The U.S. Women’s National Team was in East Hartford Tuesday night, playing Germany to a 2-2 tie at Rentschler Field in a “friendly” to promote its post-Olympic Gold medal “Fan Tribute Tour.”
I got a chance to speak with forward Alex Morgan, who scored the winning goal against Canada in injury time/extra time – the 123rd minute – in a 4-3 win that put the United States into the London Olympic gold medal match against Japan, the same team that defeated the U.S. in the 2011 World Cup final in Germany.
Morgan assisted on the winning goal in Team USA’s 2-1 gold medal victory over Japan.
I asked her about wearing No. 13, Kristine Lilly’s old number.
“Growing up, watching her play, all those games on TV, she was such a big impact for the team,” said Morgan. “She did so well. She was a huge reason I choose 13 was because of Kristine Lilly.”
Even better, Morgan got to play with Lilly for a time in 2010 as the National Team prepared for the World Cup.
“I did get a chance to play with her (Lilly),” Morgan said. “I got to play with her for about six months during the World cup qualifiers and then after that, she retired.
“She did everything. She was super fit, always running up and down the sidelines. She was quiet but stepped up when she needed to. She was always in it for the team she always put the team first and that was great to see and to be able to play with her for a couple of months.”
I asked Abby Wambach if there were any similarities between Lilly and Morgan.
“I think that, physically … Lil, back in her heyday, was pretty quick, but Alex is just a big, strong, fast, goal scorer,” Wambach said. “I think that Lil possessed a knowledge of the game that Alex will grow into and I think that Kristine Lilly is a legend and a legend in my book and I think that’s something that Alex will grow into.
“They’re very different players. I’d liken Alex to be more like a Mia (Hamm), fast, tricky, great with the ball at her feet and the good news about Alex is that Alex is making her own name for herself. She doesn’t need to be compared to anyone else.
Does she have flashbacks of Lilly when she sees Morgan flying around the field?
“I don’t necessarily see flashbacks to Lil, I think the effect that she has on being able to change a game, absolutely are similar to Kristine Lilly. The thing about it was, Lil, was a quiet assassin. She didn’t talk much, wasn’t loud, she just worked hard. That was her MO. That was how she lived, breathed and played her whole career. Alex is very much the same. She’s very diligent about her training. Wants to get better, so yeah, there are some similarities but like I said, Alex is making a name for herself.”
My Two Cents
Archive for October, 2012
Alex Morgan, Abby Wambach talk about Kristine Lilly
Shehan Center hosts “An Evening with Geno Auriemma”
The Cardinal Shehan Center is hosting “An Evening with Geno Auriemma” on October 30 at the Fairfield University Quick Center. The VIP session begins at 5:30 p.m. and general admission starts at 6:30 p.m. with Auriemma taking the stage to speak at 7 p.m.
VIP tickets are $125 and can be purchased through the Cardinal Shehan Center at (203) 336-4468. VIP tickets include a private reception and a picture with Auriemma.
Regular tickets are $75 and can be purchased through the Quick Center at (203) 254-4010 or over the internet at http://www.fairfield.edu/arts/qc_index.html.
An Evening with Geno Auriemma will support the Shehan Center’s After School Program and Saturday Programs.
UConn’s Jory Johnson named to Big East Honor Roll
Here’s the weekly Big East Honor Roll
BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Montel Harris • Sr. • RB • Temple • Jacksonville, Fla.
Harris rushed for 133 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns and had three receptions for 15 yards to help Temple to a 38-27 win against USF in the Owls’ BIG EAST opener. A transfer from Boston College, Harris turned in his first 100-yard game in a Temple uniform and the 23rd 100-yard game of his career — the most of any active Football Bowl Subdivision player.
BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Brandon Sharpe • Sr. • DE • Syracuse • Virginia Beach, Va.
Sharpe had seven tackles, including four sacks and six tackles for loss, totalling 45 yards, to key Syracuse’s 14-13 win against Pittsburgh in the Orange’s BIG EAST opener. He led a defensive line that limited the Panthers to just 27 rushing yards and came up with a sack and two tackles for loss on Pittsburgh’s final possession. The four sacks and six tackles for loss are both good for second on Syracuse’s single-game chart.
BIG EAST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tony Miliano • So. • K • Cincinnati • North Bend, Ohio
Miliano scored 10 points as part of the Bearcats’ BIG EAST-leading seventh straight win, a 52-14 decision against Miami (Ohio). He scored six points in the first half, with a field goal and three PATs, to help the Bearcats take a 24-6 lead into halftime.
HONOR ROLL
Camerron Cheatham • Sr. • CB • Cincinnati • Kalmazoo, Mich.
Scored a touchdown on a 68-yard interception return in a 52-14 win against Miami (Ohio).
George Winn • Sr. • RB • Cincinnati • Southfield, Mich.
Rushed for 128 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries in a 52-14 win against Miami (Ohio).
Jory Johnson • Sr. • LB • Connecticut • Mobile, Ala.
Had a game-high 10 tackles in a 19-3 loss to Rutgers.
Jawan Jamison • So. • RB • Rutgers • Stark, Fla.
Rushed for 110 yards on 28 carries in a 19-3 win against Connecticut, turning in his sixth straight 100-yard game.
Tyler Matakevich • Fr. • LB • Temple • Stratford, Conn.
The former St. Joseph (CT) High School standout made his first career start and had a game- and career-high 15 tackles, including 12 solo stops, in a 37-28 win against USF.
Anyone remember Harding’s Ron Davis?
Hey,
I recently spoke with the new women’s track coach at San Jose State University, former Harding High track standout Ron Davis. In May of 1959 Davis set the state record in the mile run with a time of 4:23 and later that month at the New England meet at Brown University, he timed out a 4:20.1 — the sixth fastest clocking in the country at that time.
Is there anyone out there that knew Ron well or went to Harding with him? If so, I’d love to talk with you about him. Drop me an e-mail at celsberry@ctpost.com or respond to this blog post. Thanks!
