Tag: Rose Lavelle

USWNT vs. Brazil Olympics lineup: Albert starts gold medal match over Lavelle

Emma Hayes made her first lineup change of the entire Olympics that didn’t involve a known injury or suspension

The U.S. women’s national team made one change to its lineup for Saturday’s 2024 Olympic gold medal final against Brazil, and it wasn’t a move many saw coming.

Head coach Emma Hayes selected Korbin Albert to start in the midfield over Rose Lavelle, but otherwise made no alterations to the group that defeated Germany 1-0 in the semifinal round.

That meant a place in the team for the only USWNT injury doubt, Tierna Davidson. The Gotham FC defender sustained a knee contusion in the group stage, but recovered to play the first 45 minutes of Tuesday’s win.

Only 13 players have started for the USWNT during this tournament, and both previous changes were enforced. Emily Sonnett replaced Davidson while the latter was out with injury, while Albert started a 1-0 quarterfinal win over Japan with Sam Coffey suspended for yellow-card accumulation.

Should Naomi Girma and Alyssa Naeher play the full 90 or 120 minutes in the final, they will have played every second of this Olympic tournament.

USWNT lineup vs. Brazil

USA (4-3-3): Alyssa Naeher; Emily Fox, Naomi Girma, Tierna Davidson, Crystal Dunn; Korbin Albert, Sam Coffey, Lindsey Horan; Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson

Brazil (5-4-1): Lorena; Jheniffer, Lauren, Tarciane, Thais, Yasmim; Adriana, Vitoria Yaya, Duda Sampaio, Ludmila; Gabi Portilho

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USWNT star Smith warns opponents: This is only 70 percent of what we can do

The USWNT has seven goals in two games, and there is still room for improvement

The U.S. women’s national team has started the Olympics in devastating form, and forward Sophia Smith offered a warning to any future opponents after a 4-1 rout of Germany.

This team hasn’t yet hit its peak.

Smith and her front-line partners Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson have been impossible to stop at the Olympics so far, as the U.S. cruised past Zambia 3-0 before putting global power Germany to the sword on Sunday.

The trio has combined for six goals and three assists at the Olympics, with the USWNT already clinching a spot in the quarterfinal ahead of Wednesday’s group-stage finale against Australia.

Speaking to reporters after Sunday’s game against Germany, Smith insisted that her side still had another level to reach.

“This is probably only game six or seven of us playing up front together,” Smith said in quotes on The Athletic.

“We’re clicking really well, really fast. I think this is only like 70 percent of what we can do.”

The USWNT’s front three had only started one time together before pre-Olympics friendlies this month, but have already formed a partnership that is borderline unstoppable.

With Smith as a nominal No. 9 and Swanson and Rodman to either side, the trio interchange liberally and cause fits for defenders who have to account for their constant movement and overloads.

The team’s attack stands in sharp contrast to last summer’s World Cup, when the U.S. beat Vietnam 3-0 to kick off the tournament and then proceeded to score just one more goal in its final three games en route to a last-16 exit.

This time around, the U.S. has already netted seven times in two games — and there appears to be much more to come.

“We have a lot of really special players and we’re finally starting to connect,” midfielder Rose Lavelle said. “But we know we still have another level in us.”

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Former Badger helps U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team advance in Olympic Games

Former Badger helps U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team advance in Olympic Games

Wisconsin women’s soccer alumnus Rose Lavelle helped the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team advance to the knockout stage at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on Sunday.

The United States defeated Germany 4-1 in its second match of group play. The Americans defeated Zambia in their Olympic opener on July 25.

Lavelle and company now hold sole leadership in their group — which also includes Zambia, Germany and Australia.

As she did against Zambia, the former Badger started at midfield alongside Samantha Coffee. Lavelle racked up four corner kicks and played all 90 minutes of the match.

In terms of scoring, the United States’ Sophia Smith nailed two goals while Mallory Swanson and Lynn Williams chipped in with one apiece. Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher finished with four saves as well.

This marks Lavelle’s second Olympic appearance following her stint at the Olympic Games Tokyo. She played in all six games en route to the United States’ bronze medal finish in 2021.

Lavelle and the United States will square off against Australia next at 1:00 p.m. ET on July 31.

Hayes: ‘Sole focus’ on getting Lavelle right for Zambia game

The playmaker’s status for the USWNT’s Olympics opener appears to be in the air

U.S. women’s national team head coach Emma Hayes has said her “sole focus” is on ensuring Rose Lavelle is fit to face Zambia in Thursday’s Olympic opener.

Lavelle was named in the starting lineup for last week’s Olympic send-off friendly against Costa Rica, but was a late scratch after dealing with tightness in her groin.

The NJ/NY Gotham FC star has been in excellent form and her ability as an attacking midfielder is crucial for the USWNT — especially after Catarina Macario was forced out of the Olympics with a knee injury.

On Tuesday, two days ahead of the team’s Olympic opener, Hayes told the media that “everybody’s available for selection as of today” for the match against Zambia.

But the coach also indicated that the fitness of Lavelle isn’t a sure thing.

“My only focus is on winning the first game,” Hayes said. “It’s always a mistake when you think or talk in any other way. You have to win the first game. You then have to compete to win the second, you then have to win the group and only then can you be in a position to discuss anything else. For me, our sole focus is on getting Rose right for the Zambia game.”

Should Lavelle be unable to face Zambia, Hayes could take advantage of a new roster rule to replace the 29-year-old.

This Olympics, roster alternates are able to replace injured players on a game-by-game basis. That means Hayes could replace Lavelle on the roster for Zambia, and then bring Lavelle back for the team’s second game if she’s fit.

If Hayes opts to replace Lavelle with one of her four alternates, Washington Spirit rookie star Croix Bethune appears to be the most likely option as a like-for-like change. The other two non-goalkeeper alternates are defender Emily Sams and midfielder Hal Hershfelt.

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Lavelle scratched from USWNT lineup vs. Costa Rica

Minutes before kickoff, the USWNT star was removed from the team’s starting lineup to face Costa Rica

The U.S. women’s national team made a surprise, last-second lineup change for Tuesday’s Olympic send-off friendly against Costa Rica.

Rose Lavelle had been named to Emma Hayes’ initial starting 11 for the match in Washington, D.C., but barely 10 minutes before kickoff, U.S. Soccer announced that the NJ/NY Gotham FC star was a late scratch.

Per the official team announcement, Lavelle was experiencing “leg tightness.” Per U.S. Soccer communications staff, the move was made out of an abundance of caution on a night that saw temperatures at kickoff hovering in the upper 90s.

Lavelle was replaced in the lineup by Korbin Albert, and was seen walking without issue to the USWNT bench shortly before the match kicked off.

Following the match, USWNT coach Emma Hayes said the issue was groin tightness, and emphasized that she was taking “no risks” with her squad. Lavelle is expected to be fit in time for the team’s Olympic opener against Zambia on July 25.

The choice of Albert rather than Jaedyn Shaw — widely perceived to be in line for more minutes as an attacking midfielder after Catarina Macario’s withdrawal from the roster — could point towards a more cautious approach from Hayes at the Olympics.

The 18-player U.S. roster has few other options if Lavelle’s injury turns out to be more serious. Crystal Dunn has extensive experience in the midfield. However, Washington Spirit playmaker Croix Bethune, who leads the NWSL in assists this season, is available as an alternate.

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Wisconsin Badgers soccer legend headed to Paris Summer Olympics

Wisconsin Badgers soccer legend headed to Paris Summer Olympics

Former Wisconsin Badgers women’s soccer superstar Rose Lavelle was named to the U.S. Olympic Women’s Soccer team. She will help lead the team in the 2024 Summer Olympics, which begin in Paris, France on July 26

Lavelle spent four seasons with Wisconsin from 2013-2016, becoming an instant star in her freshman season, winning the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award. She was then selected for an All-America team in each of her final three campaigns in 2014 through 2016.

The 29-year-old athlete will be making her second appearance in the Olympics after playing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics — which was delayed to July 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lavelle appeared in all six games during the tournament, scoring a goal as the U.S. went on to beat Australia in the bronze medal game.

During the 2024 NWSL season with Gotham FC, Lavelle has racked up three goals while appearing in 10 contests, including six starts. Across seven seasons in the NWSL, the midfielder has 12 total goals.

Lavelle and the U.S. Olympic Women’s Soccer team are looking for their first Olympic gold medal since 2012 after losing in the quarterfinals in 2016 and finishing third in 2021.

Lavelle finally makes Gotham FC debut, promptly scores late equalizer

Lavelle’s debut took a little longer than expected, but it proved to be worth the wait

Rose Lavelle’s Gotham FC debut took a little longer than expected, but it proved to be worth the wait.

The U.S. women’s national team star was one of Gotham’s marquee offseason additions, but missed her team’s first five games of the season while nursing a lower leg injury.

Lavelle finally made her first Gotham appearance on Sunday, coming on as a 74th-minute sub in her team’s game against Racing Louisville at Red Bull Arena.

The visitors appeared to seal a late victory when rookie Reilyn Turner gave her side a 1-0 lead in second-half stoppage time, but there would be some even later drama provided by the Gotham debutant.

Louisville goalkeeper Katie Lund failed to deal with a high ball into the box in the 97th minute, giving Ella Stevens the chance to lay the ball back to Lavelle. The World Cup winner took a first-time shot with her right foot that ricocheted off the post and in, giving her side a 1-1 draw.

Seeing Lavelle back is undoubtedly good news for club and for country, with the Bats in the midst of a slow start in league play and the Olympics set to kick off in less than three months.

Speaking after the game, Lavelle summed up her debut (and the league as a whole) succinctly, saying: “That’s the NWSL — it’s wild but it’s fun.”

Watch Lavelle’s debut goal for Gotham FC

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Lavelle provides injury update as USWNT star awaits Gotham FC debut

The USWNT star has now been sidelined more than a month with a leg injury

Rose Lavelle was one of several U.S. women’s national team stars who joined Gotham FC as marquee offseason additions.

But unlike Tierna Davidson, Emily Sonnett and Crystal Dunn, the playmaker has not yet stepped on the field wearing the Gotham crest.

Lavelle hasn’t played since the W Gold Cup, where she featured in all six of the USWNT’s matches as it lifted the regional title.

The 28-year-old has been sidelined with what the NWSL availability report calls a lower leg injury, missing the Challenge Cup and all three of Gotham’s regular season games thus far.

As her absence stretches past a month, Lavelle gave an update on her progress during a media event in New York marking 100 days until the Olympics begin.

“I’m doing good — I’m hoping I’ll be back in the next couple weeks,” Lavelle said in quotes published on the Philadelphia Inquirer.

“It’s frustrating to start the year off with an injury, just because I feel like you come off preseason and you’re revving to go, so it’s so annoying.”

Last month, interim USWNT coach Twila Kilgore called Lavelle’s absence from the SheBelieves Cup roster “mostly a preventative measure in terms of taking care of her health.”

Kilgore has coached her final game for the USWNT, as she moves back to an assistant role ahead of Emma Hayes’ arrival next month.

With the Olympics kicking off soon and Hayes facing some tough decisions to cut her roster down to just 18 players, Lavelle knows time is of the essence.

“The strength of our team is there in so much depth, so unfortunately that means really good players are going to get left off too,” she said.  “And I think for all of us, it’s just about being ready for whatever role is given to us, embracing that, and looking to put it into a collective picture so that we can go into the Olympics ready to go.”

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Injured Lavelle misses USWNT roster for SheBelieves Cup

The playmaker returned from the W Gold Cup carrying a leg injury

Rose Lavelle was omitted from the U.S. women’s national team SheBelieves Cup roster due to injury, interim head coach Twila Kilgore said.

Lavelle appeared in all six of the USWNT’s games at the W Gold Cup, starting three times. The playmaker returned from the competition with an injury, however, and has missed out on the Challenge Cup and the first regular season game with NJ/NY Gotham FC.

The NWSL’s availability report lists Lavelle as suffering from a lower leg injury.

In a call with the media after the roster was released on Tuesday, Kilgore indicated that the injury was minor and Lavelle’s absence is precautionary.

“Rose was left off the roster due to injury, she’s not available,” Kilgore said. “Rose is somebody that has played a major role with the team in the past and is capable of continuing to play a major role for us in the future.

“Her minutes were limited at Gold Cup due to health and safety concerns for her and the team — most players being in preseason and things like that. We just hope that she has a speedy recovery, which I’m sure she will. This is mostly a preventative measure in terms of taking care of her health, which is exciting because we do anticipate that she would be available later for selections.”

Lavelle struggled with injury for most of 2023, as she played just four regular season games with OL Reign and eight times for the USWNT. She did recover in time to be fit for the 2023 World Cup as well as the 2023 NWSL playoffs, where she helped OL Reign reach the final.

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USWNT roster: Lavelle and O’Hara out, Purce and Vignola in

Angel City left back Vignola becomes the third uncapped player on the USWNT roster

The U.S. women’s national team has announced two roster changes ahead of next week’s friendlies against South Africa.

NY/NJ Gotham FC forward Midge Purce and Angel City FC defender M.A. Vignola have been called into the USWNT, replacing Rose Lavelle and Kelley O’Hara.

Per U.S. Soccer, Lavelle is “still recovering” from a knock suffered playing for OL Reign, but will come to Cincinnati for what the federation says will be “evaluation.” While O’Hara is similarly not fully fit, the federation says she will “remain with her club to continue her progression to full fitness.”

Coming in will be one player with plenty of USWNT experience, and one with absolutely none. Purce has 23 caps, and while she missed out on a World Cup place, she did participate in the SheBelieves Cup this spring. As a wide forward Purce is not an obvious replacement for Lavelle, but interim coach Twila Kilgore’s squad has two other No. 10s in Savannah DeMelo and Ashley Sanchez.

Potential debut for Angel City’s Vignola

Vignola, on the other hand, hasn’t represented her country since playing at the Under-17 level. The 25-year-old, a Cincinnati native, has broken through as Angel City’s starting left back this season after injuries largely kept her off the field in 2022.

She is more or less a like-for-like replacement for O’Hara, but pushing into the mix for playing time will still be difficult. Kilgore has four other fullbacks (Crystal Dunn, Emily Fox, Sofia Huerta, and Casey Krueger) in camp, and three of them can play left back.

Vignola is not the only uncapped player to get a call for this international window. She’s joined by forwards Mia Fishel and Jaedyn Shaw, with the USWNT looking towards the future after a World Cup that ended in disappointing fashion.

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