Morgan Brian scored her first goal for the USWNT on Tuesday in a 7-0 win over Mexico. (Photo Copyright Caitlin Murray for The Equalizer)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — With many U.S. women’s national team players out with injury or currently playing in Europe, Tuesday’s game against Mexico was a chance for head coach Tom Sermanni to test the team’s much alluded to depth. Perhaps none of the new additions to the squad left a better impression than Morgan Brian.
Brian checked in the 70th minute and two minutes later, recorded the last goal in a 7-0 rout. The goal itself wasn’t particularly noteworthy except that it was Brian’s first with the senior team.
Brian, who attends nearby University of Virginia, had a large contingent of supporters in the crowd including her Virginia teammates, her parents and club coach. Her teammates’ very enthusiastic reaction to the goal even made Fox Sport 1’s broadcast.
[MORE: Youngster Morgan Brian showing confidence in USWNT camp]
When asked if she saw them in the crowd, she said, “Yes, I did. They were sitting up there (pointing a section on the press box side of the field) and they had signs. They were pretty loud. I didn’t think I could miss them.”
Sermanni said that he was “delighted” with Brian’s goal. “She looked like a seasoned international. She was just outstanding and that’s how she’s been from day one…She’s a great talent, not just the future, but she’s a great talent already.”
Whether or not more national team call ups are in Brian’s immediate future, she’s currently focused on her college team’s season. In fact, after the game Brian hopped on the bus that Virginia took to the game and traveled back with them to Charlottesville, Va. If her teammates’ celebration of her goal is any indication, the road trip back to campus was probably more animated than usual.
