Two June friendlies against Colombia have come and gone, and now the USWNT will set its sights on the Concacaf W Championship, which kicks off Monday in Mexico.
As the team makes its way south, Just Women’s Sports has three players whose stock is rising following their performances in the international friendlies.
Taylor Kornieck
Taylor Kornieck earned her first USWNT cap in the first game against Colombia and made the most of it, scoring her first international goal.
Double check our math, but @taylorkornieck has scored in 100% of the #USWNT matches she's appeared in 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/wb22ii7rKc
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) June 26, 2022
Tied for the tallest player to take the field for the USWNT at 6-foot-1, Kornieck is one of just three players to score for the team during the two friendlies, which the United States won 3-0 and 2-0.
With two goals on the year for the NWSL’s San Diego Wave, Kornieck is beginning to show her potential as a scorer and could continue to make an impact as the team heads to Mexico.
Kelley O’Hara
While the veteran defender might be playing limited minutes as she makes her way back from a lower leg injury, Kelley O’Hara isn’t wasting them.
She was the only player to get on the score sheet Tuesday for the USWNT with the third international goal of her career. The other tally in the 2-0 win was an own goal from Colombia.
.@kelleymohara's first #USWNT goal since 2016!!! 😱 pic.twitter.com/QgtspwcNQ8
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) June 29, 2022
O’Hara’s goal came just six minutes after she subbed into the match and just two minutes after the teams returned from a lightning delay. It was O’Hara’s first international goal since 2016 and she was named Woman of the Match for her performance.
Alyssa Naeher
The most experienced goalkeeper on the roster — to the tune of 81 international caps, compared to five for Casey Murphy and one for Audrey Kingsbury — Naeher showed why she remains the team’s rock in net the second friendly against Colombia.
WHAT A SAVE FROM ALYSSA NAEHER 🚫
— The Athletic Soccer (@TheAthleticSCCR) June 29, 2022
🎥 @USWNT pic.twitter.com/qCwAtDUG8F
Colombia managed to fight past the USWNT’s defenses, but Naeher made key saves to keep the USWNT ahead.
The team’s attack didn’t display its usual dominance against Colombia, and if that continues into the W Championship, the goalkeepers — particularly Naeher — could play a huge role.