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The United States Women's National Soccer team had a lot to prove to itself and the world during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
New head coach Emma Hayes and her team did just that, taking the gold medal -- the USA's first since 2012 -- and went unbeaten during the course of play. The squad played six games in 16 days, and Hayes' lack of substituting players was questioned by many, but her strategy of putting in a cohesive unit worked out as she brought America back to prominence.
The USWNT dominated in winning its bracket and through its semifinal with Germany. The very young American team was led in scoring by Mallory Swanson with four goals, including the game-winner against Brazil in a 1-0 final win, and Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith with three each. They accounted for 10 of the 12 American goals.
Goalie Alyssa Naeher, a former Penn State Nittany Lion, was outstanding in goal. Her one-handed save in stoppage time secured the USA victory over Brazil. She is the first U.S. women's goalkeeper to record four shutouts in one Olympics tournament.
Hayes has not lost a game as the USA head coach and helped put America on top of women's soccer worldwide again.
New coach for men
The USA U23 men's team, making its first appearance since 2008 in the Olympics, played well enough to advance out of its Group A bracket with France, New Zealand and Guinea and into the quarterfinals, where it met a wall in Morocco, dropping a 4-0 decision.
The roster restrictions, which force all players but four to be under 23, has not worked well for America.
Mauricio Pochettino has accepted a deal that will make him the new American head coach. The 52-year-old Pochettino is from Argentina and would be the first foreign-born coach to head the U.S. since Jurgen Klinsman in 2011-2016. He has coached teams in Spain, England and France with great success. He will have 22 months to work with the team before America hosts the 2026 World Cup.
Success locally
Local soccer club FC 814 once again successfully held its Glory on the Grass five-on-five tournament this summer with 35 teams and 350 players taking part. Teams came from Johnstown, Dubois, State College, as well as the local region. Age groups ranged from u-8 to adult teams.
President Tim Dieter said the tournament has grown in each of its three years. It is held at the Urban Air Soccer Complex on eight 120 feet-by-90 feet fields.
The FC 814 girls Team Energy won the U-16 girls division of the Battle on the Beach sand soccer tournament in Wildwood, N.J. over teams primarily from the New Jersey and Philadelphia area. In regulation play, the Energy outscored their opponents 10-1. Sand soccer is somewhat slower play and a nice diversion from the faster-paced game.
High school action
Scholastic soccer is just getting under way, and a number of teams are defending District 6 titles.
The Altoona girls squad will be a team to watch as it came off of a season in which the team won its first girls state playoff game ever. The team went 15-6 last year, but most of its losses all came at the beginning of the season when tit had a number of starters out with injuries.
The Lady Lions will have 10 returning starters in seniors Alannah Irwin, Alli Little, Lia Sankey and Lundyn Treese, juniors Aubriana Berardinelli, Sophia O'Dea and Tatum Shoeman, and sophomores Ajaycia Alexander, Sylvie Boslet, Ava Frye and goalkeeper Hailey Rodriguez. Head
Coach Marc Frye is extremely experienced with only two years at Altoona but two state PA West championship belts to his credit. He has coached the only national premier team from this area and played against teams from all 50 states. He has an Altoona team with great depth, and barring injuries, should get off to a great start and once again have the opportunity to go deeper into the PIAA state playoffs.
Little recently committed to play soccer next year for Division I Iona in New York.
Also, the Bishop Guilfoyle girls team, which will be moved back to Class 1A for state playoffs this year, could make a deep run into the state playoffs. The defending District 6 champs have a number of players from the national premier Team Energy on their squad. Playing with some very tough teams in the Laurel Highlands should sharpen them up for the playoffs.
Tom Schmitt writes a monthly soccer column for the Mirror.