Liverpool striker Katie Stengel received a standing ovation as she left the field in the dying minutes of stoppage time during the Reds' Women's Super League clash with Chelsea in September.
A record crowd watched on inside Prenton Park as Liverpool fought back from a goal down to secure an opening day victory over the reigning champions; Stengel coolly netting twice from the spot to ensure Matt Beard's side made a triumphant return to the top flight of the women's game.
“That was incredible," Stengel recalls, smiling at the memory. "I think we all knew it was going to be a huge game for us and I think in the back of our heads we were all very concerned because we were competing against the top team.
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"We knew it was going to be tough but there was a real fight from everybody and it was incredible to come away having caused an upset."
Helping Liverpool register a famous win over arguably the most formidable outfit in the WSL was something that once seemed inconceivable to Stengel, whose footballing journey began more than 4,000 miles away from Birkenhead in the coastal city of Melbourne, east Florida. The 30-year-old first started kicking a ball around in her early childhood in a bid to emulate her football hero - her dad, Scott - who had played for the United States Air Force Academy.
“My dad used to play so we’d always go to his men’s league games and a lot of the guys were probably 80 years old running around but it was a lot of fun to watch," Stengel recalls. "My sister and I always grew up playing together and then it became more serious as we got older but it definitely started as a family thing.”
The striker came through the American college system, graduating from Wake Forest as their all-time leading goal scorer and earning a degree in health and exercise science, while also starring as the USA triumphed at the FIFA U20 World Cup. A spell at Bayern Munich followed - Stengel finishing as top-scorer as the Bavarians claimed their second Frauen-Bundesliga title - before stints in the American NWSL, Australian W-League and Norwegian Toppserien.
“I feel like the story of my career has been playing in different places," Stengel reflects. "Soccer has allowed me to travel a ton and be in a lot of different cultures and situations.
"I’ve had to learn to adapt really quickly and get used to wherever I am for however long that is because I don’t know if I’ll be there six months later. Professional soccer is very mentally taxing so you need to be at your best and feel the most confident, but being thrown into different situations like that has helped me a lot and I’ve learned a lot about myself on and off the field.”
When, in January this year, the opportunity arose to make the switch to Merseyside, Stengel could scarcely believe it. It was a chance to fulfil a long-time dream of playing in the UK and reunite with manager Matt Beard, who the striker had worked with briefly in her time at Boston Breakers in the NWSL.
"I was shocked because it’s pretty much unheard of for Americans (to come to England)," she explains. "Unless you have enough caps for the national team to qualify with enough points for a visa, it’s nearly impossible, so I was just shocked that somehow I qualified and managed to get through all that paperwork.
"I’d always wanted to play over here. I loved the style of play and they speak English here which is a huge draw. It was always a goal in my career but I didn’t think I could actually do it so it’s amazing that it actually worked out.”
And it could hardly have worked out any better for Stengel in her debut season in England; the American scoring nine goals as Liverpool comfortably secured their place back in the WSL.
"It was an incredible experience because we all had that pressure but then came in and performed each week," the 30-year-old tells the ECHO. "It was nice to see all that hard work rewarded in the end and now we’ve earned a seat at this much more competitive league where we’re challenged all over again so it’s been a really fun ride.”
While Stengel is cherishing every moment of representing the Reds in the English top-flight, the past few months have not been without their struggles. After their opening day win over Chelsea, Liverpool have slipped to tenth in the table following a string of defeats against the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Everton.
But while the pressure is on for Matt Beard's side to start getting some points on the board, Stengel has praised the mood in the Liverpool camp despite a difficult spell on the pitch.
"Everyone can smile and have a good time when you’re winning and I think that was shown last year because everyone was happy most days but now we’re up against a big challenge," she says. "When losses come, fingers start to get pointed and people start to get uneasy and stressed.
"But I think everyone’s held together and we all still expect high levels from everybody and trust that the team around us can do that. I think that’s been a testament to everyone's character and how strong we are as a unit so hopefully we can turn our season and start winning games. We’ve been developing and finding our footing so now it’s about getting results.”
Liverpool's next opportunity to start generating those results will come on Sunday, when the Reds travel to the Broadfield Stadium to take on ninth-placed Brighton.
"I think it’s really important for everyone to step up and keep creating those chances and I’m hoping to be a leader in the team in any way I can," Stengel replies when asked about the months ahead. “This weekend is a huge game for us and we need points, we all know that.
"We’ve known from game one that every game is winnable if we perform well and turn up on the day. I hope this weekend we can finally get the results we feel we’ve earned and put in a good performance that we’re proud of so we can continue to build on that."
While Liverpool may still be adapting to life back in the top flight, Stengel feels she's settled in well on Merseyside - though there is one niggle that the American just can't seem to get her head around.
"I love Liverpool as a city and the whole culture has just been great, everyone loves football. The (scouse) accent.. maybe no. I just kind of tune out," she laughs.
"It’s funny because in the US you just kind of think one UK accent so it’s very interesting coming over here and hearing all the different accents and it’s like 'wait you’re all British', but no, it's been an enjoyable experience."
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