Croix Bethune tried to stay focused when she took the field in the U.S. women’s national team’s 0-0 draw with Costa Rica on Tuesday night, but the Washington Spirit star admitted that was not easy.
Bethune was given a rousing reception at her home stadium Audi Field, where she has put together a scintillating rookie season in the NWSL thus far.
The 23-year-old has five goals and a league-leading nine assists, recently becoming the first player to earn three consecutive rookie of the month honors.
The playmaker’s exploits with the Spirit have earned her an Olympic roster spot as an alternate, and she secured her first two USWNT caps in the team’s send-off matches this month.
After making her debut in the 81st minute of Saturday’s 1-0 win over Mexico, Bethune came on in the 89th minute against Costa Rica in Washington, D.C.
Bethune is one of four Spirit players heading to France with the Olympic team. Trinity Rodman and Casey Krueger are on the active roster, while Hal Hershfelt is also an alternate.
As she warmed up alongside fellow substitutes Krueger and Hershfelt on Tuesday, Bethune said she and her club teammates could feel the energy from their home fans.
“It was great, a lot of energy,” Bethune told reporters after the game. “Everyone kept kind of screaming my name, screaming Hal’s name, Casey’s name. So it was just good to feel that energy and positivity.”
Those screams from a small section of fans near the substitutes paled in comparison to the moment Bethune entered the match, which saw the sellout crowd at Audi Field erupt in perhaps the loudest cheers of the night.
“I just couldn’t stop smiling,” Bethune said of her entrance. “I wanted to stay focused and keep a straight face but it was kind of hard just hearing all the chants. So to feel the love and the support was amazing.”
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