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Crystal Dunn bursts into spotlight for U.S. soccer team in transition Crystal Dunn bursts into spotlight for U.S. soccer team in transition
(about 5 hours later)
HOUSTON — Crystal Dunn is racking her brain to remember the biggest scoring games of her soccer life. There was the four-goal performance in her high school state championship match and the hat tricks with the North Carolina Tar Heels and Washington Spirit. HOUSTON — Crystal Dunn is racking her brain to remember the biggest scoring games of her soccer life. There was the four-goal performance in her high school state championship match, the hat tricks with the North Carolina Tar Heels, the ones with the Washington Spirit.
But five?But five?
“Five is a big number,” the attacker says bashfully.“Five is a big number,” the attacker says bashfully.
The five came Monday with the world champion U.S. women’s national team in an Olympic qualifier, and although the opponent was weak and the outcome settled after 20 minutes, five goals in international soccer is special. Five came Monday with the world champion U.S. women’s national team in an Olympic qualifier, and although the opponent was weak and the outcome settled after 20 minutes, five goals in international soccer is special.
The five tied a program record, shared by six other luminaries, including Abby Wambach and Michelle Akers. Mia Hamm never scored five. At 23, Dunn was the third youngest to do it, behind Sydney Leroux (21) and Brandi Chastain (22). The five tied a program record, shared by six other luminaries, including Abby Wambach and Michelle Akers. Mia Hamm never scored five. At 23, Dunn was the third youngest to do it, too, behind Sydney Leroux (21) and Brandi Chastain (22).
The goal haul, during a 10-0 breeze against Puerto Rico in the Group A finale of the tournament in Frisco, Tex., punctuated Dunn’s rise with the national team since being the last player cut before the 2015 World Cup. Dunn’s goal haul, coming in a 10-0 breeze against Puerto Rico in the Group A finale of the tournament in Frisco, Tex., punctuated Dunn’s rise with the national team since being the last U.S. player cut for the 2015 World Cup.
It has also elevated her profile ahead of the CONCACAF tournament semifinal against Trinidad and Tobago on Friday night at BBVA Compass Stadium. With an expected victory, the Americans would secure passage to the Summer Games in Brazil and formally initiate pursuit of a fourth consecutive gold medal.It has also elevated her profile ahead of the CONCACAF tournament semifinal against Trinidad and Tobago on Friday night at BBVA Compass Stadium. With an expected victory, the Americans would secure passage to the Summer Games in Brazil and formally initiate pursuit of a fourth consecutive gold medal.
Canada will face Costa Rica for the other Olympic berth from the region encompassing North and Central America and the Caribbean. Sunday’s final is for bragging rights only. Canada will face Costa Rica for the other Olympic berth from CONCACAF, the region encompassing North and Central America and the Caribbean. Sunday’s final will be for bragging rights only.
Dunn’s arrival comes at a transitional period for the U.S. attack. Wambach, the sport’s all-time scoring leader, and Lauren Holiday have retired. Megan Rapinoe is rehabbing a serious knee injury. Leroux and Amy Rodriguez are pregnant. Dunn’s arrival comes at a transitional period for the U.S. attack. Wambach, the sport’s all-time scoring leader, has retired, as has midfielder Lauren Holiday. Megan Rapinoe is rehabbing a serious knee injury. Leroux and Amy Rodriguez are pregnant.
Dunn has been in the U.S. mix since 2013 but also in the shadows of older, wiser and more experienced players. Many observers thought national team Coach Jill Ellis might select Dunn for the World Cup campaign, if not to play regularly but to embrace the atmosphere and demands of a major tournament. Instead, she gave the last roster slots to veterans Heather O’Reilly and Shannon Boxx. Dunn has been in the U.S. mix since 2013 but also in the shadows of older, wiser and more experienced players. Many observers thought national team Coach Jill Ellis might select Dunn for the World Cup campaign, if not to play regularly then to embrace the atmosphere and come to understand the demands of such a major tournament. Instead, Ellis gave the last roster slots to veterans Heather O’Reilly and Shannon Boxx.
Dunn, a Long Island native who had just begun her second season with the Spirit at Maryland SoccerPlex, said she was heartbroken, her confidence shaken. “I probably should have seen a psychologist the way I felt,” she said. Dunn, a Long Island native who had just begun her second season with the Spirit at Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown, said she was heartbroken, her confidence shaken. “I probably should have seen a psychologist, the way I felt,” she said.
But as the U.S. squad marched on without her, Dunn was on the way to winning the National Women’s Soccer League scoring title (15 goals in 20 matches) and MVP trophy. But as the U.S. squad marched on without her, Dunn was on the way to winning the National Women’s Soccer League scoring title and MVP trophy, recording 15 goals in 20 matches.
With an eye on the Olympics, Ellis began reintegrating Dunn and other prospects during the World Cup victory tour last fall. With an eye on the Olympics, Ellis began more fully integrating Dunn and other younger players during the World Cup victory tour last fall.
“It’s a new year and I would like to turn the page and start over,” she said. “I don’t want to be known as the girl who got cut, even though that is always going to be part of me. “It’s a new year, and I would like to turn the page and start over,” Dunn said. “I don’t want to be known as the girl who got cut, even though that is always going to be part of me.
“This is an Olympic year. Last year was a World Cup year. Everything was great that happened for the team in 2015, but it’s a new team with new faces. I’d like to break away from that and get to: ‘Who is Crystal Dunn in 2016?’ ”“This is an Olympic year. Last year was a World Cup year. Everything was great that happened for the team in 2015, but it’s a new team with new faces. I’d like to break away from that and get to: ‘Who is Crystal Dunn in 2016?’ ”
With renewed self-belief during the NWSL campaign, Dunn 2015 helped forge Dunn 2016. With renewed self-belief during the NWSL campaign, 2015 Dunn helped forge 2016 Dunn.
“Sometimes that magic ingredient is confidence,” Ellis said. “She was so close [to making the World Cup team]. One of the first games [last fall], I said to her: ‘Just continue to believe in what you do.’ That honestly was the difference for me. She believes she belongs here. Self-belief is a real big common denominator at this level.”“Sometimes that magic ingredient is confidence,” Ellis said. “She was so close [to making the World Cup team]. One of the first games [last fall], I said to her: ‘Just continue to believe in what you do.’ That honestly was the difference for me. She believes she belongs here. Self-belief is a real big common denominator at this level.”
With a maturing mind-set and dynamic style, Dunn has taken the step from terrific club player to influential international player.With a maturing mind-set and dynamic style, Dunn has taken the step from terrific club player to influential international player.
“The challenge for all of the [young] players now is: Can you do it in the league and now can you do it against the very best in the world?” Ellis said. “That is ultimately the measuring stick.” “The challenge for all of the [young] players now is: Can you do it in the league, and now can you do it against the very best in the world?” Ellis said. “That is ultimately the measuring stick.”
Though the CONCACAF region is not the very best in the world, Dunn’s confidence has manifested itself into taking initiative and not deferring to elders all the time. Commonly lined up on the right wing, she has embarked on piercing runs and put herself in position to finish scoring opportunities in the penalty area. Though the CONCACAF region is not the best in the world, Dunn’s confidence has noticeably manifested itself in taking initiative and not always deferring to elders. Commonly lined up on the right wing, she has frequently embarked on piercing runs and put herself in position to finish scoring opportunities in the penalty area.
“There are players on the field whose presence is going to be dominant,” Dunn said. “I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes. I have to give them that respect, but at the same time going forward, I have to find that common ground of taking more control and feeling like I am no longer in trial mode and am a key player.”“There are players on the field whose presence is going to be dominant,” Dunn said. “I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes. I have to give them that respect, but at the same time going forward, I have to find that common ground of taking more control and feeling like I am no longer in trial mode and am a key player.”
Dunn scored in each of her first two matches last fall and, amid celebrations and send-offs during the victory tour, she finished with three goals in six appearances. When the new-look team regrouped in January, Dunn was at the forefront. She has started all four matches in 2016 and, with the five-goal uprising Monday, is tied for the tournament scoring lead with six. Dunn scored in each of her first two matches last fall, and amid celebrations and send-offs during the victory tour, she finished with four goals in seven appearances. When the new-look team regrouped in January, Dunn was at the forefront: She has started all four matches in 2016 and, with the five-goal uprising Monday, leads the tournament in scoring with six.
Her U.S. teammates see the difference in her body language and approach. The difference for Dunn, her U.S. teammates say, is evident not only in her performance but also in her body language and approach.
“She gained a lot of confidence in the NWSL,” defender Becky Sauerbrunn said. “She has been able to carry that over. Confidence is really like the fairy dust for us; it really is a difference-maker.”“She gained a lot of confidence in the NWSL,” defender Becky Sauerbrunn said. “She has been able to carry that over. Confidence is really like the fairy dust for us; it really is a difference-maker.”
Dunn also learned to relax.Dunn also learned to relax.
“I took a lot of the stress out of my game,” she said. “A lot of it was internal in that, if I made a mistake, it was life and death. Now, I am having fun and enjoying every minute of this.”“I took a lot of the stress out of my game,” she said. “A lot of it was internal in that, if I made a mistake, it was life and death. Now, I am having fun and enjoying every minute of this.”