Photograph Credit score: Daniel Bartel-USA TODAY Sports activities
“Oh my god, did that simply occur?” was the primary thought that went via rookie Hal Hershfelt’s thoughts after she scored the Washington Spirit’s first objective of the season — an equalizer in opposition to Nationwide Ladies’s Soccer League newcomer Bay FC — through the membership’s dwelling opener in March.
“The response you get at Audi [Field] is in contrast to something that I’ve ever performed in entrance of,” she stated in an interview.
That was only the start for Hershfelt, who has flourished beneath the numerous freedom she’s discovered as a participant within the skilled ranks. A lot in order that she has earned her first name as much as the U.S. girls’s nationwide group as a part of head coach Emma Hayes’ first 23-player roster for a pair of June friendlies. The 21-year-old is one among simply two gamers who will likely be making their senior nationwide group debut (the opposite being Crimson Stars defender Sam Staab) on the upcoming summer time matches in opposition to Korea. These would be the closing video games performed by the group earlier than the 2024 Olympic roster is about.
Within the two months since netting her first objective, Hershfelt has scored one other and made 9 begins in 10 caps for a group that sits at third within the NWSL standings at 7–0–3. The soar from Clemson to the NWSL has been about as easy as Hershfelt may’ve hoped for, however her poise on the pitch maybe undersells the transition she’s undertaken: she’s now enjoying in a more true heart midfield position for the Spirit on the eight, regardless of spending her faculty profession on the extra defensive six, all beneath an interim coach who has given her a way more energetic position within the offense than she had earlier than.
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