New England products Samantha Mewis (Hanson, Mass.) and Alyssa Naeher (Seymour, Conn.) concluded their successful years at the international level with a pair of positive results against Canada last month.
Mewis and Naeher featured from the start for the United States in the 1-1 draw in Vancouver on Nov. 9 and the 3-1 victory in San Jose, Calif., three days later.
The pair of appearances concluded a fine year for Mewis in the heart of the American midfield. Mewis joined Becky Sauerbrunn as the only players to start all 16 U.S. matches during the course of the year.
U.S. coach Jill Ellis showed continued faith in Mewis to play a key role as the side builds toward the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Mewis managed to keep several familiar faces — including Carli Lloyd— out of the side in a bid to consolidate her place over the course of the year.
Naeher reinforced her grip on the number one shirt with another pair of starts to round off the year. She started 13 of the 16 matches this year and recorded six shutouts.
The former Boston Breakers goalkeeper is now the ninth U.S. goalkeeper to accumulate more than 20 caps after her breakout campaign on the international level.
