The United States women’s national soccer team continued its dominant January run Tuesday night, rolling to a 5-0 victory over Chile in an international friendly at UC Santa Barbara, a match that doubled as a showcase for the program’s next generation.
Croix Bethune, Jameese Joseph and Emily Sams each scored their first international goals as the Americans extended their shutout streak to five matches. Emma Sears and Trinity Rodman also found the net for the United States, which followed up Saturday’s 6-0 win over Paraguay with another emphatic performance.
Head coach Emma Hayes opted for wholesale rotation, naming a completely different starting lineup than the one used against Paraguay in Carson, California. The decision underscored the developmental focus of the January camp, as the players in the starting XI averaged just 5.2 national team appearances — the fewest for a U.S. lineup since 2001.
Bethune, a midfielder for the Washington Spirit, opened the scoring in the 18th minute. Racing in alone on goal, she slipped her shot past Chile goalkeeper Ryann Torrero, who had charged off her line in an attempt to close down the angle. The goal set the tone for a confident U.S. performance.
Joseph, who plays for the Chicago Stars, earned her first start with the national team and made the most of it, doubling the lead in the 26th minute. Seven minutes later, Sams — wearing the captain’s armband — made it 3-0, finishing a well-placed cross from Sears in the 33rd minute.
The United States wasted no time after the break. Just 28 seconds into the second half, Sears struck again, sending a shot to the far post and into the upper corner to make it 4-0. Rodman capped the scoring in the 68th minute, netting her second goal in as many matches just five minutes after coming on as a substitute.
After her goal, Rodman sprinted to the bench and broke into a celebratory dance, urging Hayes to join her. The coach laughed and reluctantly obliged, drawing cheers from the crowd before Rodman turned to encourage even more noise from the stands.
The night also marked important milestones for several players. Midfielder Riley Jackson and defender Ayo Oke both made their first international appearances, while forwards Reilyn Turner and Maddie Dahlien and midfielder Sally Menti had earned their U.S. debuts earlier in the camp against Paraguay.
The roster did not include U.S. players based in Europe, who are in the middle of their club seasons, nor Gotham FC players, who are in London for the semifinals of the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup.
Tuesday’s match concluded the U.S. team’s January training camp, a key evaluation period for Hayes as she works to solidify her player pool ahead of the SheBelieves Cup in March and Women’s World Cup qualifying later this year.
The meeting marked the first between the two nations since the 2019 Women’s World Cup, when the United States defeated Chile 3-0. Chile, currently ranked No. 47 in the world, has made just one World Cup appearance.
The setting carried historical significance as well. The U.S. previously trained at UC Santa Barbara’s Harder Stadium ahead of the 1991 Women’s World Cup, holding scrimmages against the Gauchos and a West Coast all-star team. That squad — featuring legends Mia Hamm and Michelle Akers — went on to win the first Women’s World Cup, a legacy the current generation continues to build upon.
