One Cap, One Touch, One Goal: Learn the Story Behind USWNT Legend Caroline Putz
Putz’s brief but memorable career with the U.S. Women’s National Team consisted of one match in 2000, but it will live in the lore of the USWNT forever
Only 25 players in U.S. Women’s National Team history have scored their first international goal in their debut. On July 7, 2000, Bountiful, Utah native Carolyn Putz (now Leith) joined that club when she entered as a late substitute in a friendly against Italy and tapped in a cross from Aly Wagner for the final goal in the 4-1 win.
The roster that day consisted of mostly Under-23 aged players as the USWNT was in the midst of the busiest year in team history in terms of matches played, but Leith would take advantage of “opportunity” like few have before or after her.
Leith was a high school All-American for the Bountiful Braves before she earned All-Region and Pac-12 All-Conference honors at the University of Washington, where she played alongside USWNT goalkeeper Hope Solo. Putz also competed at the U-16, U-18, U-20 and U-21 levels with the U.S. Youth National Teams leading up to her senior debut.
"At the time, I didn't realize what an exciting moment it was in my life," Leith told ESPN. "I had worked so hard to get to that point, so even just the opportunity to get on the field was something I'd worked a long time for and I was just humbled by the experience."
Leith’s senior international career started and ended on the same day, but she made her four minutes on the pitch count, becoming the first player from Utah to score for the USWNT. That was the first and final call-up of Leith’s career, and so her National Team experience can be summed up thusly: one cap, one touch, one goal.
Every Thursday in March, U.S. Soccer will share a story about various unsung heroes and lesser-known moments in U.S. Women's National Team history for Women's History Month.