The United States women’s national team just keeps rolling.
A little more than half a year removed from winning the World Cup, the USWNT now have their eyes set on the next prize; the goal medal at the upcoming Summer Olympics in Tokyo, and if Friday’s performance against Mexico was any indication, the USWNT will once again be a force to be reckoned with. Powered by Samantha Mewis’ brace and goals from Rose Lavelle and Christen Press, the USA left nothing to chance against Mexico, and the US sealed its spot in Tokyo this summer with a 4-0 win over Mexico in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament at Dignity Health Sports Park.
“I don’t think we ever take our foot off the pedal,” Lavelle said. “It’s kinda our mentality to just keep going and give 100 percent the whole game.”
Even as the USA secured its spot in the Olympics, the US will surely want it all on Sunday when they go up against long-time rival Canada in the tournament final. While the matches between the two longtime CONCACAF powers have always been competitive, Canada will surely be heading into this matchup with more confidence, as they have not surrendered a goal this entire tournament.
“Canada’s always a really hard team to play against,” Mewis said. “We obviously have a huge rivalry, they’re playing well defensively and offensively, it’s going to be a tough game, but were excited for the challenge.”
The US struck first just five minutes into the match. Julie Ertz got to a ball cleared by Mexico deep in the latter’s territory. Ertz head a ball to Lavelle, who dribbled around the top of the box before firing a left-footed volley that beat Emily Alvarado into the back net. The USA doubled its lead nine minutes later, as a Megan Rapinoe corner kick took a deflection, Mewis got to the ball and took a shot in the box that found the back net and just like that, the US was up 2-0.
The USA kept up the aggression through the rest of the first half and well into the second half, but did not get that third goal until the 67th minute. The US had a free kick outside the Mexico box, Rapinoe and Mewis were both at the ball, Rapinoe dummied a attempt, which allowed Mewis a sightline, which she took advantage of, as she fired the shot past Alvarado into the back net.
“She can hit it so hard, having it be that close and on that side of the goal, that near post is kinda open, so she did us real proud,” Rapinoe said of Mewis’ free kick.
The US capped the scoring in the 73rd minute, and it came from the player that grew up just minutes away from Dignity Health Sports Park, as Christen Press dribbled into the penalty area, took a first shot that was blocked, but she got the ball back and lobbed a shot over Alvarado that went in at the far post.
