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“She celebrated as if she had won the Champions League,” noted England manager Sarina Wiegman with a smile.

For Lucia Kendall, the feeling was comparable.

Wiegman was reflecting on the moment the Aston Villa midfielder sprinted off into the corner after scoring her first Lionesses goal – six minutes into a 2-0 victory over Ghana at St Mary's Stadium.

“The ground staff might need to repair that turf!” she joked, in reference to Kendall’s flawless knee slide.

Getting up from her slide, Kendall looked around with cheeks puffed and a huge grin.

A Scripted Moment at a Familiar Ground

Southampton was her home for ten years; she was a core player there after graduating from the academy and racking up 103 appearances prior to her summer transfer to Aston Villa.

So when she saw the ball hit the back of the net at St Mary's Stadium on her homecoming, and on only her third England cap, it was the stuff of dreams.

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

“It appeared as though it was fate. It was so special. I got flooded with emotion really.”

A Meteoric Ascent

While Southampton was instrumental in her development, a critical choice at 15 set her on her path.

Despite being a talented cricketer (her father had a career with Hampshire), the looming demands of senior football at Southampton necessitated a decision. She selected football.

“It was a tough call. I simply couldn't manage both,” Kendall commented in a previous media conference.

“Growing up, I had a passion for cricket. The decision was genuinely tough. I went back and forth, but when the time came, I realised I enjoy football a bit more.”

Her idol growing up as a Chelsea fan was Frank Lampard – an England midfielder renowned for his goalscoring ability – and Kendall has started out in a similar fashion.

Her ability to manage first-team football alongside a psychology degree signaled the mental fortitude and commitment required for the top level.

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

Her meteoric rise has seen her become a WSL regular and an England international in a short space of time.

“Maintaining her level immediately in a new league and club is difficult, yet she has done so,” admitted Wiegman.

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

The midfielder had a lively game, later hitting the bar and nearly creating a goal for Kearns, prior to Russo’s late penalty.

Her substitution on the hour mark was met with a resounding reception from fans and an announcer proudly declaring her local roots.

With 29 Southampton goals to her name, she noted, “The trust and regular playing time I received from 16 was crucial.

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

“Entering the England setup, I was aware I had to demonstrate my worth. The increased pace felt like a step up in class.”

‘Technically and Tactically, She Is a Very Strong Midfielder’

At the highest level, she has appeared comfortable, described as a natural midfielder who “gets it”.

Wiegman is eager to shield her, saying the media can play a role in that and so can Villa, but she has no concerns because of how “grounded” Kendall is.

Days after being called up by the Lionesses for the first time, Kendall was addressing the media saying she was keen to impress, but also understood the need for the team's greater good and whatever role she needed to play in that.

Arsenal striker Alessia Russo said it felt like Kendall had “fitted in instantly” as she integrated seamlessly into the squad.

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