MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Christie Rampone is last remaining link to the team that put women’s soccer on Page One, the U.S. squad that won the World Cup at the Rose Bowl in 1999.
She was known as Christie Pearce back then, and her teammates still call her by her maiden name. She also has two kids in tow and takes them everywhere the team goes, having inherited the unofficial role of national soccer mom.
Her other title is captain, although she’s among the quieter players on the team. She’s played in 262 games for her country, but she’s not a household name like Mia, Hope, Abby, Brandi or Foudy.
Rampone is 37 years old, and she’s in charge of the psyche of U.S. team that has qualified for the quarterfinals of the Olympic tournament.
