August Birthday's

Happy Birthday to Rachel Buehler, Kate Markgraf, and Aly Wagner, who all had their birthday's in August.

Rachel turned 23 on August 26, Kate turned 32 on August 23, and Aly turned 28 on August 10.

Happy Birthday to them all!

Kate Markgraf

Aly Wagner

Rachel Buehler

Still Can't Believe It

I still can't believe the USA won. To tell you the truth, after I heard Brazil beat Germany 4-1 I thought the USA were doomed. Of course I still wanted USA to win, but I didn't know how they would be able to stop Marta. Of course, and thank goodness, they proved me wrong. I didn't stay up to watch the game, but the minute I woke up I raced to the computer. When I clicked on "women's soccer results" my heart was racing like crazy. As the page loaded, all I could do was pray. When I finally saw the words "USA Women win gold," I ran around the house like a crazy person. ( I did it very silently because my family was still asleep) I was so thrilled! Not only did the defense play amazingly, but they were able to capitilize on one of their few chances. I knew for sure that Hope Solo would have an amazing game, and sure enough she did. If any of you had a chance to see some of the game highlights you know what I'm talking about. She had some spectacular saves and really was the reason this team won. The defense played amazing as well. What a great tournament for this team and for Pia, their new coach. Hopefully this team will continue to grow and improve with Pia.


Now they are going home and playing in a 3 game series against Ireland. The matches will be in Phildelphia on September 13, East Rutherford, New Jersey on September 17, and Chicago on September 20.(my birthday!!)

For video clips of the team celebration and photos go to www.ussoccer.com, and www.nbcolympics.com.

here are some more pictures from the match:

USA WINS!!!

The USA beat Brazil last night in overtime to win the gold medal! Carli Lloyd scored a great goal in the Both teams played very well and worked hard to earn that gold.
Brazil was putting pressure on the USA all night, but the stayed strong and held them off. Hope Solo played excellent and kept Brazil's top scorers, Marta and Cristiane, from scoring. Solo's best save of the night happened in the 72nd minute when when Marta go behind two defenders and dribbled the ball into the 6 yard box. Marta had an open shot, but Solo's fast reflxes kept the ball from going into the net.
Both teams fought hard, but regulation was winding down, and the game was sent into overtime. Just 6 minutes into the overtime, Carli Lloyd got the game winning goal. Lloyd got the ball from Amy Rodriguez and blasted a left footed shot past the keeper. The USA was able to hold off Brazil and win the gold.
I can't believe they won!!! I definitely had my doubts, but they proved everyone wrong. I'm so glad!! GO USA!

Natasha Kai celebrating after the win


Hope Solo and Pia Sundhage celebrating

Natasha Kai and Hope Solo on the podium




Aly Wagner, Hope Solo, and Carli Lloyd recieving their gold medals

On to the finals!

Last night USA beat Japan 4-2 and is heading to the gold medal match against the Brazilians. Yep, Brazil spanked Germany in a 4-1 win to get their spot in the finals.



Japan got the lead early in the 11th minute off of a corner. The USA thankfully didnot put their heads down and tied it up in the 41st minute off of a Angela Hucles goal. The goal started all the way down in the back from Hope Solo as she kicked a goal kick all the way up field. A Japanese defender was forced to make a clearance, but it landed at the feet of Heather O'Reilly. Heather took the ball down the line and played a cross into the middle. Hucles was able to slot it in for the USA's first goal.


The USA was then able to take the lead right before halftime on a goal coming from Lori Chalupny. She hit a rocket from 17 feet out to get the USA ahead before halftime.


In the second half the USA dominated and outshot Japan 13-6. USA's third goal came from Heather O'Reilly in the 70th minute. It started off of a throw in from Heather Mitts. O'Reilly recieved the ball and saw that the Japanese goalkeeper was off her line. She then hit a dipping shot that sailed over the Japanese keeper.


Just ten minutes later Angela Hucles got her second goal of the game on an assist from Heather O'Reilly.

Although the USA dominated, the Japanese never gave up and got their second goal in stoppage time.

I can't wait for the USA Brazil game. I think it is definitely going to be tough for the USA to get a win, but they can definitely do it. The good thing is that no matter what happenes the USA will still go home with a silver, which is pretty good considering tey are missing some key players.

GO USA!

Too Close for Comfort

Last night the USA took on Canada in the quarterfinals in a match that was 4 hours long.

The USA started off the game great. They were getting shot after shot and it seemed as if this game was going to be a blow out. In the 12th minute the USA broke through and got a goal from Angela Hucles. Amy Rodriguez went down the line and crossed the ball in near the post. Heather O'Reilly was able to get a head on it and flicked it back to Angela Hucles who put it away. The USA continued to gain momentum until they had to stop they game 21 minutes in due to lighting.


Heather O'Reilly and Lindsay Tarpley celebrate after Angela Hucles goal

The players were not allowed back on for 84 minutes and it took an extra 15 because they had to warm back up. The game resumed, but it seemed as if Canada had a good discussion in the locker room and came out with a lot of energy. In the 30th minute Canada forward Christie Sinclair got the equalizer. She took a shot and the ball went right through a full-streched Solo.

Following the goal, Canada dropped back into their defensive third playing with only one up top. They wanted to keep the USA from maintaining any possesion and tried to counter-attack whenever they had the chance. But, the USA continued to have chances as they out-shot Canada 34 to 8.

Hope Solo punches a ball out


Canada didn't have many chances, but kept the USA from scoring as regulation winded down. Just before overtime Natasha Kai was subbed in, as they hoped she would bring some energey into the game. Of course, she did.

In the 101st minute, Natasha Kai got the goal and won the game for the United States. Shannon Boxx, who earned her 100th cap in the game, played a great ball into the penalty area. Tash was able to get her head on it and score the game winning goal. It was not golden-goal overtime, so the US had to play another 29 minutes before it was over.

Tash and the team thanking the fans after the game.


Tobin Heath, Lindsay Tarpley, and Amy Rodriguez pumped up after the win.


Here are the results from the other quarterfinal games:

Germany-2 Sweeden-0

Brazil-2 Norway-1

Japan-2 China-0

The USA goes on to play Japan in the semifinals as Germany and Brazil play each other. I am actually very nervous about the USA playing Japan again. I think that they are a very good team and will give the USA some trouble. The Brazil vs. Germany game will definitely be a game to watch.

The USA plays on Monday, August 18, at 9:00pm local time, which means it would be playing at 11:00pm here. Brazil and Germany play on the same day at 6:00pm local time, which is 8:00pm here. I think we should watch the Brazil vs. Germany game at the Canton Restaurant. Go Germany!

Let's hope that the USA can beat Japan and make it to the gold medal match! I really hope that they play Germany as they haven't been playing so well in this tournament and might be easier for the USA than Brazil.

I Can't Believe It!

Before last nights matches, Norway was first in Group G, USA was second, and Japan was third. The only way for the USA to advance in FIRST was to beat New Zealand, and then have Norway lose to Japan. They would have also needed to score more goals then Norway did because both teams would be tied with 6 points.

Well..




They did it! USA creamed New Zealand 4-0, while Japan took on Norway and beat them 5-1!!! Arigato! This means that the USA finishes group G in first while Norway is in second. USA goes on to play Canada in the semi's while Norway takes on Brazil.

The first goal for the United States came in just the 41st second on a long strike by Heather O'Reilly. The New Zealand keeper cleared a ball into the midfield while Carli Lloyd jumped up for the header. Heather found the ball at her feet and saw that the keeper was way off her line. She took a dipping shot and sure enough, it went in!!
The second goal was from Amy Rodriquez off of a long ball that was played by Rachel Buehler. Lindsay Tarpley scored the third, while Angela Hucles scored the fourth.

It was a great night of soccer and I am so happy that this team came back from their first game loss!!

Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures

As many of you know, the Olympics is not being televised live. I was able to watch the USA Norway game on the internet, but it definitely wasn't as exciting as watching it on TV. I was planning on watching it again on the internet until I got a call from Brenda....

I guess Patty Coleman and Brenda watched some Olympic games in the past in Garapan because many shops had Chinese satelite. Brenda said that we may be able to find a place that would allow us to watch the game. Of course, I said I would go, and put on my USA gear.

Thank you to Amber for writing USA on my cheek. I literally couldn't have done it without you. :)

So, we were off. Brenda, Patty, Amber, Maddie, and I, on a quest to find the USA vs. Japan game. We searched everywhere, and I mean EVERYWHERE. We went to Chinese markets,massage places, restaurants, even a shooting range. But, no such luck.

Us entering the shooting range. :)

We walked down many streets, searching...but couldn't find it. We realized that our hopes of watching the game were over and that we would have to try and watch it over the internet. So, Brenda called up Rob and asked him to bring down some laptops. We then walk over to the Hyatt and wait.






The computers finally arrived and we went to work. We tried hard to get the game on the internet, but we had to settle for matchtracker.




When we got on to matchtracker, we see that the USA leads Japan 1-0!! We were relieved, but nervous that Japan would score and tie it up.


While we were watching the game, some of Brenda's students came over and joined in on the fun! :)




Thankfully the USA won the game and got 3 points. All they need to advance is a win over New Zealand, which they should be able to pull off.

Go USA!



Happy after USA won

USA Beats Japan 1-0

QUIHUANGDAO, China (August 9, 2008) — The United States Women's Olympic Team rode a Carli Lloyd goal and a solid defensive effort to a 1-0 victory against Japan in the second match of Group G action at the 2008 Olympic Games. With the shutout win, the U.S. secured a vital three points as they seek a place in the knockout phase, moving into second place in Group G behind leaders Norway. The top two finishers in each of the three groups advance to the second round along with two best third-place finishers based on points. The U.S. will close out group action against New Zealand on Tuesday, Aug. 12, in Shenyang. Kickoff is set for 7:45 a.m. ET, and the match will be broadcast live on MSNBC and the NBC Olympic Soccer Channel. Fans can also follow along live on ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker. The U.S. set a frenetic pace to open the contest, looking much more composed at the outset than in their opening match of the 2008 Games against Norway. The combination of tight organization and quick ball movement kept the Japanese under pressure from the opening whistle. The U.S. outshot Japan 18-9 on the night, while Hope Solo earned her first Olympic clean sheet in her second start. The U.S. attack created its first opportunity in the eighth minute thanks to a nice passing exchange. Lindsay Tarpley played a lovely diagonal switch to Heather O’Reilly on the right flank, who beat her marker to the endline. Her cross was narrowly cleared by a sliding Japanese defender as Angela Hucles lurked on the back post. Less than a minute later, Tarpley took a crack on her own, forcing her way through two defenders and ripping a left-footer from 20 yards that goalkeeper Miho Fukumoto did well to smother. Japan’s first good chance came at the quarter-hour, and it was nearly trouble. Mizuho Sakaguchi received a pass inside the area and smacked a low drive that just skimmed by the far post. The U.S. continued to press the game, seeking to exploit their speed on both flanks with quick passes played forward into space. Both Amy Rodriguez – making her first Olympic start – and Heather O’Reilly worked tirelessly throughout the night to keep the Japanese on their heels with their willingness to take on defenders. Japan got another good look at the midway point of the first half when veteran Homare Sawa found space at the left corner of the box. Spying the far post, she tried to a curl a shot to upper corner, but Solo calmly rose to tip the ball over the bar. The decisive moment came in the 27th minute as the result of hustle from the U.S. team. Tarpley fought for possession near the midfield stripe and played a through ball to Stephanie Cox, who had overlapped from the left back position. Cox raced to the endline and hit a left-footed cross towards the top of the box. The ball bounced past a defender and found Lloyd at the top of the box. Lloyd stepped up and unleashed a wicked half volley that sailed above Fukumoto and rippled the back of the net. The goal was Lloyd’s 18th in her international career and her first in Olympic play. The pace mellowed a bit around the 30-minute mark as the heat and humidity began taking its toll, but both sides still probed for opportunities. In the 33rd minute, Yuki Nagasoto penetrated the U.S. penalty area by getting past Kate Markgraf. She slotted a ball across the six-yard box that appeared to be dangerous, but the U.S. defense stood well positioned and the effort skipped harmlessly through. Just three minutes before the halftime whistle, the U.S. nearly broke through again. From near the center circle, Hucles started a quick counter by slipping a through ball between the Japanese defense and sending Rodriguez racing through towards goal. Charging into the box, she tried to pick out the far post but the Japanese ‘keeper stood her ground to thwart the attempt. The second half began a bit more measured for the U.S. as Japan came out pressing for the equalizer. The U.S. did well to absorb the early pressure and shortly snatched the momentum. Shannon Boxx – who traded moments of getting forward with her midfielder partner Lloyd - got a pair of chances three minutes apart. In the 56th minute, she took a first-time strike from the top of the area, only to see the well-struck effort keep rising over the Japanese goal. Three minutes later, she made a quick turn 25 yards out and slammed a left footer towards the near post that forced a diving save from Fukumoto. The U.S. looked in control through the middle phase of the half, denying Japan a good look at goal while patiently seeking out counter-attacking opportunities in search of an insurance goal. They had a golden chance to double the lead in the 80th minute when O’Reilly delivered a penetrating pass to Rodriguez near the top right corner of the area. She fought off her defender and earned a clear look at goal. With the ‘keeper off her line, she let go a curling shot destined for the far post, but the ball bent agonizingly wide. With minutes remaining, Japan turned up the heat as they probed for the equalizer. In the 88th minute, Shinobu Ohno beat three U.S. markers and dribbled to the endline. Her delivery into the six-yard box found Karina Maruyama first to the ball, but U.S. captain Christie Rampone bodied the Japanese attacker enough to force an off balance header that fell wide. Rampone earned her 199th international cap in the victory.


article from ussoccer.com

USA falls to Norway 0-2

I can't believe it. The USA WNT lost its first match in 22 games to Norway in their opening match of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The USA came on to the field ready to play, but gave up two quick goals in the 2nd minute and 4th minute of play. The first goal was scored when a Norway player crossed a ball into the USA box. Solo went out to get the ball, but ran into her defender, Lori Chalupny. It was then an easy header and an empty net for the Norwegian player.
The 2nd goal was scored off of a looping shot that caught Solo off her line and fell into the goal. The USA had many chances on goal and most of the offense, but they weren't able to score. Norway was very organized and kept the USA from capitalizing on any chances.

This is only the USA's 2nd loss in an Olympic tournament, as they lost to Norway in gold medal match of the 2000 Olympics.

Not all is lost for the USA. They have to beat Japan and New Zealand to advance to the quarterfinal, but they can do it. It is almost better that the USA lost now that way they will know how it feels to lose.
USA defender Kate Markgraf also made a good point. She said, “Norway lost in the first game in 2000 and came back and won in the finals. That’s the great thing about the Olympics. You always have second chances in the round-robin play. We just have to take care of business and have great games against Japan and New Zealand. We believe we can do it.”
Pia Sundhage, their head coach, seems positive on the teams future in this tournament. “My glass is always half full. For us, it is a new experience to lose a game and the fact we tried to turn around and create some chances in the second half is positive. I’m happy that this is the first game and not the last. We still have two more games to go. We will take the good part of the second half going forward to play against Japan and New Zealand.”


Let's hope this team can pull it together and win some matches! Go USA!


(quotes from ussoccer.com)

How Christie Rampone found her way on to the team

Decision of a Lifetime: Christie Rampone's First Call-Up to the WNT

U.S. captain Christie Rampone had to make a very difficult decision during her senior year in college. Should she stay or should she go? She went. Thus started the international career of one of the greatest -- and most unlikely -- players in U.S. Women’s National Team history. It was a chilly night in January of 1997 when the team bus carrying the Monmouth University Women’s Basketball Team rattled down the New Jersey Parkway headed for Exit 105. The Hawks had just beaten Long Island University in Northeast Conference play and the team’s co-captain and starting point guard Christie Pearce was relaxing in the back of the bus. Pearce was thinking about the game, her sore body and perhaps what would make for a good late night snack. Little did she know her life was about to change forever. Flashback 10 years to the quiet Jersey Shore town of Point Pleasant Borough, N.J. See that tomboy running around the neighborhood and down to the rec center, playing pickup basketball, soccer, kickball and stickball? It’s the same girl who was in a contest to see how many laps the kids could run at recess in elementary school. She ran with the boys. No girl could come close to keeping up. At Point Pleasant Borough High School, she would become a three-sport star, leading her teams in scoring in basketball, soccer and field hockey. Field hockey was in the fall, along with soccer tournaments and games on the weekends for her travel team. In the winter, she hit the hardwood and developed an all-around hoops game that produced a whopping 2,190 career points. In the spring, it was time for high school soccer. The summer was more travel soccer and AAU and pick-up basketball before pre-season for field hockey began once again. “I think that ability to compete was instilled at a very young age,” said Christie, who married Chris Rampone in 2001. “I just really enjoyed being outside and playing. I just had that innate desire to win all the time. Whether it was a board game or a pickup game, it was a bad day if I lost.” By the time she graduated, she was considered the finest female athlete ever in Ocean County history and was named the New Jersey Female Athlete of the Year. Her legendary prep exploits earned a full basketball scholarship to Monmouth, where she played just two sports, starting all 80 games in her soccer career as a forward while scoring 79 goals with 54 assists. While she found great success on the soccer field, Pearce was a basketball player. She attended basketball camps not soccer camps. It was her No. 1 sport. On the collegiate level, her hoops game evolved from scorer to tenacious defender (she still holds the Monmouth season record for steals). She was a player who did the hard work for her teammates while leading through her actions and hustle. Sound familiar? As a senior, she had become a co-captain. Her understanding of how to compete had been honed through thousands of hours of practice and hundreds of games in all different sports, all the while supported and guided by her dad Rob, an elementary school baseball, basketball and cross-country coach.
All that experience had prepared her for the moment when she was summoned to the front of the bus by her Monmouth basketball coach, Sue DeKalb. Or had it? Her coach held a flimsy piece of paper. “We got a fax from U.S. Soccer,” she said. “Inviting you to training camp.” Huh? Turns out then U.S. head coach Tony DiCicco had seen Pearce play in a college match, and with a dearth of defenders at that time, was looking for athletic attackers that he could convert into backs. He decided to take a flyer on the 5-foot-6 striker from the Jersey Shore. The fax machine whirred, spitting out that fateful piece of paper in the athletic department in West Long Branch, N.J. It made its way into the hands of DeKalb, and then to Pearce on the front of that bus. But she was right in the middle of her conference basketball season. She was a co-captain. It was her senior year. Could she leave her team for what was certainly a long-shot at her dream of playing for the U.S. National Team? There are few games of chance in Las Vegas with longer odds. Suffice it to say, when you put the words “UNC, Santa Clara, Monmouth, Portland and Notre Dame” in a sentence about college women’s soccer, one doesn’t quite fit. She agonized over the decision and had numerous conversations with the coaches and administrators. This kind of conundrum was new to a small school like Monmouth. Understandably, DeKalb didn’t want to lose her star point guard, but she realized the uniqueness of the opportunity. She put the decision in Christie’s hands, or more appropriately, at her feet. No, she couldn’t go. She had made a commitment to the basketball team. Yes, she would go. She could not pass up such an opportunity. No, she would finish her season and hopefully get a tryout later. Yes, she was going. She couldn’t take the chance that another tryout would come. Nope. Basketball is the top sport at Monmouth and she was staying. On the other hand, it was only for 10 days. She would only miss a few games. No, the folks had Monmouth had given her so much. She wanted to give back. Then one of the folks at Monmouth said to go would be giving back. Pearce had developed a close relationship with the men’s basketball coach at that time, Wayne Szoke. “You gotta do this,” said coach Szoke in a moment wrought with foresight. “Put all else aside right now, this could be your future. This is something special and you have to see if can play at that level.” Pearce was used to going from sport to sport to sport, from season to season. She never had to choose between two before. So, she called her teammates together in the locker room and explained the situation. “I told them that this was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” said Rampone. “I told them that I hoped they understood and that it was a dream to play at the highest level. I said unfortunately, the timing is now and I can’t wait to go over the summer when we’re not in season. This could be my only shot.” Some were incredibly supportive. Some, not understanding the process of National Team call-ups and selection, were not. “Once I started getting consistent call-ups, they came to understand,” said Rampone. “When you are in college, your season is everything, but I had to try to see a big picture. Once-in-a-lifetime opportunities are just that.” She took the big risk and traveled to her first National Team camp in Chula Vista, Calif., without ever speaking to anyone with U.S. Soccer. She carried her mailed plane ticket and the fax, while famously bringing her own laundry detergent and training gear, unaware that gear would be provided for her, and washed, every day. She didn’t even know that the veterans of the 1996 Olympic gold medal team would be there. She was under the impression that it was some sort of a tryout camp for graduating seniors. “Hi, I’m Mia…and you are?” “Ummm…Christie. Pearce. From New Jersey.” “What school do you go to?” “Monmouth.” “What division is that?” “Ummm…division one.” While she didn’t utter more than a few words during the entire camp, it was clear right away that she had the athleticism and mentality to compete at the international level. These were gold medalists. She was hanging in there. Despite being one of the most unlikely U.S. Women’s National Team players ever, she made an impression. DiCicco called her two weeks later – igniting another wave of decisions and conversations with her coaches and teammates -- inviting her to travel with the USA to Australia that February. This time, she knew that destiny had given her a fast break. She would earn her first three caps in Australia. From the Jersey Shore to the Gold Coast? That’s quite a journey, but it was only just beginning. She would end up missing half of her conference basketball games. “That was definitely one of the hardest times in my life,” said Rampone, who would go on to make the historic 1999 Women’s World Cup Team, which played its first match of that tournament in front of a sold out crowd at Giants Stadium in New Jersey. “I was committed to two teams. One is your dream, and one is your scholarship, your senior year. Sometimes you are faced with life choices that have long-term consequences, but you just don’t know it at the time. It was scary going into that first camp, but to accomplish great things you have to be brave.” Rampone remains the one and only player from a small school ever to make an impact on the U.S. Women’s National Team. Eleven years ago, no one could have predicted this kind of international success for the 33-year old. Yet on Aug. 6, she will lead her teammates onto the field as the captain of the U.S. team for the 2008 Olympics Games and is on pace to hit 200 caps during the tournament. She is a mother to precocious three-year-old daughter Rylie and an excellent role model for her teammates and the thousands of girls and women playing across the USA, especially those who play at small schools on the New Jersey coast. So what if Rylie wants to play basketball and soccer? “She can play whatever she wants,” said Rampone. “I was never pushed into anything. I did it because I loved to play. We’ll have her try soccer, gymnastics, baseball and we’ll see what she enjoys. But if she ever gets called into a National Team camp, she won’t be bringing laundry detergent.”

(article from www.ussoccer.com)

Which positon will lead this team to Gold?

Alright, so I guess the question of the day(or week) is which position will be the MVP(most valuable position) of the USA WNT?

Defense?

Midfield?

or Forward?

In my opinion I think that the midfield will be the MVP of the Olympics. If the midfield can stay strong, defend, and also send good balls to the forwards, we will be able to win. The midfield is going to have to win all balls in the middle and keep the other team from getting possesion. If they can do that, they will be the MVP.

I believe that all of the positons will do well. Lets hope they all perform to their best ability!

Who do you think will be MVP?

Stephanie Cox

Here is a great article I found about Stephanie Cox(Lopez) on www.ussoccer.com. I could tell you more, but I think you better read and find out:


This Second Chance Could Be Golden: Stephanie Cox' Return to the Olympic Team


For 10 days in June, Stephanie Cox knew she wasn’t going to the Olympics. For the next days 10 days she knew she might. The day after that, she was going to China. On June 1 of this year, Stephanie Cox stood in the security line at the Los Angeles International Airport with tears welling up in her eyes. Her Olympic dreams were over. Released from the final roster of 22 players being considered for the 18-player Olympic roster, Cox had left training camp and was headed home to … well, she really didn’t know. She had started all six games of the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup just 10 months earlier, playing very well in some of the most difficult games of her life, and was surely a more than likely candidate to make the 2008 Olympic roster. But with Lori Chalupny moving from midfield to defender, the emergence of Rachel Buehler, and Heather Mitts returning from ACL surgery that caused her to miss the Women’s World Cup, the options at outside back had now been stacked much deeper. In a meeting with the U.S. coaching staff, Cox was told that she had not made the final 22. “I don’t know if I actually had any first thoughts,” said Cox, who was Stephanie Lopez in the WWC before getting married last December. “My main emotion was just grief. I was so sad and a bit in shock. My meeting didn’t last long. I was crying. I tried to ask questions and comprehend what had happened.” Sundhage felt that Cox had lost some passion for the game and that a break could help her recapture the vitality that had made her one of the America’s top young players. And it is well known that Sundhage prizes passion in her players. Cox says that while she felt she was giving her all, especially in that final two-week camp before Sundhage cut down the roster, that perhaps her intense schedule of the last five years had caught up with her. Since 2001, she had prepared intensely for and played in two FIFA youth world championships, four college seasons and one Women’s World Cup. That’s a lot of high pressure soccer for anyone. “I think a lot of it had to with fatigue,” said Cox. “I still loved practice and the game. I was just tired and I guess discouraged at not being as successful as I wanted to be earlier this year. I was drained and that impacted my ability to get up and down the field like she wanted. I couldn’t take time off as Pia was a new coach and she needed to see everyone play as much as possible.” Sadly, her much needed break came a bit earlier than she thought it would. Cox went home to her new husband in Gig Harbor, Wash., to mentally process getting cut from a soccer team for the first time in her life.
She wanted to retreat from the world, put on the PJs, curl up with a favorite blanket and come to terms with a dream being dashed. She had one day to mourn. On Tuesday of that week, Cox had to fly to Denver for a previously arranged speech on behalf of her shoe and apparel sponsor Nike. She was going to speak at a function for the Colorado Rush Soccer Club, run by her former coach for the U.S. U-20s, Tim Schulz. The theme for the speech: Overcoming Obstacles. Well, now she had a doozey. “It was so ironic that I had this speech right at the moment of my greatest personal setback in my career,” said Cox. “I didn’t want to go, but I had committed and I didn’t want to let people down, so I went.” Looking back, giving a speech 60 hours after being released from the Olympic Team turned out to be a blessing. Cox had written the speech before she found out her Olympic fate. It now needed some editing. That’s when it hit her. “Going over my speech, I was thinking about what I was doing there,” said Cox. “It seemed kind of cruel at that moment, but then I realized, hey, just go for it. In the end, having to process all my emotions and figure out how I was going to present myself and what I was learning from the whole situation helped me move on. By putting my thoughts into words and speaking them out loud publicly, I found some redemptive value in the whole process of getting cut.” So, she got up to the podium and started talking. She talked about playing in two youth world championships and not winning gold. She talked about her undefeated season and NCAA title in college at Portland, but also about falling short the other three years. She talked about the crushing semifinal loss at the Women’s World Cup. She spoke from the heart, injected some humor, got a bit choked up at times, and yes, spoke with passion. Towards the end of the speech came the kicker. “Despite all of these setbacks on the field, I’ve always made every team and continued up the ladder with the National Teams,” said Cox. “But just two days ago, I experienced my greatest personal loss as a soccer player. Two days ago, I found out that I didn’t make the roster for the Olympics, so I won’t be able to pursue a gold medal.” Cox talked about her experience in world championships, about dealing with the adversity, and how at every level she’d given her best. She talked about how she was at peace with that knowledge. She finished to a standing ovation. “It was one of my proudest personal moments to give that speech because I let it all out there,” she recalled. “It was hard to do, but I knew that even without the gold medals, it’s really about the process and the journey, about who you become as a person and the relationships you make along the way.” Cox left Denver still in a bit of a fog, not knowing if her message had reached people. She would find out later that her audience had been impressed with her professionalism and had been positively impacted by her story, including a colleague of U.S. assistant coach Erica Walsh, who told Walsh that his under-13 girls Rush team were now all huge Stephanie Cox fans. “I realized that even though I wasn’t going to the Olympics, I was happy to have the opportunity to impact people,” said Cox. “Athletes can inspire in different ways.” Exactly a week later, Cox was asleep in her bed in Gig Harbor at 7:30 a.m. when her cell phone rang. She didn’t pick it up the first time. The second time it rang she looked and saw it was U.S. team general manager Cheryl Bailey from South Korea, where the USA was playing in the Peace Queen Cup. “Steph, this is Cheryl,” said the voice from 5,000 miles away. “I have some bad and good news for you. Cat tore her ACL. and we would like you to come to Korea.” U.S. defender Cat Whitehill’s knee injury had opened the door to the Olympics just a crack. “My husband had just gone to work and I called him and told him to come home,” said Cox. “There was never any doubt I was going to Korea, but I needed some time to think. I had spent about 10 days thinking the Olympics weren’t possible anymore and letting go of the heavy responsibility that we on the National Team carry. I had to prepare myself to step back into that environment.” About 24 hours after the phone call, she was on a plane to Seoul. Still nothing was guaranteed. There were 22 players still in contention for 18 Olympic spots. Her play at the Peace Queen Cup would be a major factor in rekindling her Olympic dream. Cox decided she would take it one day, one meeting and one practice at a time. She also decided to heed her own advice and enjoy the journey. “I knew overall that above the challenge of stepping back into the National Team environment that I was going to enjoy the time with the girls, with my second family,” she said about her trip to the Peace Queen Cup. “I never really thought about the roster or the Olympics, but I knew how fragile this second chance was. I knew that most people don’t get that kind of opportunity so I was going to make the most of it. I was just enjoying every moment and leaving everything out there. I did my best.” Still getting her legs under her after arriving late in Korea, she didn’t play in the first match against Australia. She came on at halftime against Brazil in the second game and then played the full 90 minutes in the third match against Italy. While she didn’t get on the field during the championship game, she had played well in her 135 minutes of action, showing a renewed spirit and energy. “I was so nervous when I went into games, which is unusual for me,” said Cox. “While my confidence was low and I was focusing on not falling over, I think all of the things that piled up against me prior to the Peace Queen Cup were totally in my favor at that trip. I felt so fresh after 10 days off, and was able to smoothly transition into things. The coaches were great and they didn’t throw me right back into the fire. Everyone else was tired, so I looked like I could run a marathon. I was feeling the best I’d probably felt that summer.” The night after the U.S. won the championship with a 1-0 victory over Canada, the team walked into a meeting room at the hotel in Seoul. On a flip-chart under the bold words OLYMPIC TEAM, Cox saw her name written with 17 other players. She had made the final roster. “I thought I had done well in the games,” said Cox. “I had an assist to Abby and helped other players do well during the games. But walking into that room and seeing my name on that board, my first thought was for the players who didn’t make it because I had just been there.” Empathy is certainly one of Cox’ defining character traits and now, she hopes, her passion will come through as well. With the rollercoaster month behind her, as the team gets settled in China, she is just starting to let the events of the past month sink in. “It’s just been an up and down struggle this year, starting some games, then not starting, coming off the bench, no certainty … but that’s pro sports and I am learning that,” said Cox. “I really didn’t take the time to envision what this experience would be like until we got to San Francisco for Olympic processing. Now, I’m just so excited to be here and experiencing all this.” The lessons in all this? There are many. But surely not all goals are realized and many dreams don’t come true. But if you traverse the valleys as well as you celebrate the ascents to the mountain top, both journeys can be equally beneficial to a person. “I think it’s wise to not look too far ahead,” said Cox. “My advice would be to look at what is happening in that moment and make the most of it. You string those moments together to achieve your goals, but you have to appreciate each day you get to do something you love, even if some of those days are sad ones.” The passion, it seems, is back.