Only from Osborne

Posted: Monday, June 27, 2011

From Boston, With Love 3

Can't believe it was four years ago when I played in my first ever World Cup. Crazy how fast time has flew by.

After getting cut from the 2004 Olympics, when previous coach April Heinrichs left me with, "You don't have enough experience." I was not sure how my future would unveil with the USWNT. Training that summer with Julie Foudy, Mia Hamn, Brandi, Joy Faucett and Kristine Lilly is one of my favorite lifetime experiences. I got to see some of the best players in the world, people, leaders and the standards these women put in every thing they did. I watched them and tried to soak in everything I could. They taught me how to be a true professional and showed me what it was like to be a team player. For this, I am forever grateful.

Things were pretty unclear after the summer of 2004 when I had to reconstruct my right ankle, which was a six-month recovery, after my senior season at Santa Clara University. I was fortunate enough to be called in with the USWNT in the summer of 2005. I moved to Hermosa Beach, CA where residency camp would take place and I would begin my journey to making the 2007 World Cup Team.

For two years, I fought for a spot on the 2007 WWC Team. Traveling around the world preparing for that was very special. Representing my country was an honor. All the work, travel, injuries and sacrifice I had made over my career, it was more than worth every moment. Playing alongside Kristine Lilly and Kate Markgraf, my childhood role models, was surreal in so many ways.

2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Now on June 24th, 2011 I have a different role going into the Women's World Cup. I am still a professional soccer player, but representing the WPS and Boston Breakers. Instead, I am more of a huge fan and spectator. I have only been part of the USWNT a few camps and tourneys since tearing my ACL prior to the 2008 Olympics. I was part of the group who helped the team qualify vs Italy in both Italy and Chicago. So, I feel like I was part of a group who helped in some sort of way going into this WWC. People also have asked why I was not helping broadcast, I wanted to give myself any opportunity or chance to see if I could play first. So, no broadcasting or playing, just learning and cheering:)

In this WWC, I will be cheering on team USA and some of my closest friends and current/former teammates. From being in the car with Alex Scott as she got her phone call from her English National team coach, or getting skype calls from England and Portugal from my best friends Tarp and Hayo, you could say I am quite invested in the WWC.

I am so excited to see what Germany has done to make this WWC so special. The talent might be the best it has ever had. 72,000 people are expected to be at the Canada Germany game on the 26th.

Let the GAMES begin!!

Go Breakers and USA!

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