Friday, July 11, 2008

In many indigenous cultures around the world, the raven has been revered as a spiritual figure or god. Perhaps US National Team star Abby Wambach, who sits on the verge of a remarkable 100 international goal milestone, has embodied that as a part of her mystique all these years since playing for the Rochester Ravens in the W-League as a 17-year old in 1998.

The teenage star, who dominated the local high school scene at the time, took her game to a national level with the Ravens, facing clubs as far away as Tampa Bay to the south and Colorado to the west. And although Rochester finished in the lower echelons of the table, she was a bright spot to the club’s season. Wambach finished the campaign sixth in the league in points (21) and fifth in goals (9) in a year in which the leading scorer was experienced international star Charmaine Hooper of Canada.

Rochester’s favorite daughter went on to debut with the US Women’s National Team three years later after starring for the Under-21 US squad at the Nordic Cup. Wambach came off the bench for her debut, a 4-1 win against Germany, to replace now Vancouver Whitecap Tiffeny Milbrett, one of the four Americans who have reached the 100 goal mark. The other three are Mia Hamm and fellow W-League alumni Michelle Akers and Kristine Lilly. Only four others have reached the mark outside of the US.

Since that first cap, Wambach has also accumulated 125 caps and 42 assists for the US as well as numerous honors, awards and championships around the world. 

                                     US Soccer Match Preview & Break Down of the First 99 [+]

In 2002, Wambach began her professional career when she was drafted second overall by the Washington Freedom of the now-defunct WUSA. In her two seasons in the league she scored 23 goals. Wambach was fourth in scoring en route to winning the Rookie of the Year honor and a championship game appearance her first season. The following year she finished tied for the league-lead and garnered Championship MVP honors when the Freedom when the last league championship.

Wambach will get a chance for her 100th in two matches before the Olympics as the USA takes on Brazil at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo., on July 13 (2 p.m. MT on ESPN) and at Torero Stadium in San Diego, Calif., on July 16 (7 p.m. PT on Fox Soccer Channel). Five of Wambach’s 99 goals have come against Brazil, including one of her most famous: the overtime score that won the 2004 Olympic gold medal game.