Rose Lavelle’s Return Ignites USWNT in 4-0 Rout of Ireland

Rose Lavelle scores in her hometown comeback as the USWNT defeats Ireland 4-0. New talents debut as coach Emma Hayes begins reshaping the national squad.

CINCINNATI — In her first appearance of the year for the U.S. Women’s National Team, midfielder Rose Lavelle made a triumphant return by scoring and assisting in a 4-0 win over Ireland at TQL Stadium on Thursday night.

Lavelle, playing in front of a hometown crowd, played a key role in the victory. Her cross in the 18th minute set up defender Sam Staab Patterson’s powerful header, marking Patterson’s first goal on the international stage. The 30-year-old Lavelle later found the back of the net herself in the 53rd minute, meeting Ally Sentnor’s cross with a composed finish to make it 3-0.

The U.S. dominated the tempo throughout, and Alyssa Thompson capped off the scoring in the 63rd minute with a solo run and strike from outside the box.

The match also featured multiple national team debuts. Defender Lilly Reale and goalkeeper Claudia Dickey both earned their first senior caps in the starting lineup, while Jordyn Bugg made her first appearance off the bench. Their inclusion reflects newly appointed head coach Emma Hayes’ vision for a younger, refreshed squad following the exit of several longtime veterans.

Despite fielding a roster filled with relatively inexperienced players—19 of whom had fewer than 10 caps—Hayes’ side maintained control and composure throughout. Lavelle and defender Naomi Girma, who is currently the only Europe-based player in the camp, provided veteran leadership.

This was the 17th all-time meeting between the U.S. and Ireland, with the Americans maintaining a perfect record. Ireland has only managed to score once in the history of the matchup.

The two teams will meet again on Sunday, also in Cincinnati, before the U.S. faces Canada on July 2 in Washington, D.C., as part of their international friendly series.