Carson Pickett makes debut for U.S. women's national soccer team

Clayton Freeman, Florida Times-Union
·2 min read
St. Johns Country Day graduate Carson Pickett (upper left) played her first match for the United States women's national soccer team on Tuesday night against Colombia.
St. Johns Country Day graduate Carson Pickett (upper left) played her first match for the United States women's national soccer team on Tuesday night against Colombia.
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Carson Pickett's international wait is finally over.

The St. Johns Country Day School graduate made history by playing her first game for the United States women's national soccer team, starting in Tuesday night's victory over Colombia at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah.

Pickett lined up for all 90 minutes in defense in the international friendly match. The United States won 2-0 on a first-half own goal and a second-half score from Kelley O'Hara, who was born in Jacksonville but grew up in Georgia.

U.S. Soccer also confirmed that Pickett, who was born without a left hand and forearm, also became the first player with a limb difference to play for the national team.

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She joins the short list of players from the Jacksonville area to represent the United States at full international level, a list topped by St. Simons Island native and two-time Women's World Cup champion Morgan Gautrat.

Pickett, who plays for the North Carolina Courage in the National Women's Soccer League, is now in her seventh NWSL season. She finished among the finalists for the Defender of the Year award last season.

At St. Johns Country Day, she helped the Spartans to Florida High School Athletic Association championships in 2007, 2009 and 2012, winning the Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Soccer award in 2012.

She also played four seasons at Florida State, winning the NCAA championship with the Seminoles in 2014.  Pickett joins India Trotter, Tori Huster, Casey Short and Jaelin Howell as Florida State players to represent the full national squad.

Tuesday's game was the last one scheduled before the U.S. women's team competes in the CONCACAF W Championship next month in Mexico.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Clayton Freeman covers high school sports and more for the Florida Times-Union. Follow him on Twitter at @CFreemanJAX.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: USWNT: Carson Pickett earns first cap for United States soccer