August 1, 2004
Hartford, Ct

What a great crowd, what a great result, what a great way to leave the US bound for Greece!

We couldn't have gotten much more out of the day (a bit more playing time for me would have made it perfect, but it is important to remember that making a positive impact when you get in is the important thing). Beating China with goals of the highest quality. Aly scoring with the left-footed volley into the roof. Abby unselfishly making that early pass to Mia for an open-netter. And finally Abby soaring over the Chinese team to head it into the net off the corner.

Just before that, Cat, Abby and I had made the determinations on what runs we would make. I told them, I am going to make the near run, and from what I had seen from the sideline was that once the ball had gone over their heads, they really shift and leave the far post open, so look for me if you can't get a shot...well, as it went over me, I turned, saw that Abby was going to win it, and thought she is going to hit me, and then it hit the back of the net. I guess I can at least say that I was in the right place, maybe next time.

Getting a bit of work in the heat and humidity--which is definitely going to mimic Athens and the surrounding venues we are going to play in. Getting a lot of players into the game is exactly what we needed to do to put everyone in a positive frame of mind leading into our first game versus Greece. That is surely going to be an emotional night, the first night of the entire Olympic Games on August 11th.

I think the best part of the day was that the crowd was AWESOME!!! I usually don't like to let Lil know that Connecticut is so great, trying to get her to move west, but they made it feel like an actual match in the Olympics. They cheered wildly, got on the ref (hahahahaha, that makes it easier for us not to) and stayed around for autographs after. We all wish that we could stay to thank them all, but we had to catch a flight.

Now we are bound for Greece this afternoon, and I don't think we could be any more excited. I think it finally hit us in the locker room after the game. The players were giddy with excitement, dancing in the locker room, and singing all the way to the airport.

We wish you all could join us in person, but since you can't, we know you will be cheering us on at home.

WE PROMISE TO MAKE YOU PROUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brandi