HAPPY BIRTHDAY , ALANA COOK !!!
Defender Alana Cook celebrated her 26th birthday in memorable fashion as she scored her first international goal and became just the third player in USWNT history to score on her birthday , joining Mia Hamm and Alex Morgan .
Alana Cook Becomes Third USWNT Player to Score on Her Birthday .
ALANA COOK celebrating her 26th birthday never thought it would be that high level of emotions echoed by the happy chanting of 22,294 fans .
The U . S . Women ’ s National Team beat the Republic of Ireland 1 x 0 at CITYPARK in the second international friendly over four days between the two World Cup-bound teams . The only goal of the match was at 43 ’ by an unexpected shooter , a center back defender Alana Cook scoring her first international goal .
Cook became just the third player in USWNT history , and the first center back to score on her birthday , joining the two forwards Mia Hamm and Alex Morgan .
The USA scored what would turn out to be the game-winner in the 43rd minute as Cook sent a long ball into the box from at least 40 yards out that sailed over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net . With the goal , Cook became the 117th player to score for the USWNT and the second defender to score for the USA this year .
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