Marissa Sheva grew up running; now her future could be defined by a two-year chase.
Philadelphia-born Sheva was a surprise inclusion in Vera Pauw’s Republic of Ireland squad for this week’s training camp in Marbella, which culminates in a friendly against China on Wednesday.
The Washington Spirit attacker was a talented track and field star, excelling over the 1500m and 3000m distances.
She joined NWSL side Washington Spirit last June as a short-term Covid-19 replacement but did enough to earn a fresh one-year deal before Christmas.
She’s now on the cusp on earning a first Ireland cap, with two years of behind-the-scenes endeavour finally paying off.
"My grandfather [born in Tyrone] was really insistent on making sure that I had my citizenship," she said.
"We started that process at the beginning of 2021, I think, which has been... it's definitely tested my patience! We've been working at that for quite a while.
"I reached out to Vera last summer, just to kind of see how the squad was looking and to see if there'd be any opportunities to come into a camp. That definitely came from me.
"I waited a while to tell my family and my extended family that the opportunity was coming because I knew that they would be so excited. My grandfather has been burning up the phone lines I've been told. The family is very, very excited."
Sheva and Aoife Mannion are the two new faces in this crucial camp as Pauw freshens things up.
Competition for places is about to get incredibly competitive, especially when you consider the absent quartet of Niamh Fahey [calf], Chloe Mustaki [groin], Leanne Kiernan [ankle] and Savannah McCarthy [still in recovery mode following an ACL injury] are likely to be available for the next window in April.
Any opportunity to impress must be taken - especially for Sheva, who is unproven at international level.
"This is an incredible squad already so I think it would be too ambitious to make any assumptions that I am going to the World Cup," she admitted.
"My focus at the moment is just to assist in any way, whether that's just being a strong competitor to help the team prepare for the World Cup or whether that is fighting for a spot. Really, just trying to be the best teammate I can while I am here, and help the team prepare."
Sheva's involvement this week is an interesting shout by Pauw. The boss clearly values hard-running, honest footballers, evident in the faith she's shown in Heather Payne. The Ballinasloe woman is a fine outlet, but she's only scored one goal in 30 games for Ireland. Payne is in the team predominantly for the work she does outside the box, not in it.
That may give Sheva an outside shot given her athletic prowess.
"I grew up running as competitively as I was playing soccer so when I got to collegiate level I didn't really want to make a decision," she added.
"Luckily I had coaches that supported me doing both, which I think ended up benefiting me on the pitch.
"I mostly ran the 1500m and 3000m steeplechase because it requires a little bit more athleticism than just linear running. My soccer background led me into that event.
"I don't do much competitive running anymore but I definitely still have my endurance base which I think helps."
"My grandparents did an incredible job making me really proud of my Irish roots and keeping us involved in the Irish American community."
There's certainly a lot of pride around her call-up. Sheva says she's been embedded in Philadelphia's strong Irish American community since childhood. Granny and grandad are her biggest supporters, and there'll be plenty of relatives huddled around the TV screen on Wednesday hoping to see her make an Ireland debut.
"My grandmother is from Donegal and my grandfather is from Tyrone," Sheva said.
"I didn't get to visit much as a kid but my grandfather took me over for my high school graduation and I think I touched every corner of the country.
"He took me on a massive tour and really I just fell in love and I'm eager to go back. Soccer made that kind of tough growing up but my grandparents did an incredible job making me really proud of my Irish roots and keeping us involved in the Irish American community.
"There is a massive Irish American community in the Philadelphia area, where I grew up, and my grandparents and parents were amazing in keeping us involved in that community.
"It really felt like a second home of sorts when we would go to events at the Irish Society of Greater Philadelphia or the Donegal Society."
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