Jersey girls enjoy golden moment

By MIKE PRATER

Gannett News Service

ATHENS, Greece - Christie Rampone was about to receive her first Olympic gold medal, on one of those memorable nights in a faraway country, and she couldn't believe who was standing at her side.

A familiar face from New Jersey.

Rampone, the 29-year-old veteran, grabbed Heather O'Reilly, the 19-year-old newcomer, by the hand and together they celebrated an Olympic championship at the Summer Games in Athens on Thursday night.

The Americans beat Brazil 2-1 on Abby Wambach's goal in overtime, with both Rampone and O'Reilly on the field at the end of the game. A few minutes later, the scene inside Karaiskaki Stadium turned into a medals ceremony that marked the end of an era in U.S. women's soccer.

``When I saw Heather standing next to me, I just grabbed her hand because it was two of us from Jersey,'' Rampone said. ``We've worked the last six months together and it was awesome to have her around.''

``I'll never forget that moment,'' O'Reilly said.

Rampone, from Point Pleasant, and O'Reilly, from East Brunswick, both had family in the stands - sitting next to each other, of course. Their clothes were red, white and blue. The parents had jersey numbers written on their cheeks, not that you could read them at the end of the game because of all the sweat and all the tears.

Rampone played the entire game.

``Tears were just running down by cheeks,'' said Bob Pearce, her father.

``This is the greatest moment of my life,'' said Chris Rampone, Christie's husband. ``We're going to celebrate tonight with a lot of hugs.''

O'Reilly entered the game at the start of overtime, just as she did Monday night when she scored the game-winning goal against Germany.

``What a thrill as a parent to come to the Olympics to see your daughter play, to see her score, to see her win a gold medal,'' said Andrew O'Reilly, her father. ``It's every soccer parents dream, and dreams do sometimes come true, and mine came true tonight.''

He recalled that only five years ago, his daughter was a freshman on her high school team.

``This is overwhelming. I have to pinch myself,'' he said.

The players waved to their parents in the stands, then walked into the sanctuary of their locker room for a private celebration. O'Reilly is headed back to the University of North Carolina to help the Tar Heels defend their national championship.

They both plan to play in a 10-game exhibition tour with their U.S. teammates this fall. The tour starts Sept. 25 in Rochester, N.Y.

``This has been just an amazing, unforgettable experience,'' O'Reilly said. ``It's something I've dreamed of since I was little, and having this gold medal around my neck is a good feeling.''