USWNT vs. the Dominican Republic (CONCACAF 2024 W Gold Cup group stage #1)
(during "Hannah Cardwell's Holiday" chapter 64)
Clarisse sat Hannah down on a cushioned stool at the kitchen counter, and took the spot next to her, patting her hand. She smiled in thanks as Glennon plated up the cinnamon rolls for them. "Merci, Tante Glennon."
"Miss Christen? Why’d she call Miss Glennon a tent?"
"Tahnt," Christen corrected Zoe's pronunciation with a kind smile for the young girl, "it's French, it means the same as Tia in Spanish. Aunt, or Auntie. Risse calls Glennon that because Hannah is Glennon's niece, and Clarisse is Hannah's girlfriend, so it's polite."
"Ohhh. Thanks. Thank you, Miss Glennon. Yummy."
"You're welcome, little one." Glennon smiled. "I'm very glad you like it. How about you two, hmm?" She looked at Clarisse and Hannah, eating their own chocolate cinnamon rolls.
"They're very nice, Tante Glennon. Monsieur ought to put them on the menu at the bakery."
"Grandma Glennon already has her podcast Risse. She doesn't need to work at the bakery." AT grinned teasingly at her teammate before turning to her hermanita, "Want another one?" She gestured to the empty plate.
However, she didn't see Abby reenter the kitchen right behind her......
"I think by the rumble in her stomach she's full, petite-fille. Perhaps we will go watch the replay of the match, hmm? There's plenty left for later," Abby added to her eldest 'adopted granddaughter' (even if the younger Thompsons hadn't quite been fully 'adopted' yet).
"Okay, as long as there's plenty for later, Grandmere," AT got up carefully, taking Zoe's hand as they went to join the others in front of the TV.
When the match began, AT watched her teammates lining up without her. No Gi, of course she's just training, but still. She was happy to see Big Alyssa in goal, though, and Livie and Soph up front. The midfield was stacked, with five players, and three defenders (including captain Becky Sauerbrunn) in between Big Alyssa and anyone who dared come at her.
"Look Hannah, it's Livie, she was one of mine and Gi's best friends growing up, but then she moved to Portland. I'm glad Gi gets to train with her again."
It was just a few minutes before "Livie", Olivia Moultrie, could show off just why AT was so in awe of her best friend. The eighteen year old fired off a spectacular goal past the Dominican keeper.
The match had only been going for eight minutes.
Hannah perked up. "Oh, Olivia Moultrie! Did you know her name's Olivia Lynn Moultrie?"
AT covered her mouth with her hand, smothering a laugh. "Of course I know that, cousin, the number of times I heard Tia Jessica shout that across the pitch? "Olivia Lynn Moultrie you stop that right now or else," she mimicked. "You think I wouldn't know?"
"Olivia Moultrie's a member of the Latter-day Saints church," Hannah babbled on, getting an exasperated smile and a nod from AT, who of course already knew that, too. It had caused a few disagreements between their parents, but Tio KC and Tia Jessica had always welcomed the girls at their house, even if the elder Thompsons had been less welcome.
For the next twenty minutes or so, neither side had a real chance on goal - a few attempts were made to get past the Dominican keeper, but they missed or were saved. Hannah looked exasperated that she didn't have many stats to think of about this team in particular (though when Korbin Albert missed her shot, Hannah started in with, "Korbin Rose Albert's played for the National Team since the under-15s.")
"I know," AT laughed. Korbin had been her roommate at one of her last junior national team call-ups, playing against the French national team. Grandmere Abby was there too, she thought, remembering, cause it wasn't long after she'd become Grandmere that it happened.
Livie took a shot at the goal, but was stopped by defender Gabriella Cuevas. It ended up in just the right place for Lynn Williams to strike at it, and she did, sending the ball past the Dominican keeper.
The USWNT was up 2-0, which - if Livie and Korbin's next attempts hadn't been missed - very quickly could have been 4-0. AT had cheered Olivia and Lynn's successes, but now she was worried for her friends. She looked at Hannah, wondering what her cousin thought.
They made it to halftime with no further goals scored. AT, very reluctantly, admitted that the Dominican keeper was good. "But not as good as Big Alyssa," she added loyally, though their defense had kept the Dominicans from getting near Alyssa at all so far. She hadn't had anything to do just yet.
Abby smiled. "We know how good Alyssa is, petite-fille. You don't have to convince us." She gave AT a hug, then turned to Hannah, giving her one as well. "Everything alright, petite? You've been a little quiet, hmm?"
Hannah shook her head a little, and Abby helped Hannah up, guiding her over to the step, where she sat down with Hannah in her lap. Glennon sat next to them - she'd been cheering and yelling at 'the soccer' along with Abby during the first half, but for now all was quiet.
"Tante Abby, Tante Glennon not mad?" There was an unshed tear in Hannah's eyes as she whispered the question, looking first to Abby, then Glennon.
"Why would we be mad with you, petite?" Abby asked gently.
"Ummm...Cause naughty hands. Pushed buttons?"
"Well, you've taken your smacks for that, haven't you sweetheart?" Glennon asked, and Hannah gave an uncertain nod, showing Abby and Glennon her pink palms. They each took a hand and rubbed it gently.
"Oh, petite. You've been disciplined, Hannah, there's no more now. You're a good girl, sweetheart."
“We missed you while you were gone, you know? The house was way too quiet”
Hannah looked at Abby, then Glennon. "I missed you too. And the house. I don't want to go away from it."
"You're just going to be down the street, sweetheart," Glennon soothed. "You can come over anytime. But how about we make a special time that you come over for breakfast, and spend time with us once a week, just as special personal time?"
"R-really Auntie Glennon?"
"Really, really sweetheart," Glennon promised.
"Absolutely," Abby agreed. "We can definitely do that."
"We better keep Foxy wrapped in bubble wrap, or Arsenal will hate us," AT remarked, still paying attention to the match.
"Ooh, did you know Emily Fox got an assist in her first match with Arsenal this year, her style of play really complements Arsenal's and from the looks of it, it has benefited her!" Hannah perked up at the mention of Arsenal. "Come on you Gooners, right Tobin?"
"I didn't know you were a Gooner, why didn't you tell me? I literally played for them!"
"We're ignoring the time we played in Manchester, Tobs?" Christen asked.
"Well it was the only option at the time, and while I loved being there with you, Chris, Arsenal was always my dream job."
"I thought you said you were recently a big fan of Arsenal in that video?" Tish looked at Christen expectantly.
"Mama Christen's a big fan of Mama Tobin in an Arsenal jersey," AT jumped in, smirking.
Christen raised an eyebrow. "Watch yourself, Alyssa Paola," she said mildly. "Don't be impertinent, please."
"Sorry, Mama Tobin," Alyssa replied. She turned her attention back to the match, where Sophia and Lynn each missed two attempts on goal (well, one of Soph's was blocked by the keeper directly) and then another attempt by Midge Purce went wide.
Dominica's defense is better than I think we thought, Alyssa worried. But she didn't worry much - after all, they were up 2-0 so far. And a couple minutes later, Olivia Moultrie made it 3-0.
AT bounced up, cheering for her best friend.
It would be Olivia's last goal of the match, though. A few minutes later, a little after an hour of play, a triple substitution was called for by the United States - Olivia would be subbed off for Jaedyn Shaw. Midge, who was still furious about her missed opportunity, came off for Trinity Rodman, and Sophia was subbed off for Alex Morgan.
"Tia Alex!"
"In the 2022 season Alex Morgan had 16 goals in 19 matches for San Diego," Hannah perked up. "That's seriously amazing."
"It really is," AT agreed. "Tia Alex is one of the best since practically forever."
Abby laughed to herself. "Not since forever, petite-fille. But she's had an amazing career so far, that's true."
Korbin Albert switched out for Rose Lavelle, and AT sighed as another one of her good friends left the pitch. But Hannah tugged urgently on AT. "Rose Lavelle has 24 goals in 96 appearances and 22 assists, also has a dog named Wilma who is probably just as famous as her."
"I'm familiar with Wilma," AT agreed, smiling. "Also, whenever the team's got any dogs visiting, if we lose Rose, all we have to do is look for the dog."
"I remember Alex, Carli and Pinoe realizing that," Abby rolled her eyes good-naturedly.
In the 85th minute, Dominican Republic's Brianne Reed stepped on Jaedyn Shaw's foot in an attempt to stop her going for the ball. This violent act got Reed a yellow card, and the USWNT a penalty kick.
Jenna Nighswonger stepped up to take it, but AT almost missed it because she had jumped to her feet, shouting at the TV.
The ball dived into the bottom left corner of the net, and put the USWNT up 4-0 in the 86th minute.
AT was screaming and flailing excitedly, obviously itching to have been on the pitch, wanting to hug Jenna herself in celebration. Christen hooked an arm around the teen and pulled her down on her lap, where AT landed with a yelp. She froze, not wanting to kick Christen by accident, until Christen sat her up properly.
Then Reed, now on a yellow card, attempted to tangle with Trinity Rodman in the box.
No card this time, but a PK was awarded, and Alex Morgan came to take it.
"Tia Alex can do it," AT whispered as Christen held her.
Alex buried it in the goal, the bottom right corner this time.
5-0.
The stoppage time at the end of the match was over quickly, and the final whistle blew.
"We did it, we did it," AT exhaled, bouncing a little (on the couch, so she didn't damage Mama Christen). "I hope Jae's alright though, that looked painful. And I hope the Dominican captain does something about Reed."
"Well, that's up to her, little love," Tobin said gently, but her nod indicated she agreed with AT's remark.