USA, USA! Arizona will be represented in World Cup Final on Sunday
Jul 5, 2019, 4:25 AM | Updated: 3:38 pm
Julie Ertz and Jessica McDonald (Getty Images Photos/Elsa and Richard Heathcote)
(Getty Images Photos/Elsa and Richard Heathcote)
PHOENIX — The U.S. Women’s National Team will take soccer’s biggest stage Sunday at the World Cup Final in France against the Netherlands. But Arizona will also be represented.
Two players listed on this year’s roster are from Arizona. Starting midfielder Julie Ertz, known to fans as J.J., was born and raised in Mesa, while forward Jessica McDonald is from Phoenix.
Both of these record-holding and title-winning national soccer players once wore Tempe-based Sereno Soccer Club uniforms. That club is now known as Real Salt Lake Arizona.
“To have those players from the Valley, playing in a World Cup, shows our girls it’s not just a mythical athlete out there doing these great things but somebody from our hometown and our organization,” Joe Waggoner with RSL AZ told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Thursday.
This Sunday. 11am ET.
LET’S GO GET THAT FOURTH ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/O72OiWXOJQ
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) July 3, 2019
Ertz attended Dobson High School in Mesa and graduated in 2010. She did not play high school soccer but instead devoted her time to playing with Sereno.
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According to the club, Ertz played with the team from 2004 to 2010 on the U-13 through U-19 teams. She won the state title nine times during her time there and was captain of the team. During her time with U.S. team, she has had 86 appearances, 19 goals, and one World Cup.
(Photo by Joe Waggoner)
Forward Jessica McDonald graduated from Cactus High School in Glendale where was a multi-sport athlete, leading her to a successful career in soccer now on the national team. From 2000–07, McDonald played for Sereno Soccer Club and helped the team win state championships each year she played.
McDonald went on to play soccer, basketball, and track at Phoenix College her freshman and sophomore years. According to U.S. Soccer, McDonald has eight appearances with two goals.
“One of the fun things beyond watching the games, watching the players do well, watching the inspiration they provide for our country, … (is) that it is down home and our players get to see this a path they can follow,” Waggoner said.
