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“She reacted like a Champions League winner,” said England manager Sarina Wiegman with a grin.

To Lucia Kendall, the moment carried similar weight.

Wiegman was recalling the moment the Aston Villa midfielder dashed into the corner after scoring her first Lionesses goal – early in a 2-0 victory over Ghana at St Mary's Stadium.

“They are still doing some treatment on the grass!” she quipped, poking fun at Kendall’s flawless knee slide.

Getting up from her slide, Kendall took in the moment with cheeks puffed and a massive grin.

A Dream Return to St Mary's

Having been “an integral part” of Southampton for a decade, where she progressed from the youth ranks to play over a century of games, her summer switch to Villa was a big step.

Consequently, netting at her old stomping ground in only her third game for England was an unbelievable experience.

“To do it here, where I was raised, was an immensely special moment. This place forged the player I am,” Kendall said.

“It seemed destined to happen. It was so special. I got overwhelmed with emotion really.”

A Meteoric Ascent

While Southampton played a key role in her development, a significant choice at 15 was vital for her prospects.

Despite being a talented cricketer (her father played for Hampshire), the impending demands of senior football at Southampton forced her hand. She selected football.

“It presented a dilemma. Juggling both became impossible,” Kendall commented in a previous media conference.

“I loved playing cricket growing up. It was a really difficult decision. I went back and forth, but when the time came, I knew I enjoy football a bit more.”

A Chelsea supporter, her idol was the prolific England midfielder Frank Lampard, and Kendall’s early career is following that goalscoring trend.

Juggling life at Southampton with a psychology degree at university, it was clear early on that Kendall had the determination and commitment to become a star.

The club fought to keep her, but with her deal up, Villa moved decisively to introduce her to the top flight.

In a matter of months, Kendall has quickly risen, securing a starting spot in the WSL and a call-up to the national team.

“Displaying consistency is challenging for any new arrival in the WSL, but she has managed it,” admitted Wiegman.

“The pace of her rise has been breathtaking, yet she maintains her performance standard, proving her quality impressively.”

Her performance was notable; she came close to scoring again and nearly crafted another chance, preceding Russo’s spot-kick.

She came off after an hour to a ovation from the home crowd and the enthusiastic voice of the stadium announcer boasting that she was “Southampton's very own”.

With 29 Southampton goals to her name, she noted, “The trust and consistent playing time I received from 16 made all the difference.

“The constant faith they placed in me gave me the confidence to take the next step.

“I knew that I had to go in [to England] and prove why I should be playing at this level. The speed of the game is quicker and it was like going up a division.”

Praise for a Complete Midfielder

Her seamless transition to the international stage has led to praise for her innate midfield qualities and natural demeanour.

Wiegman is keen to shield her, saying the media can play a role in that and so can Villa, but she has no concerns because of how “down-to-earth” Kendall conducts herself.

Shortly after her maiden call-up, she spoke to reporters, expressing a desire to contribute while acknowledging the importance of the collective.

According to Russo, Kendall’s assimilation was so smooth it seemed she’d been part of the group for ages.

“{This team's just gone on to win back-to