Rockville Centre's Crystal Dunn, Team USA win World Cup over Netherlands 2-0

Rockville Centre native Crystal Dunn and Team USA claimed the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, defeating the Netherlands 2-0 in Lyon, France Sunday.

Dunn, who recently celebrated her 27th birthday, starred at South Side High School and helped lead the Lady Cyclones to state championships in 2006, 2007 and 2009. She was a vital part of a shutdown defense at the World Cup, often playing forward in the final and once nearly scoring only feet from the Netherlands goal. Team USA allowed only three goals in seven games.

In the final, Megan Rapinoe scored on a penalty kick after a Dutch player struck Alex Morgan high on her shoulder inside the box in the 66th minute, and Rose LaVelle followed with a breakaway run and goal three minutes later.

In the semifinals, Dunn, along with veteran leader Becky Sauerbrunn, Abby Dahlkemper and Kelley O’Hara, were faced with the challenge of containing England’s Ellen White, who entered the match tied for the tournament lead in goals with five along with USA’s Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe, and Sam Kerr of Australia.

White scored in the first half to give England a 1-1 tie after Christen Press opened the scoring. However, Morgan, on her 30th birthday, answered minutes later with the eventual game-winner. Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher preserved the victory with a remarkable save on a penalty kick in the 83rd minute. Rapinoe missed the match with a hamstring injury.

Dunn never came off the field in the six games she played, logging 90 minutes against Thailand (13-0 win on June 11), Sweden (2-0 win on June 20), Spain (2-1 win on June 24) and host France (2-1 win on June 28.) She also picked up an assist in the tournament opener. She played all 95 minutes in the win over Netherlands.

Dunn, one of seven defenders named to the squad and wearing No. 19, was part of the U.S. team that won the 2012 FIFA under-20 Women’s World Cup in Japan. She went on to play for the U.S. Women’s National Team the following year, and, since 2013, has scored 24 goals for the squad in 90 international appearances. 

Her biography on the World Cup website reads: “Arguably the most versatile player on the USA squad, Dunn can play as a defender or as a winger or striker, primarily on the left flank.”