Oct. 2, 2007
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Former Santa Clara women's soccer standouts Marian Dalmy ('07), Leslie Osborne ('04) and Aly Wagner ('02) aided in the United States' 4-1 triumph over Norway Sunday in the third place match of the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup. With the win, the Americans brought home the bronze medal and became the only country to finish in the top three in all five Women's World Cup tournaments that have been contested.
"I feel like in this tournament, from the time I came for the draw, the U.S. was behind the eight ball because we had a very difficult group," said U.S. head coach Greg Ryan about the overall tournament. "And then in the first game with Abby getting stitches and having to pull a draw out against North Korea. Each game was so under the gun. It was hard for the players to just completely relax and play the kind of soccer that they love because each match became an elimination game for us. Tonight I was just so happy that the players just completely relaxed, played some great soccer and entertaining football with confidence in themselves and in their teammates."
Wagner earned her first start as she replaced midfielder Shannon Boxx, who was suspended due to a red card against Brazil. The attacking midfielder earned her first minutes of the tournament and put in an excellent performance while contributing to the USA's ball possession and the win. Wagner had been recovering from a groin injury that sidelined her for most of 2007.
Dalmy also saw action in her first-ever National team match. She replaced an injured Kate Markgraf at right back and was fantastic in both her defending and attacking in just her fourth ever cap. Osborne also started and saw action in all 90 minutes for the Americans.
Abby Wambach scored the first two goals of the match and was the recipient of the Silver Shoe as the tournament's second leading scorer. Lori Chalupny and Heather O'Rielly score the third and fourth goals, respectively.
For more postgame quotes from Ryan and the rest of the Women's National Team, click here.
Although the Women's World Cup may have come to the end, the U.S. team will have a short break before regrouping in St. Louis, Mo., to face Mexico on Saturday, Oct. 13. It is the first of the three final matches of 2007 with a kick off at 7 p.m. CT.