Hope woke up at 7 but let me sleep until 7:30. I got up and got dressed and got ice from Beck before going to breakfast. After we ate I went back up to the room and facetimed Brad. After I hung up I checked my email and had many condolences about my mom. After those I decided to check Twitter and Instagram. I liked a lot of posts and then started my own. I chose the picture of me and my mom when I was at my first soccer game and the note I wrote after it.
Me: "Mommy, Daddy I wanna be a professional soccer player" No matter what I did or what sport I chose my mom always supported me. On July 24th, 10 days before I started the biggest tournament of my life my mom passed away. I am thankful I was able to see her before she went. My mom was my number 1 fan and always watched my games no matter where she was at the time. Why she was taken so early I do not know but what I do know is the she will always be watching and cheering me on. This next one is for you Mama! #fly high
I hit post and then headed to lunch. My phone was going crazy with texts and call. I just turned it off and ate. Tobin and I finished and went to play soccer tennis. We came in at 4 and Jill stopped me.
Jill: there you are, if you're up for it NBC wants an interview with you.
Me: uh sure
I went up to the lounge and the interviewer and I sat.
Alicia: I'm Alicia Wright with your NBC sport interviews and right now I am with Savannah Solo better known as Baby Horse. So, you were up to take the 5th PK against Brazil. It was 4-4 what was that feeling?
Me: nervous definitely. When Jill told me I was number 5 I'm not going to lie, I froze. I thought to myself and was like really me? When Hope saved Brazil's PK I was thrilled and then I realized it was on me. Scoring was surreal, it was the best feeling I've ever had.
Alicia: so also on that day the new broke with your mom passing away 10 days before your first game.
Me: yes, the morning after our game in Kansas I flew out to Louisiana to be with her. She passed away early the next morning. The service was just my dad, my sister and I. I met back up with the team in DC before we left for Rio. Today is her birthday actually.
Alicia: well my condolences to you and your family. Today you are playing Canada for the final, how is the team going in?
Me: I think we are exactly where we want to be in terms of peaking and our mind set. We are all just ready to play and hopefully get the result we want.
Alicia: well good luck to you and your team tonight
Me: thank you
Once I was I finished it was almost 5 and I quickly changed and headed to the bus. The ride was different than any other this tournament. We got off and went to the locker room. I put on my warmup top and then my cleats. Hope and Ashlyn headed out and then Alex and I led everyone else out.
We got our stretches and then I went to get my shots in. I finished and went back to the locker room. I put on my jersey and my jacket. I grabbed my shin guards and then went to find tape. I wrote 'MOM' on the tape and put it around my wrist. I lined up behind Becky and we walked out. The anthem played and we got the starting 11 picture. I went to take the field and was pulled back.
Hope: you good, your hand okay?
Me: yup and yup
Hope: good let's do this.
Hope and I hugged and took the field. The ref blew the whistle and Canada kicked off. It's always a tough game when we play them but with a medal on the line it was worse. There were a bunch of fouls and Alex and I spent a lot of time on the ground. At halftime, the score was still 0-0. We went to the locker room and listen to Jill.
Jill: alright, we did good of staying in their half. Moe you're going in for Horan and Kelley you're in for Press. We are switching to a 4-4-2. Let head out and finish this.
