WINNIPEG, Manitoba — When Christen Press scored a goal on Monday in the United States’ game against Australia, there was a lightness to her celebration.

In her first World Cup match, after her first World Cup goal, she spread her arms like the wings of a plane and jogged forward with a vast, sweet smile. Nothing about it was fiery or in-your-face, which it very well could have been, considering she had just put her team ahead in a game that the Americans, at times, seemed in danger of losing.

Instead, it was simple and beautiful, as if she were running toward an old friend at the airport.

Seeing her made it hard to believe that not so long ago, Press despised the game of soccer.

As a forward at Stanford — before she became a starter for the United States team, which faces Sweden here on Friday night — Press often felt suffocated by her need to succeed. To score every goal. To lead her team to wins. To live up to expectations. To be the star.