Defender Monica Hickmann Alves has recently found a new goal-scoring form with the Brazilian women's national team, scoring four times in seven games in the 2018 Copa America Femenina.

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Pride’s defense appeared to be missing something in their first four games of 2018. In that span, Orlando allowed five goals, including two early-season, two-goal performances by the Washington Spirit and Portland Thorns FC.

Since then, the Pride have been on a respectable roll, allowing one goal to Seattle Reign FC in the last two contests. It’s no coincidence, though, that the defense has shown improvement in that short amount of time since defender Monica Hickmann Alves and the rest of the Pride’s national-team players returned.

But give credit where credit’s due: Orlando’s fourth game of the year against the Houston Dash–the last match before all national-team players returned–was a shutout without its Australians and Brazilians dressed.

Still, the Pride have noticed a difference in how the team operates defensively since the roster was emboldened with international talent. With Monica’s return, a calming presence returns to the lineup.

“You know, playing with [Monica], she’s so calm; she’s so smart. And she, I guess, brings me a type of calmness,” right back Ali Krieger said after training on April 30. “So when I feel like I’m on the ball and a bit hectic, then I can just play her a ball back, and she kinda calms the game a little bit.”

Monica returned to her regular spot on the lineup established back in the team’s inaugural season. The past two seasons, she’s been a part of 35 games, starting 31 of them and totaling 2,658 minutes.

Since her return, she has started and played all 90 minutes of the two games she has been available for.

For head coach Tom Sermanni, what Monica has shown in 2018 is what he expected.

“What we got is what we expected–a player that’s come back into the squad that played very well for us last year,” Sermanni said after training on April 30. “What she does at the back is give us composure, calmness, a bit more quality in possession, and, now, obviously she’s played [seven] games over the last three weeks.

“So, she’s come in ready to play and a good level of match fitness.”

The Pride keep talking about the calmness that Monica brings to the team, but her recent form has done anything but keep everyone steady.

Monica is coming off a seven-game stint with the Brazilian women’s national team in which she helped her country win its seventh Copa America Femenina and officially qualify for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.

She was one of six players in the tournament to score four or more goals (four). Monica even out-scored fellow Brazilian and Pride teammate Marta Vieira da Silva, who only tallied one goal in those seven games.

“I don’t know. I just happened. Maybe I was on the right time, the right ball and hit it,” Monica said with a chuckle after training on April 30. “So, I’m always prepared to help the team, and, in the Copa America, I have [those] lucky days. So I’m happy. Glad to help the Brazilian [team].”

Said Monica on out-scoring Marta: “Yeah, I don’t know. I can’t explain that. But [Marta helps] us a lot, and she did a lot of assisting. Sometimes you just help [in] other ways.”

Monica and the Pride return to action on Wednesday, as they will play the second game of a three-game road trip against Utah Royals FC. Utah is winless, so far, in 2018, with an 0-1-4 record.

For more on Monica, as she looks to carry over her national-team, goal-scoring experiences to Orlando, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.

To contact Victor, you can email him at vtan@newdayreview.com.