USWNT’s Samantha and Kristie Mewis carve out place in history in homecoming Olympics tuneup | Matt Vautour

EAST HARTFORD — Samantha Mewis didn’t know that what she was planning for had never happened before when she texted her sister Kristie about it.

For all the success the United States Women’s National Team has achieved over the course of its decades of soccer dominance, they never had two sisters combine for a goal before.

But just in case Thursday’s pre-Olympic tuneup vs. Mexico at Rentschler Field was the night that changed, Samantha sent Kristie a plan.

“She was like ‘if we have a sister-sister goal, we have to chest bump after,’” Kristie Mewis said.

In addition to having one of the most accurate shots in the world, it turns out Samantha Mewis also has a little ESP.

Like many memorable moments in American soccer, Megan Rapinoe got it started in the first half. She fed Kristie Mewis just to the left of the midpoint of the top of the box. Kristie slid the ball horizontally across to Samantha who took one step to her right to find a clear line between herself and the goal.

“Rapinoe played a crafty little ball to me and I just took a couple touches and had Sam wide open,” said Kristie, 30, the older of the two Hanson natives by a year. “We all know how good Sam’s shot is. I passed it to her and I just had a feeling she was going to take a touch and score.”

She was right. Samantha didn’t hesitate and threaded it inside the near post well ahead of Mexican goalie Emily Alvarado’s late dive to make it 1-0 in the 21st minute. USA Soccer playfully called it a “Sister A-sister.” The goal launched an offensive barrage that ended in a 4-0 win over Mexico.

It would have been a special moment anywhere in any year. But for the Mewis sisters, the timing and location were perfect.

Because spectators have been barred or reduced from sporting events around the world for the last 14 months, the chances for their friends and family to see them play, either for their respective NWSL clubs or Team USA has been limited. Foreign spectators aren’t going to be allowed in Tokyo either. So these two Sendoff Series games vs. Mexico in East Hartford, just over two hours from their Massachusetts hometown, were a rare chance to have a lot of familiar faces in attendance.

WIth Kristie Mewis replacing the injured Julie Ertz in the lineup, those familiar faces saw the sisters starting together for the second straight game, a rare occurrence since high school. Playing in front of them was nice. Winning in front of them was ideal. Combining for a goal with that many loved ones watching was the cherry on top.

“We had like over 40 people here. It was a bummer because we couldn’t find them in the stands,” said Kristie, who scanned the crowd of fans in rain gear without success. “It was really special for Sam and I to enjoy this game together and for my family. After the year everyone has had, it was really special for everyone to be able to come to this game. I’m hoping they all enjoyed it.”

As they ran toward each other in celebration after the goal, Kristie tapped the chest of her new red and blue USA kit to remind her sister of the plan before they jumped into an awkward chest bump that could use some practice in case they connect for another goal in Tokyo.

“It’s hilarious that it happened,” Kristie said. “I didn’t know it was the first sister-to-sister goal. That was pretty cool.”

Follow MassLive sports columnist Matt Vautour on Twitter at @MattVautour424.

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