U.S. Women’s National Team squares off against Australia tonight in Fan Tribute Tour

The U.S. Women’s National Team takes on Australia in the third match of the Fan Tribute Tour. The USA gold medal-winning team from the 2012 London Olympics hosts Australia at 10 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Sept. 19, at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo., with a live broadcast on ESPN2 and available through WatchESPN.

On Sept. 16, the U.S. WNT earned its 13^thconsecutive victory dating back to early April of this year in a 2-1 win against Australia in front of 19,851 fans at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. It was the first of two matches between the two countries and the first meeting between the USA and the Matildas since 2008.

FAN TRIBUTE TOUR CURRENTLY SPANS FIVE CITIES: In celebration of the team’s third straight gold medal and fourth overall, the USA is hosting the Fan Tribute Tour, which has kicked off with five scheduled matches in September and October. The USA opened the tour with an 8-0 victory against Costa Rica on Sept. 1 at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester, N.Y., the hometown of star striker Abby Wambach, and followed it up with a 2-1 win against Australia on Sept. 16 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. After a Sept. 19 match against Australia in Commerce City, Colo., the USA faces Germany, the number two team in the latest FIFA Women’s World Rankings, in back-to-back matches on Oct. 20 at Toyota Park in suburban Chicago, and Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Conn.

HEAD COACH PIA SUNDHAGE TO MAKE FINAL APPEARANCE ON WNT BENCH: The match against Australia on Wednesday, Sept. 19, marks the final match in charge of the U.S. Women’s National Team for head coach Pia Sundhage. On Sept. 1, Sundhage announced her decision to step down from the position and has since accepted the head coaching post with the Sweden Women’s National Team and will return to her home country. Sweden is preparing to host the Women’s European Championships next summer.

TEAM SALUTES SUNDHAGE FOLLOWING MATCH IN CALIFORNIA: The Women’s National Team presented head coach Pia Sundhage with a surprise gift following a 2-1 win against Australia on Sept. 16 as a way to thank the outgoing head coach for her service to the team. Sundhage announced her decision to step down as head coach of the Women’s National Team on Sept. 1 prior to the first match of the Fan Tribute Tour in Rochester, N.Y. Following the match at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., Christie Rampone and the players presented their head coach with a Taylor guitar, which was signed by the entire squad, before Sundhage used her new instrument to serenade the crowd with a rendition of the classic Elvis Presley hit “Jailhouse Rock.”

2012 U.S. WNT Schedule

* CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying tournament
^ Algarve Cup
** Kirin Challenge Cup
^^ Volvo Winners Cup
~ 2012 London Olympics

U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (2): 1-Hope Solo, 21-Jill Loyden
DEFENDERS (6): 2-Heather Mitts, 3-Christie Rampone, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 5-Kelley O’Hara, 6-Amy LePeilbet, 19-Rachel Buehler
MIDFIELDERS (5): 7-Shannon Boxx, 9-Heather O’Reilly, 10-Carli Lloyd, 15-Megan Rapinoe, 17-Tobin Heath
FORWARDS (5): 8-Amy Rodriguez, 11-Sydney Leroux, 12-Lauren Cheney, 13-Alex Morgan, 20-Abby Wambach

U.S. ROSTER NOTES:

• Five players on the U.S. roster scored in the 2012 London Olympics and eight players on the USA roster for the Fan Tribute Tour have scored in an Olympics: Abby Wambach (4 goals in 2004; 5 goals in 2012), Carli Lloyd (2 goals in 2008; 4 goals in 2012), Heather O’Reilly (1 goal in 2004; 2 goals in 2008), Shannon Boxx (1 goal in 2004), Amy Rodriguez (1 goal in 2008), Alex Morgan (3 goals in 2012), Megan Rapinoe (3 goals in 2012) and Sydney Leroux (1 goal in 2012).
• Rapinoe and Morgan led the team with four assists apiece in the Olympics.
• Morgan, Rapinoe and Wambach each had 10 points in this year’s Olympics.
• Only three U.S. WNT players were on the field for all 570 minutes in the 2012 Olympics: goalkeeper Hope Solo, defender and team captain Christie Rampone and defender Kelley O’Hara.
• Boxx’s game-winning goal against Australia on Sept. 16 was just her second career goal scored when coming into a match as a substitute. The only other time Boxx scored after coming off the bench was on July 21, 2004 – a 3-1 win against Australia in Blaine, Minn.
• In her next appearance, Boxx will earn her 173^rd cap and a tie for 10^th place overall on the all-time list with former goalkeeper Briana Scurry.
• Morgan marked her 50th career international cap on Sept. 16 against Australia with her 32^nd career international goal. Among the USA’s 2012 London Olympics roster, 15 players have already surpassed 50 appearances, and before Morgan, Tobin Heath earned her 50th cap during the thrilling come-from-behind victory against Canada in the Olympic Semifinals on Aug. 6.
• Morgan’s game-winning goal against Canada on Aug. 6 is the latest goal ever in a FIFA competition. Her strike hit the back of the net at 122 minutes, 23 seconds. Wambach’s memorable game-tying header against Brazil in the quarterfinals of the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup crossed the goal line at 121 minutes, 19 seconds.
• Morgan leads the U.S. with 22 goals in 23 games played, and she has seven multi-goal games this year.
• The USA has scored 94 goals in 24 matches this year (which includes two own goals). That 94-goal total currently is the fifth-highest for a calendar year and the most since the USA scored 102 goals in 2004. This year’s scoring rate (3.83 goals per game) is currently the third-best, with the record being 4.38 goals per game in 1994 (57 goals in 13 games). Also ahead of the current scoring rate: a mark of 4.35 goals per game in 1991 (122 goals in 28 games).

USA vs. AUSTRALIA SERIES

• The USA is unbeaten against Australia with a 20-0-2 record and a 73-18 scoring advantage.
• In the first 15 meetings, the U.S. won every match while outscoring Australia 58-9.
• The series started with the USA’s 6-0 victory on Dec. 16, 1987, in Taipei, Taiwan.
• The U.S. and Australia faced each other for the first time in more than four years on Sept. 16 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Prior to that match, the USA last defeated Australia 2-1 in the opening match of the Peace Queen Cup on June 15, 2008, with Natasha Kai scoring the opening goal and Abby Wambach tallying the game-winner in the 77th minute.
• In the 2004 Olympics in Greece, the USA played Australia to a 1-1 draw, with the one point giving the U.S. first place in Group G before moving onto the Olympic quarterfinals. Kristine Lilly had the game’s first goal in the 19th minute. Though Wambach was suspended for this match because of yellow card accumulation, she would score the winning goals in the quarterfinals (a 2-1 win against Japan) and the gold medal game (2-1 overtime victory against Brazil).

IN THE RECORD BOOKS

• Hope Solo saw her U.S. WNT goalkeeping consecutive minutes played streak end at 1,163 in the USA’s 8-0 victory against Costa Rica on Sept. 1. Solo surpassed the previous record set by Briana Scurry (990) during the 2012 London Olympics. Backup goalkeeper Jill Loyden replaced Solo in the 54th minute of the match against Costa Rica.
• Sydney Leroux tied a U.S. WNT record for goals scored off the bench in a year with her ninth of 2012 against Costa Rica. That mark equals Debbie Keller’s nine goals off the bench in 1998. U.S. forward Amy Rodriguez is also nearing the record as she has eight goals in a substitute role for 2012.
• U.S. defender and team captain Christie Rampone ranks fourth all-time with 268 caps and is just four behind Julie Foudy (272) and seven behind Mia Hamm (275). Kristine Lilly holds the record with 352 caps.
• Midfielders Shannon Boxx and Heather O’Reilly, both with 172 caps, are just three appearances away from tying Shannon MacMillan for tenth all-time with 176 caps.
• Rampone has 22 career Olympic appearances and moved six ahead of previous USA record holders Joy Fawcett, Foudy, Lilly and Kate Markgraf.
• Abby Wambach scored five goals in five straight games during the London Olympics, which is a U.S. and Olympic record. She has nine career Olympic goals and is atop the USA leaderboard in that category, surpassing the previous record of five held by Hamm and Tiffeny Milbrett.
• Morgan’s team-leading 57 points this year (22 goals, 13 assists) are the most for a WNT player in a calendar year since 2004, when Wambach had 75 points (31 goals, 13 assists).
• The U.S. WNT recorded its 13^th consecutive win on Sept. 16 and is five victories away from tying the all-time overall record of 18 straight wins set from July 25, 1990 – May 25, 1991.

BY THE NUMBERS:

1 USA’s FIFA ranking

5 Goals scored in a game by Sydney Leroux (Jan. 22, 2012), Amy Rodriguez (Jan. 20, 2012), Abby Wambach (Oct. 23, 2004), Tiffeny Milbrett (Nov. 2, 2002), Michelle Akers (Nov. 24, 1991) and Brandi Chastain (April 18, 1991)

9 Career Olympic goals by Wambach, a U.S. WNT record

9 Australia’s FIFA ranking, which ties for its highest ever (also ninth in September 2010)

10 Games this year in which Morgan and Wambach both contributed at least one goal (10-0-0 record)

13 Straight wins for the U.S. (USA drew Japan 1-1 on April 1, 2012, before 13 consecutive victories)

17 Combined goals off the bench this year by Leroux (9) and Rodriguez (8)

22 Career Olympic appearances by U.S. captain Christie Rampone

90 Wins under U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage, who is completing her U.S. WNT tenure on Sept. 19

94 U.S. victories when Abby Wambach scores a goal (94-2-5 overall)

194 Players who have earned a cap for the U.S. Women’s National Team since the program’s inception in 1985, the most recent being Whitney Engen, who earned her first cap against Norway at the Algarve Cup on March 4, 2011

OLYMPIC GOLD OVER THE YEARS:
The Fan Tribute Tour embraces a U.S. Women’s National Team that has set a standard in the Olympics. No soccer team – men’s or women’s – has won four Olympic gold medals. In addition, the USA’s six straight wins at the 2012 Olympics were the first time a women’s team has won every game during its Olympic gold medal run. Here is a look at all four gold medal-winning performances:

• Aug. 9, 2012: USA 2, Japan 1: U.S. midfielder Carli Lloyd, the gold medal hero of the 2008 Olympics, once again led the way for the USA by scoring both goals to upend 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup champion Japan in front of more than 80,000 spectators at Wembley Stadium in London – an Olympic record crowd for women’s soccer and the largest crowd the U.S. WNT has played in front of outside the United States. Lloyd made a darting run in the eighth minute, heading home the game’s first goal of a cross from Alex Morgan. Lloyd unleashed a right-footed shot from 20 yards out in the 54th minute for what would prove to be the winning tally.
• Aug. 24, 2008: USA 1, Brazil 0 (OT): The U.S. held Brazil scoreless for 120 minutes and Carli Lloyd took the spotlight with a game-winning goal in the sixth minute of overtime in front of 51,612 at Worker’s Stadium in Beijing. Lloyd’s left-footed strike from just outside the box was the finishing touch for the USA’s third gold medal in four Olympic Games. Goalkeeper Hope Solo made six saves for the clean sheet.
• Aug. 26, 2004: USA 2, Brazil 1 (OT): Abby Wambach’s snap header from about 12 yards out in the 112th minute flew past Brazil goalkeeper Andreia for the winner as the young Wambach capitalized on Kristine Lilly’s corner kick. Lindsay Tarpley gave the USA a first-half lead in the 39th minute and Brazil’s Pretinha equalized in the 73rd minute. The Athens Olympics served as the final international championship for legends Brandi Chastain, Joy Fawcett, Julie Foudy and Mia Hamm.
• Aug. 1, 1996: USA 2, China PR 1: Tiffeny Milbrett scored off of a strong setup from Joy Fawcett in the 68th minute to give the USA its first gold medal in front of 76,481 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga. Fawcett attacked down the right side into the penalty area, drew a China defender and slid the ball to a wide open Milbrett. Shannon MacMillan scored the first goal in the 19th minute, rebounding Mia Hamm’s initial shot that was saved by China goalkeeper Hong Gao and deflected off the post. China’s Lihong Zhao tied the score at 1-1 in the 32nd minute.

PIA SUNDHAGE FACT FILE: Head coach Pia Sundhage is completing her fourth full year in charge of the U.S. Women’s National Team. Her tenure with the WNT concludes when the squad faces Australia on Sept. 19. Below are some of her accomplishments as a player and coach.

• Sundhage is the sixth official coach and second female coach in the history of the U.S. Women’s National Team program.
• Sundhage’s record as head coach of the Women’s National Team is 90-6-10, with 278 goals for and 58 against.
• As a player, Sundhage was one of the game’s best-ever players, finishing sixth in the voting for FIFA Women’s Player of the Century. A legendary player in Sweden, she played for her country in the 1991 and 1995 Women’s World Cups and 1996 Olympics. She scored four goals for Sweden at the 1991 Women’s World Cup, helping the Swedes to a third-place finish. She scored one goal in the 1995 Women’s World Cup (against Germany) and played every minute of all three matches at the Atlanta Olympics.
• Sundhage started her coaching career while still playing, serving as player-coach for Hammarby from 1992-1994. She also coached Sweden’s Youth National Teams for 11 years from 1990-2001, coaching the U-16s, U-19s and U-21s.
• After her retirement from the international game in 1996, she became head coach of the Sweden Under-19 Women’s National Team, leading the team to one gold medal and two bronze medals at the European Championships. She served as a scout for Sweden during the 1997 European Championships, the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2000 Olympics. Sundhage has also worked for FIFA on its Technical Study Group staff for the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship in Thailand.
• Since taking over as head coach, Sundhage has given 17 players their first senior team caps.

IN FOCUS: AUSTRALIA
Football Federation Australia
Founded: 1911 (Joined FIFA in 1956)
Head Coach: Tom Sermanni
FIFA World Ranking: 9
Best FIFA World Cup Finish: Quarterfinals in 2007, 2011
Best Olympics Finish: Quarterfinals in 2004

AUSTRALIA ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (2): 18-Brianna Davey, 21-Mackenzie Arnold
DEFENDERS (4): 5-Laura Alleway, 8-Danielle Brogan, 10-Yesim Servet Uzunlar, 19-Stephanie Catley
MIDFIELDERS (6): 2-Teigen Allen, 4-Clare Polkinghorne, 7-Caitlin Foord, 14-Collette McCallum, 15-Emily van Egmond, 23-Alanna Kennedy
FORWARDS (8): 3-Ashley Brown, 9-Sarah Walsh, 11-Lisa De Vanna, 12-Kathryn Gill, 17-Kyah Simon, 20-Samantha Kerr, 22-Michelle Heyman, 24-Emily Gielnik

AUSTRALIA ROSTER NOTES:

• Australia is without its starting goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri, who announced she is pregnant in August. That leaves Australia with a pair of teenage goalkeeper options against the USA with 17-year-old Brianna Davey and 18-year-old Mackenzie Arnold.
• Davey earned her first cap as Australia defeated Haiti 4-0 on Thursday, Sept. 13, at the Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium in Indianapolis. She earned her second cap against the U.S. on Sept. 16, making five saves in a 2-1 loss. Australia’s other rostered goalkeeper, Arnold, has not made an appearance yet for Australia’s senior team.
• Sarah Walsh, 29, is the oldest player on Australia’s current roster and she is the leading goal scorer among this group with 37 career tallies. She played during the 2009 Women’s Professional Soccer season with Sky Blue FC and St. Louis Athletica.
• Lisa de Vanna, who played for the Washington Freedom and magicJack in WPS, leads the current roster with 83 international appearances.
• Since advancing to the quarterfinals of the 2004 Olympics, Australia has not qualified for the tournament.

LAST TIME
On the field for the USA:
Sept. 16, 2012 – The Home Depot Center – Carson, Calif. – International Friendly
USA 2 Morgan 55, Boxx 63
AUS 1 de Vanna 34

Lineups:
USA: 1-Hope Solo; 5-Kelley O’Hara, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 3-Christie Rampone (capt.) (19-Rachel Buehler, 46), 6-Amy LePeilbet (2-Heather Mitts, 46); 17-Tobin Heath, 12-Lauren Cheney, 10-Carli Lloyd (7-Shannon Boxx, 46), 15-Megan Rapinoe (9-Heather O’Reilly, 46); 13-Alex Morgan (11-Sydney Leroux, 78), 14-Abby Wambach (8-Amy Rodriguez, 67)
Subs Not Used: 21-Jill Loyden
Head coach: Pia Sundhage

AUS: 18-Brianna Davey; 19-Stephanie Catley, 5-Laura Alleway (23-Alanna Kennedy, 64), 10-Servet Uzunlar, 7-Caitlin Foord; 15-Emily van Egmond, 14-Collette McCallum (17-Kyah Simon, 72), 2-Teigen Allen (4-Clare Polkinghorne, 56); 9-Sarah Walsh (capt.) (20-Samantha Kerr, 51), 11-Lisa de Vanna (3-Ashley Brown, 78), 12-Kathryn Gill (24-Emily Gielnik, 71)
Subs Not Used: 8-Danielle Brogan, 21-Mackenzie Arnold, 22-Michelle Heyman
Head coach: Tom Sermanni

Vs. Australia:
Sept. 16, 2012 – The Home Depot Center – Carson, Calif. – International Friendly
USA 2 Morgan 55, Boxx 63
AUS 1 de Vanna 34

Lineups:
USA: 1-Hope Solo; 5-Kelley O’Hara, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 3-Christie Rampone (capt.) (19-Rachel Buehler, 46), 6-Amy LePeilbet (2-Heather Mitts, 46); 17-Tobin Heath, 12-Lauren Cheney, 10-Carli Lloyd (7-Shannon Boxx, 46), 15-Megan Rapinoe (9-Heather O’Reilly, 46); 13-Alex Morgan (11-Sydney Leroux, 78), 14-Abby Wambach (8-Amy Rodriguez, 67)
Substitutions Not Used: 21-Jill Loyden
Head coach: Pia Sundhage

AUS: 18-Brianna Davey; 19-Stephanie Catley, 5-Laura Alleway (23-Alanna Kennedy, 64), 10-Servet Uzunlar, 7-Caitlin Foord; 15-Emily van Egmond, 14-Collette McCallum (17-Kyah Simon, 72), 2-Teigen Allen (4-Clare Polkinghorne, 56); 9-Sarah Walsh (capt.) (20-Samantha Kerr, 51), 11-Lisa de Vanna (3-Ashley Brown, 78), 12-Kathryn Gill (24-Emily Gielnik, 71)
Substitutions Not Used: 8-Danielle Brogan, 21-Mackenzie Arnold, 22-Michelle Heyman
Head coach: Tom Sermanni