FITTING FAREWELL TRIMMED IN GOLD U.S. 2, BRAZIL 1.Byline: Mirjam Swanson Staff Writer ATHENS, Greece - One of the most transcendent female stars in sports history joined two of her closest running mates Running Mates could refer to:
The U.S. women's soccer team - including retiring stars Mia Hamm Mia Hamm (born Mariel Margaret Hamm on March 17,1972 in Selma, Alabama) is a former American soccer player. Playing for many years as a forward for the United States women's national soccer team, she scored more international goals in her career than any other player, male ,Julie Foudy Julie Maurine Foudy (born 23 January 1971 in San Diego, California) was a midfielder for the United States women's national soccer team from 1987 through 2004, finishing with a remarkable 271 caps. and Joy Fawcett Joy Lynn Fawcett (born February 8, 1968) is an American professional soccer player. She joined the United States women's national soccer team (WNT) in 1987. A founding member of the WUSA, Fawcett retired from the WNT in 2004. - often struggled to keep up with youthful Brazil. But the magic that made them heroes to a generation of girls appeared one final time in a 2-1 overtime victory that gave the Americans the gold medal gold medal traditional first prize. [Western Cult: Misc.] See : Prize . ``The medal represents everything we've worked for,'' the 32-year-old Hamm said. ``What I love about this group is the way everyone understood and embraced the responsibility we had.'' Abby Wambach Mary Abigail "Abby" Wambach (born June 2, 1980 in Rochester, New York) is an Olympic medalist and professional soccer player. She has been a regular on the US Women's National Team since 2003. scored the deciding goal in the second overtime period Noun 1. overtime period - a period of overtime play to resolve a tie; e.g. basketball extra time, overtime - playing time beyond regulation, to break a tie on a header off a corner kick from Kristine Lilly Kristine Marie Lilly (born July 22, 1971 in New York City) is an American soccer player, who has been a fixture on the U.S. women's national team since 1987 and is currently the captain of the team. She now plays the striker position after playing midfield for most of her career. . Including Lilly and Brandi Chastain Brandi Denise Chastain (born July 21, 1968) is a former soccer player, who was on the U.S. women's national soccer team from 1991 to 2004 and the San Jose CyberRays of the WUSA (2001-2003). , the so-called Fab Five leaves a legacy that includes having played 1,230 international matches together, getting a U.S. pro women's soccer league off theground temporarily and winning the 1999 World Cup championship at a sold-out Rose Bowl. ``Elation elation /ela·tion/ (e-la´shun) emotional excitement marked by acceleration of mental and bodily activity, with extreme joy and an overly optimistic attitude. ,'' the 24-year-old Wambach said of her goal on Thursday. ``I was so pleased and happy I was able to contribute. It's a fabulous way to win an Olympic gold Olympic Gold is the official video game of the XXV Olympic Summer Games, hosted by Barcelona, Spain in 1992. It was released for the Sega consoles, Mega Drive/Genesis and Master System, and Sega's handheld, Game Gear. medal and an even better way to send these women out.'' The Americans spent the majority of the match trying to catch up with Brazil's fleet forwards, who used their foot speed and creativity to get out of countless double- and triple-teams. Brazilian veteran Pretinha scored in the 73rd minute to tie the game. She got a shot past the diving Briana Scurry, who finished with eight saves, after teammate Cristiane dropped one U.S. defender and then squirted loose of three others to deliver the ball to Pretinha. From then, Brazil never stopped threatening, hitting the post twice before the end of regulation. When it wasn't Pretinha or Cristiane causing havoc, 18-year-oldBrazilian star Marta was the source of much of the Americans' troubles, finishing with two shots on goal - and four fouls. ``Marta is one of the best I've ever seen,'' said Hamm, who long was considered the world's top player. ``I'm excited to watch her develop.'' The same goes for the players who now are in charge of U.S. women's soccer. ``I can't wait for the future,'' Foudy said. ``They're going to add a lot more medals around their necks.'' Hamm finished her 17-year career with a record 153 goals in 266 games. Hamm and her fellow veterans made it clear, first to those youngplayers in an emotional postgame locker-room meeting. They're confident American soccer will be well taken care of. ``You're always a little nervous that when you leave something to make sure it's in good hands,'' Hamm said. ``And we are. Because these younger players just get it.'' Said Foudy: ``It's happy times. Look who scored our last three goals, you know?'' On Monday, 19-year-old Heather O'Reilly scored the game-winning goal in the semifinals against Germany. Then in the gold-medal match, another new-school standout, Lindsay Tarpley, 20, got the Americans on the board first when her shot in the 39th minute found its way between two defenders and into the left corner of the goal. Wambach, the tallest player on the field at 5-foot-11, was just too much for the Brazilians to handle inside, when she netted the deciding 10-yard header. Wambach's go-ahead header, her fourth goal in six games in Athens, marked the best look the United States had all evening. Mirjam Swanson, (909) 386-3865 mirjam.swanson(at)sbsun.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Members of the U.S. women's soccer team take a victory lap after their 2-1 overtime win over Brazil in the gold-medal game. Diether Endlicher/Associated Press (2) American Abby Wambach, right, collides with Brazil's Elaine, left, and Daniela on Thursday. Kevork Djansezian/Associated Press |
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