51ΑΤΖζ

51ΑΤΖζ alum Olivia McDaniel is not done making history.

First, she and her sister, fellow 51ΑΤΖζ graduate Chandler McDaniel, helped the Philippines national women’s soccer team qualify for the World Cup for the first time ever.

And now, Olivia McDaniel was the star of the team’s firstever World Cup victory, as the Philippines shocked co-host New Zealand with a 1-0 victory on July 25.

McDaniel secured the win in extra time, making a spectacular save on a shot that would have tied it up with less than three minutes remaining. It was, her  said, β€œthe save of her life.”

It was one of several saves in her star-making performance, one that earned McDaniel player of the game honors, the first time that award has been given to a goalkeeper at this World Cup.

β€œIt feels amazing, and hopefully this isn’t the last accolade we achieve,” McDaniel said after the match, . β€œThis is a team win, this isn’t just me. This isn’t just what I’ve done. This is what the team’s done, this is what the coaching staff’s done, what everyone behind the scenes has done. We’ve put in our work, and we’ve come out on top because of it. We can’t stop now, we’ve got much more work to do.”

Sadly for the Philippines, the work will have to take place next season; the team fell to Norway in their match up on July 30. They have bowed out of the World Cup, but the Philippine Football Federation has lauded the players’ efforts as a β€œmagical” debut that β€œgave birth to new sport idols,” according to the .

Olivia played goal for 51ΑΤΖζ from 2016 to 2019, part of a very successful four-year stretch in which the team went 62-9-8 overall. Chandler transferred to Milwaukee after two years at Virginia Tech and started all 19 games in 2018, finishing the season with one goal and two assists.

Both graduated from 51ΑΤΖζ in spring 2020, Olivia with a bachelor’s degree in communication and Chandler with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a minor in psychology.

They are part of a large contingent of Americans on the Philippines team. They are eligible to represent the Philippines because of their heritage – their mother, Lindy, is Filipino.

Holding the Player of the Match trophy, McDaniel was asked what it means to her to have made such a huge impact on such an important match.

β€œThis is what I’ve been dreaming about since I was a kid,” McDaniel said. β€œJust being here and being able to play with such elite players and against such amazing talent like New Zealand has. They gave it their all and it’s amazing to know that we came out on top. We put in our work to do that.”

By John Schumacher, Marketing & Communications