Jun 13, 2025 By Jonathan Guth 6 min read

With smoldering temperatures on her drive back home to Grindstone from Cary, N.C., chances are Tessa Dellarose didn’t need to wear the scarf she earned as one of the winners of the “Golden Fleece” award in the TST, but the 2022 graduate of Brownsville Area High School will need to at least present the scarf, which is one of the parameters of the lifetime pass to any TST event that goes with being a “Golden Fleece” winner.

The “Golden Fleece” was in its first year at the TST, and was awarded to all players who scored the “target score” goal in every match of the tournament.

TST play differs from a normal soccer match, as there are seven players on the field instead of 11, matches consist of two 20-minute halves, there are no offside calls and a “target score” must be met, which was implemented to avoid stalling tactics.

The “target score” is calculated by taking the leading team’s total at the end of regulation and adding a goal, which gives the squad who is trailing a chance, but favors the winning team.

Dellarose, who plays collegiately for North Carolina, was one of the key cogs in helping the US Women earned a second straight championship in the tournament that culminated Monday evening in a 3-0 victory over Bumpy Pitch FC.

The US Women had a 1-0 lead over Reunion City Dallas at the end of 40 minutes of play on Sunday in the semifinals, which put the “target score” at two.

Keeper Lindsey Harris assisted on Dellarose’s goal at 56:57 of the match against Reunion City Dallas to send the US Women into the final.

“The ‘Golden Fleece’ is a new addition to the TST this year,” Dellarose said. “It is pretty cool to have that moment and know that I can always attend a TST event, but I can’t forget the ‘Golden Fleece.'”

Dellarose will let Harris, who won the “Golden Glove” award as the top keeper, stick to playing in goal, but the Pittsburgh Riveters captain made a huge save in the final at WakeMed Soccer Park.

The US Women clung to a 2-0 lead in the 39th minute when Bumpy Pitch FC had an open cage after taking a corner kick.

Dellarose used her right boot to stop the shot and clear the ball out of danger.

Dellarose and her teammates knew that every team would be looking to knock off the defending champions in every match, even if it was in group play.

“Playing for the US Women already puts a target on our backs, and to be the defending champions with an expanded field from last year made it even more challenging,” Dellarose said. “The expectations were higher but we were more together and focused. The experience of playing for the US Women alongside some of the legends of the game is unbelievable.

“It is also great to know that so many people from back home are watching the games if they couldn’t be there in person.”

Dellarose opened the scoring in the final at 10:35 of the first half when she put the ball into the net on a diving header that was sent in from Casey Loyd. Dellarose put a shot on target 33 seconds earlier, but Bumpy Pitch FC keeper Teagan Wy made the save.

“We were in a transitional moment leading up to the goal when I took the first shot that she saved,” Dellarose said. “On the goal, I saw some open space, made eye contact with Casey, who put in a great ball and I was able to head it in. There was a little push there from the defender, but I was able to get right up afterwards. It was a really cool moment.”

Dellarose scored with a plug in her nostrils after suffering a bloody nose in a match for the second time in less than a month. Dellorose busted her nose on May 28 in a Riveters match at Cleveland. She returned to the pitch two minutes later after receiving treatment on the sideline.

“In the final of the TST, I went up to head the ball and it hit my nose,” Dellarose said. “I had some treatment on the sideline, but was able to come back. I have had bloody noses before, and I will have them again, so it was nothing out of the ordinary.”

The US Women doubled its lead at 30:19 in the second half when Loyd blasted a shot into the top corner of the net after receiving a pass from tournament MVP Bella Devey, who is an incoming freshman at North Carolina.

Dellarose fired a perfect cross in the eighth minute of target-score time, but none of her teammates were in position to finish in six-on-six play.

The US Women clinched the title at 53:11 when Heather O’Reilly set up Evelyn Shores for the match winner.

The US Women won all six of their matches in TST, while Bumpy Pitch FC was 5-1.

Dellarose was available for the Riveters in their match Wednesday night against Steel City FC at Founders Field in Cheswick. She didn’t play in the game, but Pittsburgh earned a 3-1 victory.

“I was exhausted after playing in the TST and driving back home the day before, so Coach (Scott Gibson) and I came to a mutual agreement that I would sit this one out,” Dellarose said. “I had full trust in my teammates that they would get the job done. They also did a great job in my absence during the TST.”

Following Pittsburgh’s season, Dellarose will return to Chapel Hill for her senior season at the University of North Carolina. The Tar Heels won the national title this past season. Dellarose was a fourth-team All-American.

“It is hard to imagine this will be my senior season at UNC,” Dellarose said. “It just flew by. I am excited to get back and help us defend our national championship. I have several pre-planned events in early July before returning to campus in late July.”