We haven’t heard much from Hope Solo around these parts recently. Not since the afterglow of the U.S. women’s soccer team’s thrilling run to the World Cup finals last summer. But that’s kind of how it is for women soccer players. They become rock stars when major tournaments are taking place, and then, unfortunately, they more or less toil in obscurity the rest of the time (unless they go on “Dancing with the Stars” or pose naked or wearing body paint for magazines).
But the good news for Solo and the rest of the ladies on the USWNT is that the Olympics are coming up, and that’s a major tournament in women’s soccer. On Saturday, they won their final tune-up before heading to the U.K., beating Canada 2-1 in a sweltering Salt Lake City thanks to a late goal by Amy Rodriguez. But the Canadians almost got an extra goal in the closing moments of the first half. One Canadian player took a shot that deflected off a U.S. defender. Solo, moving to her right for the original trajectory of the shot, had to suddenly switch her momentum. She just barely stopped the ball from crossing the goal line and also secured the rebound. It was an impressive save and shows why Solo’s considered the best at what she does.
Video via Outside the Boxscore
