COMMERCE CITY — All of the build-up around the return of international soccer to Colorado delivered. So, too, did Windsor’s own Sophia Smith.

Two days after the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the United States Women’s National Team drew 17,143 to Dick Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City. And the U.S. stars gave the sellout crowd plenty to cheer about in a 3-0 victory over Colombia ahead of 2023 Women’s World Cup qualifiers in July.

Smith scored two goals in the span of six minutes in the second half to send DSGP into a frenzy, with Rose Lavelle assisting on both tallies.

After a disappointing first half, the U.S. showed it is still the No. 1 team in the world, while also moving to 7-1 in matches at DSGP.

“I think we were just trying to find our feet in the first half, trying to connect passes better and build chemistry and get a rhythm going,” Smith said following the game. “Going into the second half, that’s what we knew we had to do, to be patient and not panic and trust that the goals would come.”

In the 54th minute, Lavelle played Smith in and the Windsor native fired past on-rushing goalkeeper Catalina Perez to make it 1-0. On the stroke of the hour mark, Lavelle won the ball back in mid-field and served in a line-drive ball which Smith took two touches on fired into the bottom left corner to make it 2-0.

The second tally was Smith’s fifth goal for the USWNT, tying fellow Coloradan Mallory Pugh for the most in 2022. She also became only the second-ever Colorado native to score at a senior USWNT game in-state, also joining Pugh, who scored twice in 2019.

In stoppage time, former CU Buffs standout and San Diego Wave midfielder Taylor Kornieck headed home her first goal in the red, white and blue off a free kick from fellow substitute Megan Rapinoe, who replaced Pugh in the 77th minute.

“It just means everything to me,” said Kornieck, who stands at 6-foot-1, and is the tallest player on the USWNT roster. “It’s been my dream ever since I was a little girl and scoring obviously wasn’t part of the plan, but it was a good perk.”

Fans started filing in to DSGP as soon as the gates opened up at 4 p.m. From there it was a steady stream arriving early and fired up to see the USWNT in Colorado for the first time since April 2019.

Outside DSGP, the American Outlaws’ supporters group held a tailgate in Lot F in Rapids-esque fashion.



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