U S Soccer

NEWCASTLE, England — Perhaps one reason Hope Solo has had so much time to spend on Twitter during these Olympic Games is because she hasn't had much to keep her busy on the field. "I haven't really been tested," the U.S. goalkeeper complained Friday after posting her third consecutive shutout, this one in a 2-0 victory over New Zealand that sends the Americans on to next week's semifinals. "I'm still waiting. That's what happens when you get to be No. 1 in the world. " It doesn't really matter whether Solo's reference was to the U.S. women's soccer team or just its defense because the adjective works either way. And, frighteningly for opponents, both seem to be getting better.

LONDON — Here's a stat New Zealand might be interested in going into Friday's Olympic soccer quarterfinal against the unbeaten U.S. women's team: The U.S. has lost only two of the 98 games in which Abby Wambach has scored at least one goal. And Wambach has scored in each of the Americans' three games in this tournament. So you can do the math. But New Zealand captain Rebecca Smith, who was born in Los Angeles and attended Chadwick School in Rancho Palos Verdes, figures her team will show up for the game in Newcastle anyway.

LONDON — Let the Games begin. For the U.S. women's soccer team there was little drama in the first week of the Olympic tournament, which concluded Tuesday with a methodical 1-0 win over North Korea at historic Old Trafford in Manchester. The Americans scored a tournament-high eight goals in their three wins, did not allow a score after the 14th minute of their opener and won their group going away. PHOTOS: U.S. women's soccer vs. North Korea Now the real work begins, starting with Friday's quarterfinal against New Zealand, which finished third in its group.

LONDON -- Abby Wambach's goal in the 25th minute gave the U.S. women's team a 1-0 lead over North Korea at halftime of the final match of Olympic soccer pool play Tuesday at Old Trafford in Manchester. The Americans, who rolled past France and Colombia in their first two matches, have already clinched a spot in the tournament quarterfinals, but with a win or tie here, they would advance as the group champion. North Korea needs a least a tie to avoid elimination. Wambach's goal came after a long through ball found Alex Morgan deep in the 18-yard box. Two Korean defenders immediately sandwiched Morgan, who had her back to the goal.

The U.S. women's soccer team plays its final pool-play match Tuesday on the hallowed grounds of Old Trafford in Manchester, the 102-year-old home of the English Premier League's Manchester United and perhaps the most famous and historic soccer stadium in the world. "It's gorgeous," midfielder Megan Rapinoe told reporters after the U.S. team's walk-through Monday, which included more picture-taking than anything else. "You can see why they talk of the magic inside. " The American women will be adding to the history of the so-called  "Theatre of Dreams" since no women's Olympic team had played there before Tuesday, when the U.S. met North Korea.

LONDON -- Even with a painful shiner, Abby Wambach was able to keep her eyes on the prize Saturday: another Olympic gold medal in women's soccer. After a sucker punch from Colombian forward Lady Andrade blackened her right eye late in the first half Saturday, Wambach delivered the punch that knocked the South Americans out in the second, scoring to break open a tight game and send the Americans on to next week's quarterfinals with a 3-0 victory....

With the exception of last summer's World Cup matches with Brazil and Japan, the U.S. women's soccer team generally faces few challenges on the field. So Coach Pia Sundhage has tried to foster some of that off the pitch by rotating players through her starting lineup. "It's a good team and there is competition," she said Friday while preparing for the U.S.'s second Olympic match, Saturday against Colombia at historic Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland (NBC Sports Network, 9 a.m. PDT)

LONDON - The U.S. women's soccer team was in Glasgow, Scotland, on Friday, more than 400 miles from Olympic Park and the opening ceremonies of the London Games. But they were there in spirit. The team planned to dress in the blue blazers, white skirts and blue berets the rest of Team USA wore during the parade of nations in London, then take over a ballroom at the Glasgow Hilton to watch the event on TV. “We're going to feel the spirit,” goalkeeper Hope Solo said. “As long as I'm with my teammates, we're going to be fine.” Shortly after Friday's ceremony ends team members will turn their focus back to soccer, Solo said, packing up their Ralph Lauren uniforms and shipping them home before taking on Colombia in their second match of group play Saturday.

GLASGOW, Scotland -- Defender Christie Rampone set a U.S. women's soccer team record by starting in her 17th Olympic match Wednesday. But that's just the start of her ironwoman numbers. Rampone is also the first U.S. player named to four Olympic teams, and with 261 career caps, she has played in more international matches than any active female player in the world. "When it's all said and I'm retired and I look back to the things that I've accomplished, this will definitely be on the top of the list," Rampone said after the U.S. opened play in the London Games by rallying past France, 4-2. What makes the records more special is the fact that Rampone, 37, has been able to keep going despite having two children -- making her the only mother on the team.