A mismatch from the word go as Carli Lloyd braced the team with 2 before the game was 20 minutes old. It was a game to play homage to the past, as the 99'ers and other former players were present and the future, as young players who have been inspired by curent players walked them out as the players wore jerseys with the names of those they have inspired and after the national anthems the young ones donned those jerseys. The Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame was well represented as was Long Island itself with inductees Sara Whalen and NYU Men's Soccer Coach Kim Wyant at Banc of California Stadium in LA, Shannon Macmillian born in Syosset was there as was Syosset High School grad, Natalie Portman. Some of the biggest cheers as the 1999 team was introduced went to of course Mia Hamm as her team, LAFC plays there, Brianna Scurry who we just saw again at the ICC Launch Event having spent some time with her as she was inducted into the US Soccer Hall of Fame and of course the GOAT, Michelle Akers who we missed during the same ICC event just 2 weeks ago but took too way to many photos of at the most recent USC convention. The Head Coach of that team, our friend, the late Tony DiCicco was featured on the video board and his wife was on the field. Joining Lloyd scoring who now has 107 goals, tying Akers were Lindsey Horan, Samantha Mewis, Alex Morgan and Jessica McDonald. Christen Press made like another Utah athlete, John Stockon with 3 assists, Long Islander Crystal Dunn had one as Sky Blue player Lloyd added another and Tierna Davidson had the first of the game at 14'. In drawing 20,941 fans they outdrew in a friendly NYCFC on a great early spring day at Yankee Stadium on Saturday. There are now just a trio of games remaining in the team's "Send-Off Series", the grand finale being where else but Red Bull Arena on May 26 at noon facing Mexico on ESPN & UDN, but if your local it is best to watch it live, send them out big, with a sell out. This was the first game with the US & Belgium, I see why they never played before, I would not play the US again. Many of the early goals were scored by headers not just off headers and restarts but to the same far left of the netminder. The shot count was a very lopsided 17-4 with the inhospitable hosts not allowing a shot on goal. The second half saw 3 players come on at its start with Alex Morgan, Abby Dahlkemper & Ashlyn Harris coming on, the first time I know of that an engaged couple were on the same team and field together as Ali Krieger played the full 90 minutes. Morgan for her part had her 2nd goal in the last 2 games after a long wait to break the century mark as she did that facing Australia. Allie Long of Northport came on for goal gettin' Lindsey Horan getting her first meaningful minutes in too long with half an hour of game time. Dunn gave way to Morgan who scored just 5 minutes later and Jessica McDonald netted hers in extra time after coming in at 61' for Mallory Pugh. Back to the NWSL go ALL players as they await the last games in May, proving it is the #1 league world wide.
Kwik Kixx:
-Lloyd had her 10th brace in her 271st cap, tying Akers in goals with 107 in her first start since Scotland on Nov. 13, 2018.
-Lloyd also had her 52nd assist for her 2nd of the year and leaves her one short of Macmillan for 8th place.
-Horan with her first goal of 2019 now has 8 goals over 68 games.
-Mewis in her 47th game has 9 goals with her 2nd start of 2019.
-Morgan a local to the game, from Diamond Bar, CA is now 6th in all time goals.
-Christen Press also of CA, Palos Verdes Estates with cap #113 and now has 27 assists, 4 on the year.
-Davidson has her first assist of 2019, 3rd overall in her 19th appearance.
-Dunn with her 2nd midfield start of 2019 had her 2nd assist of the year, she typically is at defender yet is a scoring machine for NC Courage in the NWSL.
-HC Jill Ellis used all 6 subs.
-Now with this first game facing Belgium the USWNT have faced 54 nations overall, getting their first game with Spain as well in 2019.
Newly minted member of the USSF Hall of Fame Brianna Scurry with Gus Xikis, Pres. of LISFL.
Indiana University Coaching legend, Jerry Yeagley, Michelle Akers & son Cody.
Kim Wyant with fellow Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame Inductee Dominic Pedone.