University Southern California Trojans
Amy Rodriguez Gets Gold With USA Soccer
August 21, 2008 | Women's Soccer
Aug. 21, 2008
It's been a pretty spectacular year for USC's Amy Rodriguez. Already a 2007 NCAA champion with the Women of Troy, Rodriguez captured an Olympic gold medal today in Beijing, as the U.S. women's soccer team edged Brazil 1-0 in extra time for the USA's third Olympic gold. A first-time Olympian, Rodriguez was an unwavering spark on the front lines throughout the Games. In the final against Brazil, it was Rodriguez who set up the game-winning goal from Carli Lloyd, slipping a pass back to Lloyd for the assist on the golden strike.
Rodriguez got her first call as an Olympic starter in the USA's second match of the Beijing Games. A remarkably speedy striker, Rodriguez went on to start and play at least 80 minutes in the next five USA matches -- all wins -- including the gold-medal match. The Trojan senior notched her first Olympic goal in a 4-0 win over New Zealand during group play. She played 109 minutes of the USA's 2-1 overtime win against Canada in the quarterfinals, and had an assist on the United States' second goal in a 4-2 win over Japan in the semis to boost Team USA into the gold-medal match.
Up against a tough rival in Brazil, the United States went into extra time once again. In the 96th minute, Rodriguez slipped a pass back to Carli Lloyd, who took a touch to the left outside the box and drilled a shot toward the far post and under the diving Brazil keeper to get Team USA ahead 1-0. The USA defense withstood an onslaught of Brazilian attacks late in the second extra time period, as the United States emerged with the win and Olympic gold.
Rodriguez -- with her medal in tow - returns to Troy as a senior with the USC soccer squad. Having logged a pile of minutes for the USA, she is expected to sit out the start of the Trojan 2008 season, which opens on Friday at San Diego.
"We are very proud of Amy and the U.S. women on capturing the gold medal!" USC head coach Ali Khosroshahin said. "It's an amazing accomplishment for someone so young. We can hardly wait to have her join us on Monday. She will definitely get a much deserved break before she joins us in training!"
Rodriguez is USC's first-ever women's soccer Olympian and the first USC soccer player to medal in the Games. Her gold-medal win in Beijing brings USC its fifth gold of the 2008 Games and 117th all-time Olympic gold medal.
For more information on Team USA's gold-medal accomplishment, visit ussoccer.com and nbcolympics.com.
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**Be a part of history this season as USC soccer aims to break the NCAA attendance record! Join the crowd at the Los Angeles Coliseum on October 24, as the Trojans host crosstown rival UCLA in a night game. Visit usctrojans.com/tickets to get your tickets for the match.
