Starting XI: Alyssa Naeher, Taylor Smith, Abby Dahlkemper, Kelley O’Hara, Julie Ertz, Samantha Mewis, Lindsey Horan, Mallory Pugh, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe
It was a relatively fast and smooth start for the United States as they kicked off against New Zealand in the first of a two-game friendly series. Jill Ellis put her taem in a 4-3-3 and let her midfield triangle of Julie Ertz, Sam Mewis, and Lindsey Horan mix and match as the game’s flow dictated. Ertz was nominally the DM, but she had no problem pushing higher while Mewis dropped.