4115_isi_johnstonjulie_uswntbs031115110 Brad Smith/isiphotos.com
U.S. Women's National Team

Julie Johnston Wants to Build on Algarve Cup Effort

When injuries opened the door for the 22-year-old defender, she burst forward and delivered three strong performances in the Algarve Cup. So what's next for the Arizona native?

BY John D. Halloran Posted
April 01, 2015
12:00 PM

THINGS HAVEN'T BEEN EASY for the United States women’s national team in recent months. In December, Jill Ellis' team fell to Brazil, tied China, and lost its No. 1 world ranking. In February, the team lost to France and barely snuck past England.

Those results were enough to raise doubts about the U.S. squad, especially considering the fact that the World Cup is only a few months away. So when the team headed to Portugal in March to compete in the Algarve Cup, more was on the line than usual.

Surprisingly though, when the U.S. hoisted the championship trophy at the end of the tournament, beating France 2-0 in the final, the hero for the U.S. was not one of the team's usual stars, but relative newcomer Julie Johnston.

Before the tournament, the 22-year-old Arizona native had only started one game for the U.S. at the senior level. However, in Portugal, Johnston started in all three of the U.S.'s wins and scored the game-winning goal against France in the final. 

 

Speaking to American Soccer Now, Johnston reflected on being asked to step into such a crucial role with so little senior-level experience.

"The coaches emphasize that any time you get to play to make sure you're prepared,” Johnston said. “The whole time I was just trying to learn from everyone here. Being able to play and start was really cool. It was definitely unexpected.

"I had a blast."

The win at the Algarve Cup was the U.S.’s 10th championship at the tournament, but Johnston rejected the notion that the team felt extra pressure to win.

"I don't think it was a feeling of need to win—we wanted to win," Johnston said. "We're playing these great teams like Brazil before we go into the World Cup so that we're ready and prepared. [The Algarve Cup] was a, 'Let's put all the pieces together' kind of thing. 'Let's win this thing.'"

When the U.S. was getting set for World Cup qualifying last October, Johnston didn’t even make the initial roster. That sleight, however, was the spark Johnston says she needed.

"Not making the qualifying [roster] was hard, but at the same time it was a wake-up call that I needed to see how much I needed to improve and see how much I wanted to be a part of this team. I really kicked it into gear and trained harder than I ever trained before.

“I really just tried to kick it into the next gear."

Johnston also credited veteran midfielder Carli Lloyd with helping her through the difficult period.

“After qualifying, [which] was a hard time for me because I was kind of lost and wanting to be a part of something so great and not really sure how to get there being one of the younger players, Carli kind of took me under her wing and introduced me to her coach back home, James [Galanis]. They really showed me the mental piece it took for me, the fitness piece.

“I really thank them a lot and I try to tell Carli that all the time. [They] helped me get my confidence back.”

Galanis, who has worked with Heather Mitts, Amber Brooks, and Hope Solo, also spoke with ASN about his work with Johnston.

“Julie was going into [national team] camps as a participant rather than believing in herself that she can crack the [starting lineup],” Galanis said. “I spent time with her reassuring her and making her believe that she can.”

“She's very strong physically, very hard to knock off ball, and fearless. But what I did notice was that she was lacking a little bit of endurance,” Galanis continued. “So I designed a program for her that would help her endurance and, you know, all credit goes to her because she executed the program on her own.

“She took advantage of some injuries that the team had [at the Algarve Cup] and got in there,” Galanis added. “She didn't play like a rookie, she played like a veteran.” 

Despite her outstanding play in the Algarve Cup, Johnston still faces heavy competition for a starting role on the U.S. squad—and against some very experienced center backs. That group includes captain Christie Rampone (currently out with an MCL injury), Olympic and World Cup veterans Becky Sauerbrunn and Rachel Van Hollebeke, and Whitney Engen.

But Johnston sees her teammates as mentors as well as competitors, saying, “I'm training with [the other center backs] every day. They're supportive and I support them. I learn as much from playing with them as I do from watching them. Anytime I'm in [the national team camp] environment, I love it. I learn so much from all of them.”

In recent months, some fans have advocated for Johnston to be deployed as the team’s holding midfielder, a position currently occupied by Lauren Holiday. Holiday is a natural attacker, but was dragged into the No. 6 role after Shannon Boxx fell out of the starting lineup following the 2012 Olympics.

Johnston says she is versatile enough to play both positions, but for the time being she is focused on becoming the best defender she can be.

“I like to think that I can play both a holding mid spot and defender—I feel like I can play two roles. I do try and watch Lauren Holiday as well just to understand both roles. Whatever the coaches want, I'm willing to do. I don't think that, as a No. 6 right now, that's my main focus. I'm more focusing on what I can do to be a better center back."

As the U.S. continues to work toward this summer’s World Cup, Johnston also knows she has a good support system behind her and credits them with her development in recent months.

“My support group has been great—family, friends, boyfriend, college coaches—all of them came out and helped give me that extra push," Johnston said.

The young defender also credits her experiences with the U.S. youth program for helping her develop into the player she is today. Johnston captained the U.S.’s U-20 team that won the World Cup in 2012 and she also won the Bronze Ball in that tournament. Along with Johnston, several other players from that team have received senior team call-ups, including Sarah Killion and Sam Mewis, and others, including Morgan Brian and Crystal Dunn, have now become regulars on the U.S. squad.

“U.S. Soccer does a great job getting young players to want to be a part of [the program] and to be ready."

 John D. Halloran is an American Soccer Now columnist. Follow him on Twitter.

 

 

 

 

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