The United States women's national soccer team defeated Japan 5-2 Sunday, giving the U.S. its third Women's World Cup title and first since 1999.
Other than defender Christie Rampone, who was a member of the 1999 team, every United States player earned her first World Cup title, including six former members of the North Carolina women's soccer team.
Ashlyn Harris, Whitney Engen, Lori Chalupny, Heather O'Reilly, Meghan Klingenberg and Tobin Heath, all of whom played for UNC, were selected to the Women's World Cup roster back in April. Sunday, the months of hard work and training finally paid off.
What was predicted to be a tight game between both sides quickly turned south for Japan, who knocked off the U.S. in the 2011 World Cup final in penalty kicks. In just the third minute, Carli Lloyd gave the United States the lead off of a corner kick. Two minutes later, she struck again.
By the 16th minute, the United States stretched its lead to 4-0. It was the start they needed but one that almost no one had expected.
The Japanese would cut the lead to 4-1 before halftime, ending the United States' streak of holding its opponents scoreless that stretched back to the team's first game of the tournament against Australia.
In the 52nd minute, United States' defender Julie Johnston was charged with an own goal, bringing Japan within two and handing the Japanese some of the game's momentum.
But that momentum was quashed just two minutes later. Heath, who was an important player for the U.S. in the midfield throughout the World Cup, nabbed her first goal of the tournament to push the United States' lead back to three, where it would remain for the rest of the game.
While several former Tar Heels only saw brief action in the United States' World Cup campaign, both Heath and Klingenberg provided key minutes throughout the tournament. Klingenberg played every minute of every game and was part of a U.S. back line that only gave up three goals all tournament. Heath, who saw her first action as a sub in the team's opening game against Australia, became a solid presence in the U.S. midfield.
