“Okay, I remember the days, high rights, low lefts…” My soccer claim to fame came in elementary school, at an area WELS soccer tournament in Port Orchard, WA, when I played goalie against the boys! I sported a fresh Diadora jersey and had a blast! When a ball comes right to you, you know you’re in the right place, at the right time.
On January 26th, the United States Women’s national team, defending Olympic champions, and 2015 World Champs, submitted their 2016, 18-person Summer Olympic roster for competition in Rio de Janeiro. Their first soccer tournament, the CONCACAF OQC, wrapped up this past weekend in Houston and, true to form, the U.S. took home the prize; it was their 6th straight Olympic berth.
In the semifinal game on Friday, they easily defeated Trinidad and Tobago (TT), routing them 5-0. TT seemed discombobulated, and in the shoot-around, forward Alex Morgan even got a hat trick! The only person on the field who didn’t get much play, is in fact the Northwest resident to highlight–goalkeeper, #1, Hope Amelia Stevens (Solo).
Born in the farming city of Richland, WA, this University of Washington grad has really made a name for herself! Raised on semi-arid fields of gold, she is a Beijing and London gold-medalist, and as luck has it, she also stars on Seattle Reign FC of the National Women’s Soccer League.
While the Men’s Olympic soccer team has enacted a U23 age restriction, this isn’t the case for the women, and means that 34-year-old, Hope can still compete with the best of them! In London, she was a select athlete interviewed by Olympic hosts, and after this weekend’s 2-0 Finals win against Canada, she picked up the tournament’s Golden Gloves award; she didn’t allow a goal throughout all 5 games!
You can catch more USWNT action on NBC Sports Live Extra, as the team gears up in pursuit of their 4th consecutive Olympic gold medal! You can also follow our home-grown goalie @hopesolo on Twitter, or www.hopesolo.com.
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