Area soccer interest rises

With a penalty-kick save by Hope Solo and an ensuing PK by defender Alex Krieger, the United States' soccer team claimed a dramatic victory Sunday over Brazil to advance to today's semifinals of the Women's World Cup.

They did a good job of winning over a large contingent of fans as well, including people in the Chattanooga area who normally aren't heavily into soccer.

Sunday's win on the big stage drew a 2.6 overnight rating - the highest ranking for a women's soccer game since the USA-Brazil World Cup semifinal in 1999. This time the United States scored in the 123rd minute to tie a game it looked as though it was going to lose, then connected on all five penalty-kick shots to claim the victory.

"I never watch soccer, but I was glued to the television set," said Dave Woods, store manager of JCPenney's in Cleveland. "I couldn't turn away. I jumped to my feet on more than one occasion."

"I've enjoyed watching the World Cup this year," said Andrew Thompson of Cleveland. "Those girls are in some unbelievable shape."

East Hamilton coach John Millard agreed that the conditioning played a huge part in what the United States was able to do Sunday.

"That's what made it so exciting," he said. "They were a man down; nothing was going their way. Brazil was more creative and, to be honest, had better players. The United States was more fit and their mentality was just 'go-go-go,' and Brazil just ran out of gas.

"As a coach, you can use that to encourage your players, telling them that the fitter that they are, the harder it is for them to surrender late in a match."

World Cup fever made its way through the social networks, as Twitter erupted with positive tweets after the game from professional athletes. The United States will face France today at noon EDT.

"They've definitely drawn some national headlines, even though it wasn't much of an upset," Cleveland coach Andy Byrd said. "It provided a much-needed boost. Any time we can promote girls' soccer around here, it's good."

Added Millard: "It definitely can't hurt that a lot of people witnessed one of the better soccer matches ever seen. I think it's caused some excitement around here."

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