All around her the last five months, everything has been about celebrating — from winning an elusive World Cup in Canada in July, to saying farewell to teammates who helped the United States women’s national soccer team attain unmatched success.
But for Christen Press, she hasn’t been in too much of a joyous mood. Spending more time watching than playing in games tends to do that. But given an opportunity to show what she can do, the 5-foot-7 forward made the most of the chance.
Press scored three second-half goals as the Americans surged over the final 45 minutes en route to drubbing Trinidad & Tobago 6-0 in an exhibition on Thursday before 10,690 at the Alamodome. The U.S. improved to 6-0-1 through seven legs of a nine-game “victory tour.”
“Overall, I was very pleased with the performance,” U.S. coach Jill Ellis said after the Americans improved to 9-0 all-time against Trinidad & Tobago. “I thought we played very well in the first half; just a little bit unlucky in the finishing.”
The U.S. had no trouble finding the back of the net in the second half, erupting for five goals. Press led the charge, scoring a goal a minute after subbing in for Alex Morgan and three times in 24 minutes. It was her second hat trick during the “victory tour.”
“Every single time that you step on the field — at least for me — I dream it’s going to be three goals, and everything that I touch is going to go in the back of the net,” Press said. “Do you really think it’s going to happen? No. But you always dream that.”
Press’ dream quickly turned to reality — and all it took was some playing time. She hadn’t played during the “victory tour” since scoring a goal during the Americans’ 5-0 win over Haiti on Sept. 17 in Haiti.
“It’s huge for me,” Press said of her performance. “Just coming off the World Cup, my mindset is every second I’m on the field, I have to take advantage of it. We’re not all going to have that many opportunities, so when we do have a chance, you have to get out there and show what we can do. As an athlete, your career goes in waves, and it’s about riding the waves, and it’s about making the low ones as short as possible. I think that’s where I am right now. I’m in a low, and I want to go back up, and I want to be able to get back out there and help the team anyway I can.”
With Abby Wambach, Shannon Boxx, Lauren Holiday and Lori Chalupny retiring this year, and Megan Rapinoe sidelined indefinitely with a knee injury, Ellis wanted to use Thursday’s contest as a way to get a glimpse of what players might help fill those vacancies. Wambach, the world’s most prolific scorer with 184 goals, came on as a second-half substitution and played the final 15 minutes.
Ellis‘ got her wish as the future faces of U.S. soccer got to showcase themselves. Lindsey Horan scored one goal and assisted on two others, Stephanie McCaffrey had an assist, and Crystal Dunn, Emily Sonnett and Jaelene Hinkle provided strong glimpses.
But it was the old guard that helped propelled the Americans to victory. Carli Lloyd tallied the game-winner in the 21st minute when she converted a penalty kick after Morgan was was fouled inside the penalty area by Trinidad & Tobago goalkeeper Kimika Forbes. It was Lloyd’s ninth goal in seven games during the “victory tour,” continuing her strong play from last summer’s World Cup in Canada when she won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s top player.
Morgan scored in the 52nd minute off a pass from Horan, while Lloyd and Ali Krieger each contributed assists.
But for Christen Press, she hasn’t been in too much of a joyous mood. Spending more time watching than playing in games tends to do that. But given an opportunity to show what she can do, the 5-foot-7 forward made the most of the chance.
Press scored three second-half goals as the Americans surged over the final 45 minutes en route to drubbing Trinidad & Tobago 6-0 in an exhibition on Thursday before 10,690 at the Alamodome. The U.S. improved to 6-0-1 through seven legs of a nine-game “victory tour.”
“Overall, I was very pleased with the performance,” U.S. coach Jill Ellis said after the Americans improved to 9-0 all-time against Trinidad & Tobago. “I thought we played very well in the first half; just a little bit unlucky in the finishing.”
The U.S. had no trouble finding the back of the net in the second half, erupting for five goals. Press led the charge, scoring a goal a minute after subbing in for Alex Morgan and three times in 24 minutes. It was her second hat trick during the “victory tour.”
“Every single time that you step on the field — at least for me — I dream it’s going to be three goals, and everything that I touch is going to go in the back of the net,” Press said. “Do you really think it’s going to happen? No. But you always dream that.”
Press’ dream quickly turned to reality — and all it took was some playing time. She hadn’t played during the “victory tour” since scoring a goal during the Americans’ 5-0 win over Haiti on Sept. 17 in Haiti.
“It’s huge for me,” Press said of her performance. “Just coming off the World Cup, my mindset is every second I’m on the field, I have to take advantage of it. We’re not all going to have that many opportunities, so when we do have a chance, you have to get out there and show what we can do. As an athlete, your career goes in waves, and it’s about riding the waves, and it’s about making the low ones as short as possible. I think that’s where I am right now. I’m in a low, and I want to go back up, and I want to be able to get back out there and help the team anyway I can.”
With Abby Wambach, Shannon Boxx, Lauren Holiday and Lori Chalupny retiring this year, and Megan Rapinoe sidelined indefinitely with a knee injury, Ellis wanted to use Thursday’s contest as a way to get a glimpse of what players might help fill those vacancies. Wambach, the world’s most prolific scorer with 184 goals, came on as a second-half substitution and played the final 15 minutes.
Ellis‘ got her wish as the future faces of U.S. soccer got to showcase themselves. Lindsey Horan scored one goal and assisted on two others, Stephanie McCaffrey had an assist, and Crystal Dunn, Emily Sonnett and Jaelene Hinkle provided strong glimpses.
But it was the old guard that helped propelled the Americans to victory. Carli Lloyd tallied the game-winner in the 21st minute when she converted a penalty kick after Morgan was was fouled inside the penalty area by Trinidad & Tobago goalkeeper Kimika Forbes. It was Lloyd’s ninth goal in seven games during the “victory tour,” continuing her strong play from last summer’s World Cup in Canada when she won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s top player.
Morgan scored in the 52nd minute off a pass from Horan, while Lloyd and Ali Krieger each contributed assists.
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