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Julie Johnston Is the Rising Star as USWNT Progresses in Women’s World Cup
Published: June 21, 2015
After claiming first place in Group D, the U.S. is set to face tough-talking Colombia on Monday in the round of 16. Through three games, Johnston, a 23-year-old center-back, has been the team's breakout star.
For casual fans, her World Cup ascent has been entirely unexpected. But for those in the know, it's been nothing of the sort.
Johnston's rise to the starting center-back role began in earnest in March, when she started three of four games at the prestigious Algarve Cup and scored against France in the final. But rewind to last fall and Johnston wasn't even in head coach Jill Ellis' plans.
Originally left off the U.S. roster for the CONCACAF Women's Championship—which also served as the region's qualifying tournament for the World Cup—Johnston only earned a call-up following an injury to Crystal Dunn. Even then, the former Santa Clara defender didn't play.
Johnston featured sparingly in December as the U.S. played a four-match tournament in Brazil and was an unused substitute in two February friendlies. For those two games, Ellis paired Whitney Engen with Becky Sauerbrunn in central defense as the Americans sought a long-term replacement for 39-year-old Christie Rampone.
An injury to Engen finally gave Johnston her shot at the Algarve Cup. As we now know, it was an opportunity she seized. After the successful Algarve Cup campaign, Johnston won the starting job at center-back and immediately forged a strong partnership with the more experienced Sauerbrunn.
“Opportunity presented itself with two injuries,” Ellis said, via Jeff Kassouf of ProSoccerTalk. “So now she’s getting the starting nod in big...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football
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