The women’s US soccer played a friendly against New Zealand in St. Louis’ own Busch Stadium: the first time in seven years that St. Louis has hosted a national soccer team from the United States.
This game was played in preparation of the Women’s World Cup that starts June 5, with Canada hosting this year’s competition.
The US is ranked second, only behind Germany, and their opponent for this friendly, New Zealand, is ranked 18th.
Dressing in all American gear to show their support, senior Claire Webster and junior Abby Allgeyer attended the game.
“I’m a huge fan of the US women’s team,” Webster said. “I wanted to go all out because this was an international game and I wanted to show my support.”
The final score was 4-0 with goals by Meghan Klingenberg, Lori Chalupny, Jenny Johnston and Morgan Brian for the US, and a shutout for Solo.
“It was overall a great day and at the end of the game our faces hurt from smiling,” Webster said. “Abby Allgeyer and I are considering cutting our hair short like the players, because we feel like real soccer players now.”
Debuted red kit Saturday to honor @Cardinals & found myself sharing locker of @MLB catcher @Yadimolina04 (naturally) pic.twitter.com/SNGbeCNAbo
— Hope Solo (@hopesolo) April 6, 2015
Members of the team, including goalie Hope Solo and forward Alex Morgan, expressed their excitement about the game on Twitter.
“Excited to be heading back to St. Louis this week! Loved playing there,” Solo said. “The city treated me like one of its own.”
The Cardinals president Bill DeWitt III spoke in a press release about the game at Busch Stadium.
“This is a unique opportunity to see the US women’s team in one of the most iconic settings in St. Louis,” DeWitt III said. “Soccer fans wouldn’t want to miss it.”
According to the St. Louis Post Dispatch article, “U.S. women’s soccer team to play match at Busch Stadium”, more than 10,000 fans showed up just to watch the team practicing on the converted baseball field on April 3, and about 35,000 fans were in attendance at the actual match on April 4.
The continued support for professional soccer games has sparked a conversation about sponsoring a hometown team for Major League Soccer. During May of last year, USL PRO announced that it will be sponsoring a club, still yet to be named, in St. Louis, operated by St. Louis Scott Gallagher and former professional player Jim Kavanaugh.
The club will play at Soccer Park in Fenton, MO and will be coached by Dave Schilly. The arena at Soccer Park can hold about 6,000 people, and is owned by the Scott Gallagher program.
“We are thrilled to welcome St. Louis into the USL PRO,” CEO Alec Papadakis said in a statement. “St. Louis, more than any other US city, has significantly contributed to the development and growth of American soccer on all levels.”
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