CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. — Considering U.S. women's national team coach April Heinrichs told Caroline Putz that she probably wouldn't play during Friday's exhibition match against Italy, imagine the surprise on Putz's face when the coach subbed her in in the 87th minute.
Then imagine Putz's reaction as she scored in stoppage time as USA beat Italy 4-1.
"I was pretty surprised. It was unexpected, but I was just glad to get in," said Putz, a 1997 graduate of Bountiful High School. "It was definitely the biggest highlight of my career."
With most of the Women's World Cup veterans on a break, Heinrichs' relatively inexperienced squad played attractive soccer.
With a squad averaging 19.5 years of age, the Americans outclassed the Italians on goals by Aly Wagner, Sara Whalen, Susan Bush and Putz, the first Utahn to play with the U.S. national team. The game drew a sellout crowd of 6,002 at newly built EAB Park.
With the U.S. leading 3-1, Putz provided one final highlight, scoring on her second touch of the game. In stoppage time, Wagner burst free down the right flank and played a perfect bending ball behind the defense to Putz, who slammed the ball home from close range.
"It's exciting to play for your country. It's definitely a faster game," said Putz. "It's fun because everyone knows what they're doing, they all make the perfect passes."
It was Putz's first national team cap. Putz will join the U.S. under-21 national team later this summer in Germany when it participates in the Nordic Cup. Putz plays for the University of Washington and will be a junior this upcoming season.
"I was very pleased for this team and with the great result for the young players," Heinrichs said. "At times, we showed our naivete, which can come back to hurt us, but the players will grow more sophisticated with more experience. It is difficult and frustrating for young players when they come into the national team environment, but I tell them that their development comes with the youth teams, and I think we saw some of that success tonight."