Column: Wambach's a winner with head, heart

By Scott Pitoniak

Gannett News Service

ATHENS, Greece - Seven minutes into the second overtime of the Olympic gold medal soccer game against Brazil on Thursday night, Abby Wambach won the game with one of her patented noggin shots.

The header on a cross from Kristine Lilly sailed over the out-stretched arms of goalkeeper Andreia and into soccer history.

Not only was it the decisive goal in a 2-1 victory, it also proved the perfect sendoff for Mia Hamm and the other members of U.S. soccer's Fab Five.

"This is for them,'' Wambach said. "This is the only way it should have ended for them.''

As she sprinted elatedly down the sideline after her shot heard 'round the soccer world, thousands of fans began waving American flags and chanting "USA! USA! USA!''

``I kept saying, 'Oh my God! Oh my God! This can't be happening,' '' said mom, Judy Wambach. "It all seemed surreal.''

Roughly an hour later, the scene would become even more surreal, as Judy and her husband, Peter Wambach, along with their oldest daughter, Laura, watched as the gold medal was draped around Abby's neck.

"You always want your children to dream big,'' Judy Wambach said. "But to see those dreams become reality like this defies all description.''

Abby, 24, stared at the medal, then kissed it. There were tears in her eyes, and tears in the eyes of her sister, too.

"I used to push her around in the backyard,'' Laura said. "I guess it paid off.''

Indeed it had.

The U.S. locker room after the game was an emotional scene as various players stood up and addressed the team. Both Hamm and captain Julie Foudy walked over to Abby to personally thank her.

Foudy, always the jokester, told her: "Now, I'm not going to have to be miserable for the next 40 years of my life.''

Hamm told Abby that she feels even better about her decision to retire because she's leaving U.S. women's soccer "in great hands.''

This Olympics proved to be the proper sendoff for Hamm, Foudy, Joy Fawcett, Brandi Chastain and Kristine Lilly - the core group that persuaded tens of thousands of young girls, including Abby, to pursue soccer and all sports with gusto.

But these games also served notice that the new generation is ready to take over, and the new leader will be Wambach.

She scored four goals and set up three others in the five matches she played. She had the endorsements of her coach April Heinrichs as well as Hamm and Foudy.

"She's a leader by example and by her words,'' Hamm said. "She has such a passion for the game and she has the ability to inspire others, including me."