The Wait Is Over

USA/Argentina, Round 2

USA First XI vs. Argentina: Campbell; Smith, Roccaro, Short, Gibbons; Sanchez, Sullivan, Brian (c); Pugh, McCaffrey, Jordan.

Substitutes: Naeher, Rowland; Hinkle, Ertz, Sonnett; Lavelle, Mewis, Horan, Colaprico, Dunn; Williams, Press.

The first ten minutes of tonight's USA/Argentina friendly looked a bit different than when the two teams played on Saturday in Kansas City. Argentina was able to make a couple of advances into the US' defensive third, but nothing came of either. The Americans finally took the lead on 18 minutes when a Morgan Brian cross found a charging Mallory Pugh at the far post. Their advantage doubled four minutes later when Steph McCaffrey got on the end of an Ashley Sanchez corner kick, with a third coming after 28 minutes from Savannah Jordan. A breakdown on the left side of the US defense allowed Estefania Banini to get behind Casey Short and fire a low shot past Jane Campbell. A penalty kick by Morgan Brian rounded out the first-half scoring and the US led Argentina, 4-1.

Laura Harvey made four substitutions to start the second half, inserting Lynn Williams for Mallory Pugh, Crystal Dunn for Savannah Jordan, Danielle Colaprico for Morgan Brian, who passed the armband onto Cari Roccaro, and Jaelene Hinkle for Ashley Sanchez, resetting the US as follows: Campbell; Smith, Roccaro, Short, Hinkle; Colaprico, Sullivan, Gibbons; Williams, McCaffrey, Dunn. At the 60-minute mark, Harvey made her final two switches of the night, bringing Katelyn Rowland for Jane Campbell and Rose Lavelle for Steph McCaffrey. Tallies from Williams and Gibbons finished off the scoring for the evening and the US won again, 6-1.

USA 6 Argentina 1 (Pugh/Brian, McCaffrey/Sanchez, Jordan/Roccaro, Brian pk, Williams/Gibbons, Gibbons/Colaprico; Banini/Bonsegundo)

***

Following the game, several players left Houston for home while Jane and Andi left the hotel to return to their apartment near the stadium. Rose and Mal have returned to their room more so to wind down from the game than sleep immediately.

Rose: Mal, you seem to be thriving now in Harvey's system with the lack of defensive responsibility on your shoulders.

Mal: Yeah. I've never been that good at tracking back, which is what has given my problems with the Spirit over the past couple of years. I don't know for sure where I'll be playing once I get back to DC with the coaching change. When Sarah ran the team for the two games of Jim's suspension, she had me up top with Cheyna and it felt comfortable. When Jim used the 4-4-2, he'd always put me at left midfield, which with the rest of the midfield being stocked to the center and Jae behind me meant that I couldn't wander as much into the box as I'd have liked.

Rose: I get what you're saying. With the National Team, I don't have a real position because of the three-forward set, but I shine with the Breakers because I have a nominal starting spot on the right side of midfield, but can roam up alongside the forwards or push inside if Jessie decides to take on the opponents' back line.

Mal giggles and blushes a little at the mention of her friend/crush's name. Rose notices this and inquires of her roommate.

Rose: Was that a giggle, Mal?

Mal: Yeah. Forget at times that she plays with you in Boston.

Rose: So Mal has a bit of a thing for my teammate?

Mal: Maaaaaaaaybe.

Rose: How long has this being going on?

Mal: We've both been with the YNTs coming up the ranks, so we'd cross paths at CONCACAF tournaments and the World Cups, then that one semester I spent at UCLA. I think she's cute and told her when we played you guys last month that I'd like to get to know her better.

Rose: You're probably not aware, but her and I are housemates in Boston. I could maybe help you out with getting her interested.

Mal: I know she's interested, but we don't see each other enough to be sure that we can actually develop a romantic relationship. Then there's the whole rival country thing.

Rose: Again, I get ya. I am crushing on one of my teammates, but it's the same kind of thing. She plays for the big bad Maple Leaf internationally and the way they treat our players during matches makes me wonders if we'd end up in a big fight following a match were we to start dating.

Mal: I don't know if Jessie and I would have that problem, but I can't say that it doesn't cross my mind. We've played each other several times before, and it's always been fine afterwards, but never have the stakes been as big as they are at the senior level.

Rose: If something ugly should happen after the September games, we can lean on each other to get through it, I hope.

Mal reaches over and pats Rose's hand. "Yes, we can."