Mesa's Johnston seizes opportunity on road to World Cup

When the Women's World Cup kicks off this summer in Canada, Julie Johnston will pause to remember the journey.

At one point, the 23-year-old defender from Mesa wasn't even supposed to be on the U.S. World Cup qualifying roster, much less among the 23 women on the final World Cup squad.

She was cut.

But her story wasn't over. Johnston stayed ready, and it paid off.

In October of 2014, she received a second chance. U.S. defender Crystal Dunn sprained her right MCL while training before the first round of World Cup qualifying. Dunn's injury was expected to sideline her for four weeks. So U.S. head coach Jill Ellis moved Johnston back on the roster.

It was the opening she needed.

"I didn't have the easiest journey to make this team," Johnston said. "I had to put in a lot of extra hard work."

Johnston had been a standout midfielder at Santa Clara University and starred with her club team Sereno, winning the Arizona state title nine times. At Santa Clara, Johnston was a first-team All-American in 2011 and 2013. She was a team leader from day one on campus.

"Julie is a very confident person," Santa Clara head coach Jerry Smith said. "I've coached nearly 30 players who have played on the World Cup roster or an Olympic roster. And all those players share some common confidence. They are very headstrong.

"When Julie wanted to battle over a decision, she wasn't battling about what was good for her," Smith said. "She was battling about what she believed was best for the team."

One of those battles included Smith's decision to move Johnston from midfield to center back for a game. Johnston thought doing so would hurt the team offensively, but Smith — the school's winningest women's soccer coach — won that argument. Smith looks back at that moment now with some laughter, as Johnston plays center back for the U.S.

She signed her first professional contract in 2014 after being selected No. 3 overall by the NWSL's Chicago Red Stars.

Johnston's first appearance with the U.S. Women's National Team came in 2013. Although she was no stranger to U.S. soccer and played for youth national teams, Johnston said that nothing rivaled that debut with the senior team.

"I just remember walking into the locker room and seeing my last name on a U.S.-crested jersey, and it was the coolest feeling I think I have ever had," she said. "It was definitely a step and a journey that was going to be a long one after that for sure, but it was definitely an experience that I will never forget."

Johnston played in three matches in 2014 and 122 minutes in all. If the World Cup was going to be a possibility for her, 2015 was going to be a huge year.

Injuries to Christie Rampone and Whitney Engen again opened the door for Johnston. But unlike 2014, when she played in only one match after the call-up, Johnston got a chance to prove herself on the field.

She started against Norway in the Algarve Cup in Portugal on March 4. She started two of the next three matches, and on March 11, Johnston found net. She headed home a ball from Lauren Holiday off a set piece, giving the U.S. an early 1-0 lead against France.

Johnston was just getting started. Her next game was April 4 against New Zealand. Holiday sent in a ball from almost the same spot at in the previous game, and an unmarked Johnston headed home the goal over the keeper's outstretched arm.

That made it two goals in two games, but Johnston's scoring didn't stop.

On May 10 against Ireland, Johnston came sailing through with her right foot, getting enough of Holiday's corner for the goal. Johnston had scored three goals in three matches, all of them off set pieces from Holiday.

"I'm getting great services that are getting whipped in from these set pieces," Johnston said. "It makes my job easier. I think the services are more than me actually. It's been awesome though."

It all began to sink in when Johnston got the call from Ellis in April on her drive back to join the Red Stars, officially naming her to the World Cup roster.

But the roster decision was no longer a surprise. Johnston solidified her spot.

"Jules has given us all that opportunity to remind ourselves of what it takes to breach your potential and to achieve high goals," Smith said. "As a coach and an educator, we love those stories. Those stories will last a long time."

So much changed for Johnston in seven months from a soccer standpoint, but her perspective hasn't. It's all been part of the ride that will lead her to the U.S.'s World Cup opener at Winnipeg Stadium on June 8.

"I think it will be one step closer to a dream come true," Johnston said. "I kind of dream about it and think about what it will be like."