ORLANDO — Erika Tymrak put her hands on her head and smiled in disbelief.
In her second appearance with the U.S. Women’s National Team, the former Gators midfielder scored her first goal in a 4-1 victory against Brazil in an international friendly match at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando on Sunday night.
USWNT rookie Lindsey Horan fed the ball through to Tymrak at the left corner of the penalty arc.
Tymrak nudged it to the right and rifled a low, right-footed shot between two Brazil defenders closing in on her. The ball sank into the left corner, just out of Brazil goalkeeper Thais’ reach.
“I’m so overwhelmed, but in a good way," Tymrak said. "It was an incredible feeling that I could get my first goal in my home state.”
USWNT forward and former Florida soccer great Abby Wambach shared in the excitement.
“I was jumping up on the sidelines like a little kid,” Wambach said. “Obviously, she’s a former Gator, and I’m really proud of her for getting her first goal.”
USWNT coach Tom Sermanni was proud to see Tymrak notch her first career goal.
“It’s a dream come true,” Sermanni said. “Scoring the goal, I don’t think she knew quite what to do at first ... I’ll take the credit for the substitution.
“Those are the kinds of things players dream about doing, and to come in the game for just two minutes and score, is just fantastic."
Getting the national team call up was something Tymrak worked toward for more than a year.
She ended her collegiate career as the 2012 Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Year, scoring nine goals and tallying 12 assists.
She is tied for third in program history, notching 40 assists in four years. She finished her career eighth in Florida history in goals with 32.
After college, Tymrak had no trouble adjusting to professional soccer. FC Kansas City drafted her in the second round of the National Women’s Soccer League draft, and she got off to a quick start.
Tymrak started in 16 matches, scored six goals and notched four assists in just two months of play to earn the NWSL Rookie of the Year honor.
Less than a month later, the 22-year-old received her first cap on the U.S. senior team in an international friendly match against Mexico in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 3.
Sermanni started Tymrak in the midfield for that match, but she ended the game without an offensive statistic.
To further prove herself ready for the international team, Tymrak trained in Germany with the FC Bayern Munich Women club team and scored twice in a German Cup match against TSV Crailsheim on Sept. 30.
“I think for a player like Erika, going and getting the experience of playing a different environment, a different style of soccer and a different culture, it’s a balance,” Sermanni said. “Being away from home, out of your comfort zone, all those things, I think, are good for players.”
It paid off.
Tymrak's play abroad caught the attention of Sermanni again, and he added her to the U.S. roster against Brazil.
Tymrak said she appreciated the support Wambach gave her through training.
“[Wambach] helps me on and off the field,” Tymrak said. “I feel really thankful and blessed to have a former Gator on the team looking out for me. I’m really lucky.”
Tymrak will return to FC Bayern Munich to finish out training through Dec. 31.
With her professional soccer career taking off, the 22-year-old midfielder remains humble and remembers her beginning at UF.
“Florida taught me a lot,” Tymrak said. “I owe a lot of it to my coaches over there and their support.
“It’s just amazing that I could transition the way I have and play in front of everyone in my home state.”
Follow Michelle Provenzano on Twitter @mmprovenzano.
Erika Tymrak (23) scores a goal between Brazil midfielder Bia (15) and defender Calandrini (3) during a friendly soccer match in Orlando on Sunday. The U.S. Women's National Team beat Brazil 4-1.
