By Caroline Routh, WRAL Sports contributor

Crystal Dunn is a forward on the field, and she’s an anchor both on the team and with her family.

With Saturday’s match against Japan, Dunn has officially notched a 19-game starting streak in World Cup or Olympic matches. That’s the longest streak of any active field player on the US Women’s National Team. The only person with a longer streak is Christie Pearce who earned 27 consecutive starts from 2004-2012.

“I take a lot of pride in being available, in being durable. That goes into why I’ve been able to have the career that I’ve had. I’m just always honored to represent this team, and to get 19 starts in a row is an incredible achievement. And I really didn’t know that until I stepped into this tournament, so it’s a really good feeling,” Dunn said.

Dunn is a quintessential member of the team. Her assist in Saturday’s game allowed for a narrow 1-0 victory in extra time to guarantee that Team USA would be moving on.

Dunn is not new to the Olympic stage. She competed in Rio and earned a bronze in Tokyo. However, the 32-year-old is experiencing her first Games as a mom.

“I have loved seeing my son. I don’t get to see him all the time, but it’s really amazing that I can have him here. And I’m happy. My husband is obviously from France, so it’s a really special place to be,” Dunn remarked.

On and off the field the UNC alum remains an anchor for everyone in her life.

“I try to remind myself that even though soccer is what I do, being a mom is ultimately the best job ever.”

Source: wralsportsfan.com