ORLANDO — This was the Rose Lavelle whom U.S. soccer fans had fallen hard for: the slight midfielder pouncing on a loose ball and lashing a low shot through a tangle of red-clad Canadians to crack open a tense match Thursday.
This was also the Rose Lavelle who had charmed the sport worldwide: leaping into the arms of teammate Christen Press, ponytail swinging under a pink headband, beaming ear to ear as teammates crashed the celebration.
Lavelle’s 79th-minute goal not only lifted the U.S. national team to a 1-0 victory on the opening night of the sixth annual SheBelieves Cup.