Heather O'Reilly:))

The Game Face

After the call I got from April, I met up with team USA and started training everyday.
Do you guys ever get that feeling when you try to do everything for a popular girl just so they will like you? That was basically me from the beginning. I wanted every single person on the team to like me so if Mia Hamm wanted me to pass the ball I would even if it wasn't a good idea too.

Right when I started training with them, they noticed my game face. I thought that they would laugh at me for it, but they did, in a good way. I had laughs with them too and it was actually a lot of fun. Every day I trained with the team I wanted to make it a good day with my game face or without it.

One of my best friends on the team from the start was Abby Wambach. She made everything so much fun. Whether it was hanging out, passing the ball, or doing other drills, she made it fun, but serious at least in the soccer case. It wasn't just Abby that made this team fun, it was the whole team, including the staff. Christie Rampone, Mia Hamm, and Hope Solo. Everyone played amazing too. I thought I was really skilled, but everyone on the team looked even better, but I did work harder to show I was skilled too.

We had about a week left until the game and I was super excited, but also really nervous. During that week I wondered if everyone else got nervous, but by seeing how well they play on the field, I really doubted it. Every single day I worked hard, but it was extremely tiring and I'm pretty sure I wasn't the only one that thought that. I loved playing with the team and every single day I just hoped that I wouldn't have to leave them.

Eventually game day came and I got my first start on my first cap! It was certainly time for me to bring out my biggest game face. April decided to have a 4-3-3 line up and I started up top with Abby and Mia. Getting to start alongside Mia and Abby is something I will never forget. When the game started we were basically unstoppable. We were so fast and in good shape that we kept sprinting past the players.

I got taken out in about the 72 minute. I hate when your on the field, the game goes by so fast, but when your out it goes by slow. We ended up winning the game 4-1 and was the best day of my life. I ended up getting called up for another friendly and I was so happy. After the game I ended up rooming with Abby and she was so much fun to hang around. I can't believe I get to play some more games with her.

The rest of the night we relaxed, watched movies, and slept. I was so exhausted, but at the same time I was excited for the next training day.