Rose Lavelle out 4-6 weeks with hamstring injury

It’s a moment you hate to see, especially for a young player in the middle of her rookie season. Rose Lavelle was over 80 minutes into her second game for the USWNT while they played two away friendlies in Sweden and Norway. The United States was up by one over Norway. Then she suddenly pulled up, a grimace on her face. No contact, just pain that forced Jill Ellis to sub Lavelle off for Carli Lloyd in the 84’.

After evaluation, the Breakers announced today that Lavelle will be out approximately four to six weeks recovering from a strained left hamstring, a fairly large blow to the Breakers’ hopes of climbing up the rankings. They currently sit eighth out of ten.

Lavelle has been a key midfield piece for Boston, with eight starts in eight games. She has two goals and one assist on the season so far. Without her, Boston will need to find someone who can help energize that midfield. Perhaps this means more playing time centrally for Emilie Haavi, recently returned from injury, or greater reliance on Rosie White to be that attacker behind Natasha Dowie. Or head coach Matt Beard might see what Morgan Andrews can do higher on the pitch than where she’s played so far this season.

Compounding Lavelle’s injury, Allysha Chapman picked up an injury as well while playing for Canada against Costa Rica during this latest FIFA window. It was enough to keep her out of Canada’s second game against Costa Rica, though no word yet on how much recovery time she’ll need.

That’s two key players for Boston out at the moment, and just as they face one of the league’s better teams in the North Carolina Courage.

Boston returns to action on Saturday, June 17 at 7:30 PM ET, away at North Carolina. They’ll return home on June 24, also against the Courage.