Happy Holidays from the WNT!

 December 19, 2008 -  This guy says it all.

The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team wrapped up the year and their Achieve Your Gold Tour with a 1-0 win over China PR on Wednesday. More than 11,000 fans showed up at Ford Field in Detroit to watch the team finish off the year with its 33rd victory of 2008. Heather O’Reilly scored a first-half goal to become the sixth U.S. player to get at least 10 goals and 10 assists in a calendar year. It was a great way to end an historic year, not only with a victory – the USA’s 25th shutout of the year — but with a big and appreciative crowd.

The hugely entertaining WNT blog, which provides a great behind-the-scenes look at the team, will go on hiatus but they’ll  be back in late January when the U.S. women reconvene for a training camp. For now,  it’s time to focus on family and loved ones during the holidays and reflect warmly on all the great things that happened this year, on the field and off. 

Happy Holidays to all the women on the team. Thanks for your hard work and a great year!

U.S. Women defeat China PR 1-0 on Achieve Your Gold Tour

December 14, 2008 – The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team defeated China PR 1-0 in an entertaining match on a cool night at The Home Depot Center in Los Angeles as Tina Ellertson scored her first international goal in the 61st minute.

Ellertson, a defender in her previous 32 caps for the USA, was a forward in college at the University of Washington and started at striker for the first time in her national team career.

Assisting on the goal was forward Amy Rodriguez, who returned to the U.S. team for the first time since the Olympics after completing her senior season at the University of Southern California. After coming on at halftime, Rodriguez’ trademark speed caused problems for the Chinese during the entire second half and it was her blistering pace that created the winning goal.

“I’m so excited, I’m grinning from ear to ear,” said Ellertson, who was out for most of 2008 after having her second child. “I wanted to be back playing and being out there. Today was so awesome. It’s been a while since I played up top but it felt great.”

Goalkeeper Hope Solo made four saves for her 13th shutout of the year and the 41st of her international career.

Veteran Kristine Lilly returned from a nearly 14-month hiatus after taking time off to have her first child and earned her 341st cap when she came on in the 55th minute. The Queen of Caps showed well in her 35 minutes of action, just missing wide at the near post in the 59th minute, and in the 76th minute forced Zhang to make the best save on the night as she dove right to block a low, line drive from 12 yards out.

Midfielder Shannon Boxx,  a SoCal local who grew up near the Home Depot Center, talked to the LA Times before the game. The 31-year-old was feeling burned out last year and credits her re-energized take on the game to U.S. Coach Pia Sundhage.

“I’ve just been enjoying myself so much,” Boxx said after a recent practice. “I’m having fun, I’m laughing, and all of a sudden my game is getting better.”

Nominated again this year for FIFA world player of the year, Boxx will be playing with the Los Angeles Sol when the Women’s Professional Soccer league launches next spring.

Last night’s victory was the USA’s third of 2008 over China after also winning 1-0 in January in Guangzhou and 4-0 in March at the Algarve Cup in Portugal.

With the win, the U.S. extended their record number of wins in a year to 32, with just one loss and one tie. The Achieve Your Gold Tour wraps up on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at Ford Field in Detroit as the U.S. hosts China again and Lindsay Tarpley and Kate Markgraf return to play in their home state.