Six years ago this month, Rose Lavelle was still sitting in classrooms at Mount Notre Dame High School awaiting graduation to play soccer collegiately. Now, she’s waiting for her flight to France for the World Cup.
On Thursday afternoon, the Cincinnati-native was named to the U.S. Women’s National Team’s 23-player squad for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France. When the tournament kicks off next month, she’ll make her first World Cup appearance and the second overall by a Cincinnatian.
It’s the highest honor for any American soccer player. For Lavelle, a 23-year-old midfielder, it’s an achievement she’s dreamed about finally coming true.
“It’s something I’ve always dreamt about doing growing up,” she told reporters at an FC Cincinnati game last October. “To actually be doing it is kind of crazy.
“I think I know how much it can mean having a Cincinnati player on the team. It’s awesome that I can hopefully serve as an example for younger girls in the area.”
Lavelle already has six goals throughout 24 caps with the national team. Her game-winning goal against Canada on Oct. 18 earned the U.S. their second-straight Concacaf Championship. Now, Lavelle and the Americans are playing for a second-straight FIFA Women’s World Cup title.
Here are the dates of the USWNT group stage matches:
June 11 vs. Thailand
June 16 vs. Chile
June 20 vs. Sweden
The first Cincinnatian to play at the World Cup was Heather Mitts in 2011. Overall, she made 137 appearances for the national team between 1999-2012 and won three Olympic gold medals.
Mitts went to St. Ursula Academy.
The U.S. are ranked first in the world, according to FIFA’s Coca-Cola World Ranking.
