Ali Krieger visits hometown club PWSI as part of USWNT ‘She Believes’ World Cup campaign

Surrounded by young athletes who may one day emulate her, Ali Krieger was back where it all began.

The U.S. National Team stalwart and World Cup veteran was clearly enjoying the moment at Forest Park High School in Prince William County, Va. on Wednesday, standing on the field where she started her international soccer journey.

Krieger had returned to her roots as part of the U.S. Women’s teams “#SheBelieves” program, an effort designed to simultaneously generate excitement for this summer’s World Cup in Canada and remind young females that with hard work and determination, they too can live out their dreams.

But one suspects Krieger didn’t need such a program to go back to her hometown, where she started her soccer career under the tutelage of her father and coach, Ken Krieger, with the Prince William Sparklers.

“This campaign isn’t about me,” she told the crowd of some 400 youngsters, parents, local board leaders and school officials. “It’s about all of you.”

“I was so emotional coming in here because this is my hometown. This is where I grew up and had dreams of being a professional athlete.”

And those dreams came true.

Krieger’s soccer journey began with the Sparklers at U-9, and six of her former teammates – several with kids in tow – made the trip back to Forest Park to celebrate with their friend and former Sparkler. Her club team won more state cup championships and tournaments than she can remember.

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Krieger also played for Forest Park before enjoying a four-year playing career at Penn State, where she was a two-time National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-American.

It was at State College where Krieger nearly saw her goal of becoming a professional player come to a tragic end. During her junior year she suffered a broken leg which required surgery to repair. Several months later she developed blood clots in her lungs, a medical ailment that nearly killed her.

But while many players would have ended their careers then and there, Krieger battled on. She completed her senior year for Penn State, and soon after found herself fulfilling her life-long dream of playing professionally with Germany’s Frankfurt FC. During the 2007-08 season, she won “the treble”, winning a UEFA Women’s Championship, the Bundesliga title and the German Cup with Frankfurt.

Prince William Courage Executive Director Mike Yeatts, who organized the local event, said Krieger’s perseverance and commitment to excellence makes her an excellent role model for young players.

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“It’s great that there’s that level they can aspire to as an athlete, and always have a path to follow whatever dream they want,” said Yeatts, who has known Krieger for more than 17 years.

“She’s one of the best, if not the best right back in the world,” he said. “But she’s an even better person.”

The Washington Spirit defender was selected to the U.S. National Team in 2008. She will make her second World Cup appearance after being one of four U.S. players to spend every minute of the 2011 Women’s World Cup on the pitch. At the tournament, she became a household name in the United States when she converted the fifth – and game-winning — penalty kick in a quarterfinal shootout victory over Brazil.

For this year’s tournament, Krieger is expected to start at her right back position, where she excels in one vs. one defensive situations. And as a former center midfielder on her club, high school and college teams, she also likes to get forward in the attack with overlapping runs.

On Wednesday, Krieger said the hundreds of smiling faces in front of her help fuel the National Team’s desire to succeed.

“Little do you know, but what inspires us out on the field is you guys,” she said. “You make us want to be better, to win championships. You make us proud to play for our country.”

“I wanted to come back here and show you that dreams do come true. No matter where you live, no matter where you play, or where you’re from, that it can happen as long as you believe it.”