Ally Sentnor and Lynn Biyendolo shone in Emma Hayes’ youth strategy, each scoring twice in a decisive 4-0 win against Jamaica at St. Louis Energizer Park on Tuesday. Senner, 21, kicked off the scoring in the 19th minute, connecting with Emily Fox after a long pass from Lily Johannes. Fox swiftly delivered it to the left, allowing Senner to launch a strong shot from the center of the penalty area into the net.
Only nine minutes later, Senner netted again. This play initiated with Alyssa Thompson, who raced down the left flank before passing to Johannes, who eventually set up Sam Coffey. As Thompson entered the box, she received the ball from Coffey and aimed for Jamaican defender Chantelle Swaby. Senner capitalized on a rebound from her shot, finishing from close range.
The third goal was scored by veteran Biyendolo in the 60th minute. Following a USWNT corner, Lindsey Horan initially touched the ball, which bounced back into play. Biyendolo reacted swiftly, executing a high kick to send it into the net.
Biyendolo sealed the match with a goal in the 88th minute, showing off her scoring ability and teamwork. In what was her fourth hat trick, Avery Patterson made a long pass from the flank into the penalty area. This marked Biyendolo’s 13th goal since joining the team as a USWNT alternative in October 2016.
The USWNT displayed a commanding performance, holding over 80% possession and completely outplaying Jamaica, who didn’t register a single shot on target. Coach Hayes has effectively used the post-Olympic phase to diversify the squad and experiment with new tactics. This has included giving Orlando Pride’s Kelly Abelo her first cap as a left-back while Loila Bonta also celebrated her initial Senior International appearance after their 3-0 victory against China.
During the recent international break, Sentnor was one of many emerging players who stepped up in the absence of numerous veterans. Hayes has rotated players frequently to explore new strategies, rewarding emerging talents like Thompson and Katarina Macario with goals.
The USWNT is set to continue their friendly matches against Ireland on June 26 and June 29, followed by games against Canada on July 2.
Fan Take: This victory highlights the exciting development of young talent within the USWNT and signals a promising future as they prepare for upcoming competitions. For soccer fans, this means a more dynamic and powerful team that could dominate the women’s game for years to come.
