Trinity Rodman, fresh off signing a contract with the Washington Spirit, scored and the United States had five second-half goals in a 6-0 rout of Paraguay on Saturday.
Ally Sentnor added a pair of goals and Reilyn Turner scored in her debut match for the United States. Emma Sears also scored.
Turner, who plays professionally for the Portland Thorns, scored in first-half stoppage time on an assist from Thorns teammate Olivia Moultrie.
Sentnor added a goal in the opening minutes of the second half to put the United States up 2-0.
After an own goal in the 53rd minute, Rodman scored her 12th international goal in her 48th appearance with the team. Rodman, named captain for the match, celebrated with a brief dance for the U.S. bench.
Sentnor added her second in the 57th minute, capping a span that saw the United States add three goals in four minutes. Sears made it 6-0 with a goal in the 72nd.
“I think in the first half there were definitely nerves. We were rushing a lot,” Rodman said. “I think there was almost too much space, that we were overthinking things.”
[MORE: What’s Next: USA Star Trinity Rodman’s New Deal Is A Massive Boost for NWSL]
It was the primary of two matches for the U.S. staff to conclude its January coaching camp. The USA additionally performs Chile in Santa Barbara on Tuesday night.
European-based U.S. gamers weren’t included within the camp as a result of they’re within the midst of their seasons. Gotham gamers had been additionally left off the roster as they put together for the ultimate stage of the primary Girls’s Champions Cup in London subsequent week.
The gamers within the beginning lineup Saturday averaged simply 10 appearances with the nationwide staff. Coach Emma Hayes was working with a gaggle of National Women’s Soccer League gamers coming off an offseason.
“We had three debutantes, gamers which have solely possibly performed a second or third cap. There was plenty of inexperience for us, and plenty of nerves that include that,” Hayes mentioned. “However I assumed the staff handles themselves rather well, contemplating.”
The staff honored retired ahead Christen Press earlier than the match. Press gained Women’s World Cup titles with the USA in 2015 and 2019 and a bronze medal on the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Over a decade with the nationwide staff, she appeared in 155 matches, scoring 64 objectives and 43 assists.
Press, who formally retired from skilled soccer in October, was among the many nationwide staff gamers who fought for equal pay and in addition advocated for higher pay and taking part in situations within the NWSL.
Rodman agreed on Thursday to a three-year contract to stay with the Washington Spirit, ending months of hypothesis about her future within the NWSL. At challenge was the NWSL’s wage cap and whether or not it has hampered the league from attracting and sustaining prime gamers.
[MORE: USA Star Trinity Rodman Announces She’s Re-Signing With Spirit, Staying In NWSL]
The 23-year-old Rodman turned a free agent on the finish of final season after 5 years with the Spirit. One of many largest stars within the NWSL, preserving her within the league was thought-about vital as different U.S. nationwide staff stars, together with Naomi Girma and Alyssa Thompson, opted to play in Europe.
The monetary particulars of Rodman’s contract weren’t disclosed, however the Spirit referred to as it “probably the most vital offers in NWSL historical past.”
Hayes referred to as it a “monumental achievement for the NWSL.”
“I feel it’s actually unbelievable for the NWSL that they’ve been in a position to hold Trinity Rodman,” Hayes mentioned in a prematch information convention. “I feel figuring out that she’s going to be settled and completely happy in Washington goes to be a win for the U.S. nationwide staff, as a result of, as I’ve all the time mentioned, happiness and what they need is of the very best order to me.”
Reporting by The Related Press.
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