game and having fun."

A grinning Abby Wambach helped Dunn up off the turf after the goal; Lloyd was next in line to congratulate her with a smile.

Such is the company Dunn keeps these days and likely for many days to come.

Graham Hays covers college sports for espnW, including softball and soccer. Hays began with ESPN in 1999.

US women's soccer in Birmingham: Parties, World Cup trophy on display, match info

Starting today, there are plenty of events to get soccer fans excited in the lead-up to Sunday's match between the world champion U.S. women's soccer team and Haiti.

Fans can start the weekend early by watching the first match-up between the two teams, as they meet in Detroit on Thursday night. Here's a rundown of the rest of the weekend's events:

Thursday:

• 6 p.m.: Watch party for the U.S. team's first game against Haiti, played in Detroit. It's the third match of the U.S. team's victory tour.

Friday:

• 2 p.m.: The FIFA World Cup trophy will be on display at the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame (located at 2150 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N in Birmingham) from 2 to 6 p.m., when admission to the museum will be free. Fans are encouraged to take photos with the trophy.

Saturday:

• 3:30 p.m.: The USWNT will hold an open practice from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Parking lots open at 12:30 p.m., and the gates at Legion Field open at 2:30 p.m. Admission is free.
• 7 p.m.: The Birmingham chapter of the American Outlaws – a U.S. National Team supporters group that holds watch parties and travels to games – is hosting a party at Good People Brewing Company. (Torn between your soccer fandom and football Saturdays? They'll be showing the Alabama vs. Ole Miss game at the brewery that night, too.) World Soccer Shop will be offering giveaways.

Sunday:

• 9 a.m.: Legion Field parking lots open. Parking costs $8 a car and is limited.
• 10 a.m.: Ticket windows open.
• 10 a.m.: The USA Official Fan Zone opens, including photo booths, a DJ and the World Cup trophy on display. The fan zone is located on the west side of the stadium across from Gate 5.
• 10 a.m.: Round-trip shuttle service begins and will run until 90 minutes after the game ends. It costs $6 per person and picks up riders in the Uptown District near 23rd Street North and Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard North.
• 12:00 p.m.: Legion Field gates open.
• 12:30 p.m.: Official American Outlaws march begins in Lot K (If you're wondering what this is like, watch this video from a match in Nashville.)
• 1:30 p.m.: The game kicks off.

Lloyd scores another hat trick as U.S. women romp over Haiti

The World Cup star scored three goals for the second consecutive match as the Americans rolled to victory.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Another day, another hat trick for Carli Lloyd. The offensive star of the 2015 Women's World Cup and the new heart of the U.S. attack turned in her fifth career three-goal game en route to the U.S. women's national team's 8-0 gambol over Haiti.

It was another fine day of soccer for the U.S. women and their fans here in the South. Attendance at Legion Field topped out at 35,753 for what was the fourth game of the 10-game Victory Tour that will lead this vaunted U.S. side all across America.

After center back Julie Johnston got the U.S. on the board 53 seconds into the match, it was all Lloyd. The New Jersey native popped in a penalty kick and connected on two other goals in the first half before being subbed for by Amy Rodriguez to start the second half.

The U.S. raced to a 3-0 lead within the opening 17 minutes, an effort bolstered by Crystal Dunn, who got her second start since being called up to the national team for Thursday's 5-0 win over Haiti in Detroit.

Midfielder Megan Rapinoe, headed to the National Women's Soccer League championship game with Seattle on Oct. 1 against Kansas City, had two assists before being subbed out for Ali Krieger in the second half.

Striker Alex Morgan played the entire game, and continued to make good runs at the goal but had a tough time finishing -- until the 85th minute when she knocked in the U.S. women's 7th goal. Morgan finished the day with 7 shots, many of them with a good look at the goal, but only 3 of those were direct.

Haiti, which was brought in to face the U.S. for this latest pair of Victory Tour friendlies, replaced Australia. The No. 9-ranked team in the world, Australia is striking for better pay. The lack of a competitive matchup took an edge of this back-to-back matches, however, the fans in Detroit and Birmingham stocked the stands and, for the U.S. team, the youthful Haitian squad allowed U.S. coach Jill Ellis to have some fun.

Why just celebrate winning the 2015 Women's World Cup when you can also experiment? With the U.S. looking toward qualifying in February for the 2016 Olympics, Ellis has some roster decisions to make, since the number for Rio will be 18 and not 23 as it was for the Women's World Cup in Canada.

After moving Becky Sauerbrunn to midfield in the second half against Haiti in Detroit, Ellis started Sauerbrunn at midfield at Legion Field. The idea is to test out the U.S. formations, even if it means pushing the world's best female defender to a spot that will soon be vacated by the impending retirement of Lauren Holiday.

Can Ellis really afford to upset a back line that Sauerbrunn has so steadfastly turned into the best in the business?

"Why not?" Ellis said with a grin about the Sauerbrunn experiment.

"I wanted to see her in there. I know she can play there. She's a very competent player. Part of the process going forward is to see who in the group can play multiple positions,'' Ellis said. "Obviously it's a big decision to have to make after we just gelled the back line and solidified. We have a pretty low goals-against percentage. That's kind of the fun part about moving forward.

"We have a couple of players stepping away and a slightly smaller roster to work with. It's not like you have to start all over again because you certainly have a great base but you have to explore options.''

Sauerbrunn played the first half at midfield, while 40-year-old veteran Christie Rampone played the entire game in her old center back spot alongside youngster Julie Johnston. With Rampone's stated intent to try and make the Olympic squad, the back line could see a slight makeover.

Krieger, who played the flank during the Women's World Cup, has been playing midfield for the Washington Spirit of the NWSL this season. Holiday's retirement and Lloyd's push to the attacking role creates potential new roles all around, especially with Dunn's emergence as a solid national team candidate going forward.

Meanwhile, as Ellis found ways to mix up positions, the U.S. women had a field day peppering overmatched Haiti with a bevy of goals. Heather O'Reilly and Amy Rodriguez also contributed the goal-fest.