Wisconsin Soccer Central

Sarah Hagen (Appleton North/UW-Milwaukee) earned her first cap for the U.S. women's national team on Friday – and was in the middle of the attack right away.

The 24-year-old striker came on in the 81st minute of the Americans' match against Sweden at the Algarve Cup in Albufeira, Portugal, replacing legendary U.S. forward Abby Wambach.

Hagen was involved in two great chances in the final 9 minutes and stoppage time as the Americans sought an equalizer, but couldn't solve Swedish goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl and lost 1-0 – ending their 43-game unbeaten streak. (Video highlights and interviews below)

"It felt great to get in. I had a few opportunities that I wish I would have been able to finish," Hagen said in an interview with the U.S. Soccer website. "To be able to get some playing time was great. Coming in in a game like this, where it meant a lot for our team to win, it felt good to be able to have a role in that."

Lindahl made a diving stop to turn aside Wambach's penalty kick in the 15th minute and thwarted two breakaways in the second half: She first stopped Kristie Mewis in the 83rd, then raced off her line to deny Hagen in the 88th.

Hagen, who has been a regular for German club Bayern Munich for the past two years, also had an opportunity in the 84th. With Lindahl off her line and the goal open, Hagen slid to try to get to a hard, low cross from Carli Lloyd but just couldn't get to it.

"I felt like when I came in, I was able to make somewhat of a difference, getting on a few balls in the air and we had a few crosses," Hagen said. "I think we definitely started to create more opportunities. Unfortunately today we weren't able to finish them."

Lindahl finished with six saves and Lotta Schelin scored the lone goal on a header in the 24th for Sweden, which became the first team to beat the U.S. since Japan's 1-0 victory over the Americans back on March 5, 2012. The U.S. was 36-0-7 in that span. It also was the first loss for U.S. coach Tom Sermanni, who is 16-1-4 – he succeeded Pia Sundhage, who was on the other sideline as she now coaches her native Sweden.

Hagen was an unused sub for the Americans' tournament opener, a 1-1 draw against Japan on Wednesday in Parchal – that was the first time she had made the game-day roster for the national team. The U.S. finishes Group B play on Monday against Denmark (0-2-0) in Albufeira and will play in a placement match on Wednesday.

History: Wisconsin's national team players

On Twitter: @sarahapplehagen

• Midfielder Shannon Smyth (Mequon/Milwaukee DSHA) and the Republic of Ireland posted 1-1 ties with New Zealand and South Korea in their first two matches of the Cyprus Cup in Paralimni. Smyth came off the bench in Wednesday's opener, then started and logged 85 minutes on Friday. The Irish close Group C play on Monday against Switzerland (1-0-1), looking to win the group for the second straight year. On Twitter: @ShannonSmyth
• The 26-year-old Smyth, who plays for Norwegian club Amazon Grimstad, was one of three finalists for the 2013 FAI International Senior Player of the Year Award. Center back Louise Quinn, who plays for Eskilstuna United in Sweden, won the award.