May 27, 2012
ABOUT REDEMPTION
U.S. on a mission for Gold

By Charles Cuttone
Executive Editor

“I would say this summer is a little bit about redemption,” US midfielder Amy Rodriguez said after Sunday’s 4-1 win over China at PPL Park. Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images

CHESTER, Pa.---Make no mistake about it, the United States Women’s National Team was looking to make a statement in Sunday’s 4-1 rout of China in front of a noisy sellout crowd at PPL Park.

The team found out earlier in the day who was on the squad that will go to London for this summer’s Olympics.

After the crescendo that built up for the team during last year’s Women’s World Cup, where they came in second, this team has a singular goal for London. Win gold.

“I would say this summer is a little bit about redemption,” said U.S. forward Amy Rodriguez, who will be making her second Olympic appearance after being with the Gold Medal winning team in 2008.

“The U.S. is not a big fan of coming home with a silver.”

Heather O’Reilly, who already has two gold medals, after winning in 2004 and 2008, said “Obviously we are going for gold. We are hungry, especially with what happened last summer. We fell short a little bit and we remember the hurt that we felt with that Japan game and we don’t forget about that too easily. We’re going in it to win it this summer.”