LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Emma Sears didn’t just score a hat trick Wednesday night.
She sent a message, to her teammates, her country, and maybe even to her sport.
The Racing Louisville forward, already the top American scorer in the NWSL, added three more to her growing international résumé in the U.S. Women’s National Team’s 6-0 win over New Zealand in Kansas City.
“I've heard from some of the more experienced players on this team that in international games, you only get a few opportunities each game to really show what you're great at," Sears told TNT after the final whistle. "Making the most of those opportunities is super important.”
She did that just eight minutes into the match with her first score, off a pass from Michelle Cooper. Her third came on a rebound she buried without flinching in the 84th minute. In between, she was everywhere — confident, composed, clinical.
Not bad for a player who earned her first cap just a year and a day ago — a debut where she scored an assisted, a feat achieved by just three other players in USWNT history.
“Honestly, I want to give a lot of credit to my teammates," Sears told TNT. "I felt like especially with that first goal Michelle served it on a platter for me to just tap it in. The goals following, I felt like it was good to carry on that momentum throughout the game and ultimately get the win.”
The 24-year-old will return to Louisville with momentum — and plenty on the line. Her 10 NWSL goals this season are not only a club record but fourth in the league’s Golden Boot race. With a win Sunday against Bay FC (5 p.m. ET at Lynn Family Stadium), Racing Louisville would clinch a playoff berth for the first time in franchise history.
The first 1,000 fans through the gate (open at 3:30 p.m.) will receive a free American flag.
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