Stanford junior and former Sacred Heart Prep soccer star Tierna Davidson can shrug off her own goal because, well, she’s the youngest player on the United States national women’s soccer team and she was allowed to play the full 90 minutes.
The U.S. made it all a moot point by scoring four unanswered goals to beat Brazil, 4-1, and capture its first Tournament of Nations title Thursday night in Bridgeview, Ill.
The 19-year-old Davidson still has two years of eligibility with the Cardinal and she’s already a decorated player, having made her U.S. national team member 18 months ago.
Davidson earned College Cup Most Outstanding Defensive Player honors last fall in helping Stanford win the national title.
TopDrawerSoccer named her a first team Best XI, she was a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist, a first team All-American and she’s the only member of the national team who remains an amateur.
Once Rose Lavelle scored the tying goal, with a helping hand from Lindsey Horan, midway through the first period, the tide started to shift.
American goalie Alyssa Naeher never had to make a save in the contest because of Davidson, Emily Sonnett, Beck Sauerbrunn, Crystal Dunn and SHP product Abby Dahlkemper.
The second half was all USA, with Tobin Heath playing the role of matchmaker to perfection in assisting Julie Ertz’s go-ahead goal early in the second half.
Heath, with help from Alex Morgan, added a goal eight minutes later and Morgan put the finishing touches on the win, getting an assist from Megan Rapinoe.
The Americans return to action on Aug. 31, taking on Chile at 8 p.m. at the StubHub Center in Carson and then hosting Chile on Sept. 4 at Avaya Stadium in San Jose. Game time is 7 p.m.
Meanwhile, Stanford junior Samantha Hiatt and Cardinal sophomore Kiara Pickett are headed to France, where they will play for the U.S. women’s U20 national soccer team at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
The Americans open play with a game against Japan on Monday at Stade Guy-Piriou in Concarneau. They play again Thursday against Paraguay and against Spain on Aug. 13.
Hiatt and Pickett will miss Stanford’s exhibition game and first two preseason games will in France.
By Palo Alto Online Sports
By Palo Alto Online Sports
By Palo Alto Online Sports
Congratulations, ladies!