The USWNT scored four times in the game against New Zealand, the last one coming on a goal by Ashly Hatch. There is a time and a place for it. For the past decade, she has practiced the concept of living in the present, but her recent past is important to where she is now. Sitting in the lobby of the team hotel on the day before the United States' victory over Mexico, she is aware of the stops and starts in her journey, one filled with critics and self-doubt. She had to change how she saw herself as a soccer player and a person. - Futbol Americas on ESPN+: Liga MX, USWNT, El Tri (U.S.)
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- Don't have ESPN? Get instant access There were times in the past when it looked like he would be playing for Mexico. The daughter of a Mexican and a U.S. mother was able to represent both countries. Mexico called her up to the senior team when she was a teenager after they expressed interest in her. She scored two goals in her first few caps for Mexico. The experience of playing for Mexico on the soccer stage reinforced what she had believed all along: the U.S. national team is where she should be. "If I can have these moments against these top international teams, that means that I can compete at this level, that's what I was thinking," he said. I realized I want to play for the US after playing for Mexico. I always knew that, but I wanted to go to Mexico. She knew that she would be able to get call-ups from Mexico to pursue opportunities with the US. It would take three years before it became a reality, and then another three years before a regular spot on the U.S. national team was found. Only one player has competed against the US women's national team. After an embarrassing exit from the 2016 Olympics, then-U.S. head coachJill Ellis was in the middle of an extensive search to improve the player pool and her team. The United States still needs full-back depth, and Ellis was impressed with the crossing abilities of Huerta, who plays for the Chicago Red Stars in the National Women's Soccer League. Ellis thought those skills could be used to play full-back for the international team. She was happy to be called and willing to play wherever she was needed. Two days after the announcement that her one-time FIFA switch was approved, she made her senior U.S. debut off the bench and assisted on Alex Morgan's goal. He was still being used as a forward. She requested a trade because the Red Stars already had a deep back line. She thought she would be a full-back when she was traded to the Houston Dash. The Dash made her the No. 10 in the middle. Ellis stopped calling when she didn't play full-back for her club. The closer the World Cup got, the clearer it was that Huerta wasn't in it. "I was angry at how the situation unfolded in Houston." She could choose to view herself in a certain way. She can either be a successful soccer player or not good enough for the U.S. national team. She said that she had to change the narrative because she was not on the national team. I'm so thankful for my life and I'm still in the 1%. I got the call from the U.S. head coach, Vlatko Andonovski, after I stayed present and did what I could. Three years had passed since her last call-up. She wondered if she could have done better in her first chance with the US. She wondered if those who urged her to take the chance with Mexico were correct. She said that she felt like she didn't make enough sacrifice and that she wasn't being as professional as she should have. It was difficult to deal with and I might never get another chance. It's one thing if you don't get that chance because you have a staff that doesn't like you. It's difficult to feel like I lost that opportunity because of what I should have done differently. It is difficult to sit with. It is not comfortable to sit with. I didn't take advantage of the opportunity and now I might not get it again. I thought that for a while. I had to start questioning how that was serving me. Over the past seven years, she has worked with a life coach named Lisa McClenahan. They talk a lot as she navigates a process that she describes as being kind to herself. It's not good to sit here and have anxiety about the future. I had to work on my mind and figure out what worked for me. In life and in soccer, trying to stay present is the best way to go. Everyone should attempt to do that. It's easy to look back and have bad memories. One of the narratives that she wants to squash is that she was pigeonholed as a forward who was converted to defense. Some people think that her defensive abilities are not good. "I think that's not true," she said. I think I have the defensive skills to play center back. It took me a while to relearn some things because I've been a forward and attacking player for a long time. It took me a bit to get used to it. "Of course, there's always room to improve, but I just think since I've been there for a year now, I really do feel like I'm a good outside back." There's a beautiful game here. You can watch tournaments and teams.
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He was a three-sport athlete and ran track. She set a pair of state records in the hurdles. No one questioned her athletic ability. She was in the role of the best player on the field when she was younger.
She said it was different because she was from Idaho. I would start up top and then move back to center back.
The center-back is where Jerry Smith found her. One of the most influential people in her journey was the Santa Clara coach who recruited her to play defense. After her freshman season, it became clear that she could play as a forward. Smith knew that she needed to be moved up top. In 81 NCAA games, he racked up 47 goals and 19 assists and gained attention as a forward.
After not playing full-back at either Chicago or Houston, she was left scrambling to figure out her next step. She made sure that her position was included in the agreement before she joined a team. The plan was to get regular minutes at full-back, and doing so during the NWSL offseason, while many other players were inactive, offered an outside chance of getting back into the national team picture before the World Cup.
It didn't work out that way, but it was still useful. He played all 14 games for the team that won the title. She scored the game-winning goal in the semifinal and then, in the final, she defended Sam Kerr, the second-ranked player in the world.
It's possible that Huerta isn't here in helping the US qualify for the World Cup if he hadn't been in Australia. It was a great professional moment for Huerta. She says she was finally playing soccer year-round, rather than staying in the NWSL for four months.
She said that she began to notice a difference in her game.
After the 2020 season, Houston traded her to OL Reign, and she had to play on the wings. Laura Harvey came back as head coach of the Reign in August 2021.
She was told by Harvey that she wanted her to be a full-back. The first game on the schedule is a rivalry match between the two teams. At right full-back, he played the entire game, helping the Reign to a 2-1 victory in front of nearly 28,000 fans.
She had a lot of confidence in me. My first game back was against Portland, even though I wasn't sure what it would look like. I felt like it was hard to get back into the game, but I had the support of her and my teammates.
Mauricio worked for Hewlett-Packard in Guadalajara, Mexico, but the lure of the U.S. was important to him. Jody was from the U.S. and there were more financial opportunities in the US. Mauricio applied to every HP location in the US and was the first to get a job. The family moved to an apartment and bought a car. When they arrived, they had a lot of money in their pockets.
She is proud of her Mexican heritage. She has family and friends in attendance to support her during the two-week competition, which will double as a qualification event for the World Cup and the Summer Olympics in Paris.
She's not lost on the fact that her first major tournament is being held in Mexico.
She thinks there is something extra about it. A lot of people didn't think that I would be on the U.S. team because of my Mexican heritage. The U.S. team is in Mexico. I have connections here. It means a lot to me.
He came off the bench and played the final 26 minutes. She said that she has a few friends on the team who supported and understood her decision to chase the American dream.
The U.S.'s win over Jamaica was their best performance of the tournament so far. He wreaked havoc on the right flank with one assist and a cross that was ruled out for an obstruction.
After the game, Andonovski said that he thought Sof was very good. She did a good job, even though she wasn't as aggressive as we're used to. She was spot on. She was able to get players from the other side of the field. I am happy that she is getting better in this role.
In the NWSL regular season, she was second in assists with six.
She said she does it whenever she has the chance. It's probably something I should work on, being more patient in the attack. That is my strength on the offensive side. I think I'm a good defender but there's always room for improvement. Regardless of how good you are defensively, there are going to be times when you are exposed, or you should have made a different decision.
There is a message from the U.S. coaching staff to the players on this roster. The position that she is in is a challenge to her philosophy of living in the moment. She exhales and smiles at the thought of representing the United States at the World Cup next year. When she began this journey a decade ago, she thought of it as the destination she wanted.
The goal is to be present. Sometimes it doesn't happen. It's a lot harder to say than it is to do. A lot of things can happen at the World Cup, but it feels good to be in the conversation.
She said she gets excited and happy when she thinks about it. You are still a year away. I know that if I keep working hard and doing what I can, I can get to where I want to go.
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