Hope Solo, Megan Rapinoe, Christen Press Star As United States Wins Opening Match 3-1 Against Australia At 2015 Women’s World Cup

Hope Solo (click to enlarge)

With controversy and court proceedings swirling around her off the pitch, Hope Solo continues to be as great a goalkeeper as ever on it. Although she gave up a goal, which was on a shot she could have done little about, in the United States Women’s National Team’s 3-1 victory over Australia in their opening match of the 2015 Women’s World Cup, Hope made a couple of brilliant early saves on shot attempts that could have put the Americans in a 2 goal deficit at halftime instead of being tied 1-1. The defense was especially ragged early, often out of position or slow to react. Those saves by Solo gave the U.S. a chance to settle down defensively, which they did. But moving forward, they will need to be a lot better throughout games from beginning to finish if they are to contend for the championship. Meanwhile, as the defense was coming together, the Americans received an offensive punch from Megan Repinoe with 2 goals and Christen Press with her first ever Women’s World Cup goal off a terrific crossing pass from Sydney Leroux. If the U.S. squad only has a limited Alex Morgan, who subbed in late in the 79th minute, then they will need players like Rapinoe, Leroux and Press to step up as they did in the opening game.