By TERESA M. WALKER
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Mallory Swanson is making the most of every opportunity for the United States, and her timing couldn’t be better ahead of the Women’s World Cup later this year.
Swanson scored in the 45th minute, and the United States shut out Japan 1-0 Sunday to remain undefeated in the SheBelieves Cup.
“Honestly, I think this offseason I kind of just reevaluated my game,” Swanson said. “And I think one thing was that I wasn’t finishing easy chances, all of last calendar year, so I just wanted to come into this year and just be able to finish easy chances and just put them away.”
She did just that when she got the ball on a pass from Alex Morgan and outraced the defender before beating goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita from the center of the box with a shot off her right foot to the far corner.
U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski said Swanson’s speed certainly makes his life easier. He also made clear Swanson showed much more on her goal, controlling the ball with two touches in the air at full speed.
“That’s technicality,” Andonovski said. “I mean that’s a very skillful player. And then at the end, with the pressure on the back … when she finished that goal, it looked like the game stopped for her so she can finish, do her final touch.”
The forward in her team-best fourth start this year leads the U.S. in scoring after scoring both goals in Thursday night’s win over Canada in Orlando. She tied Megan Rapinoe for most goals by any player at this event at seven after not making the cut for the 2021 Olympics.
Rapinoe said Swanson pulled herself out of a tough period and is now showing what she’s all about.
“To be honest, she’s one of the best players in the world,” Rapinoe said. “It’s hard to even have words. She’s just so smooth, and everything just looks easy.”
Swanson, who recently married Chicago Cubs and former Vanderbilt shortstop Dansby Swanson, now has six goals in four games and is one off…
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