Hope Solo eyes 100th shutout as US meets South Africa

Most notable was Hope Solo’s 100 shutout as the national team goalkeeper. As if her 100 shutouts were not impressive enough, it is worth nothing Solo reached the milestone in her 197th cap for US meaning she has kept a clean sheet more than 50 per cent of her appearances for her country.

In that sequence, isolated as it was on the afternoon, Klingenberg looked the veteran completely comfortable in her marauding role, Dunn looked like the player fighting not for the roster spot she didn’t claim in the World Cup but a starting spot in Brazil.

They might have all been just a bit off in the game against South Africa, but they’re certainly capable of more fluid interchange, and all that matters is that they peak together at the right time in August. Not just for us, but for the world. Give Press half a chance anywhere inside the box, and she’ll bring the ball down either for herself or able to lay it off for someone with a shot. It was a decent victory in their first of two final tune-up games before the nearing Rio Olympics that saw Crystal Dunn score the game’s loan goal in the 35 minute off a cross from Mallory Pugh.

Without doubt, her contributions to the team on-field have been historically great and after the game vs. South Africa on Saturday, an excited Solo wearing a t-shirt commemorating the occasion said “it was nice to get that one off my back”. Heather O’Reilly earned her 230th cap, Lloyd her 223rd and Ali Krieger her 90th for the U.S. And Morgan Brian and Tobin Heath also should be back in the lineup.

“It felt good, knocking the rust off”, Lloyd said. Yes, they hung tough and were organized on defense. Long and Lindsey Horan continue to get playing time.

It will be that process, not this game or the final send-off game against Costa Rica in two weeks (ESPN, 9 p.m. ET, July 22), that matters most.

Gore admits it is quite unusual to have an Olympian on the squad and said not many schools have this distinction, but Moodaly does not flaunt or throw it in a player’s face that she has played at such a high level. Having won the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada™, the Stars and Stripes could become the first team the reigning world champions take gold the following year.