Hoosiers Lori Lindsey (back row, second left, 16) and Lauren Cheney (back row, far right, 12) are impressing in Germany with the U.S. women's team.
Indianapolis duo Lauren Cheney and Lori Lindsey have certainly played their parts in getting the United States to the quarterfinals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany.
Cheney, now applying her trade with Women’s Professional Soccer outfit Boston Breakers, has been featured in the United States’ first two games in Group C, scoring the opening goal in a 2-0 victory over North Korea last Tuesday.
The former Ben Davis High School product (she scored 118 goals in four years) was a surprise inclusion in midfield ahead of Megan Rapinoe. But her 54th-minute headed goal and overall performance ensured the 23-year-old a starting berth and another full 90 minutes against Colombia.
And joining her in that second game Saturday was Lindsey, who replaced Shannon Boxx to make an impressive World Cup debut at the age of 31.
The Philadelphia Independence midfielder, known to her teammates as “L-Squared,” went to Pike High School and was the all-time leading prep scorer in Indiana high school history when she graduated in 1998. She used to referee Cheney’s indoor soccer games when she was younger.
The United States will take on Sweden in Wolfsburg at 2:45 p.m. Wednesday in a game which will decide who progresses as group winners. A draw would be enough to ensure the top spot for the U.S., but the Swedes are one of two teams (the other being England) to beat Pia Sundhage’s ladies this year.
A favorable result would see the U.S. take on Australia or Norway in the quarterfinals on Sunday. They are currently third favorites to win the tournament, behind hosts and holders Germany and Brazil.
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