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By Michael Lewis
CONCACAF.com
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Momentum can change in an instant - or continue to roll.
Canada twice had chances to stem the tide against the United States in Sunday's CONCACAF Olympic women's qualifying final, invigorate a partisan, anxious crowd of 25,427 at BC Place and begin a rally.
Twice U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo thwarted Canada forward Christina Julien, and made sure the momentum stayed with the Americans to ensure a 4-0 victory.
"After her second save, I found myself wanting to go chest bump her for some crazy reason," said U.S. striker Abby Wambach, who scored two goals in the game. "That's the very reason why Hope Solo is on this team and that's why she is the No. 1 goalkeeper in the world in my opinion, because when called upon she makes the big saves."
Solo had been nursing a sore quadriceps muscle in her right thigh for most of the tournament, but played every minute of every game.
"Regardless whether she is harboring any injuries, she goes into some serious confrontations with front runners of other teams. "I'm proud of her for sticking on the field, for staying in the starting lineup."
In the 18th minute, with the Americans ahead 1-0, Christine Sinclair sent a short ball that sprung teammate Christina Julien in alone on Solo, who smothered the attempt at the edge of the six. A minute before halftime, with Julien had another one-on-one chance on a long ball.
This time Solo came off her line, stood her ground and blocked the shot with her legs to send the United States into the break leading 3-0.
"When Hope comes out and makes that save, she gains confidence and we can confidence," U.S. coach Pia Sundhage said.
Playing on a team that usually dominates possession, Solo said that she not lose her concentration for a second because an opportunity could come out of nowhere.
"That's the story about a goalkeeper's life," she said. "You sit around, you sit around. You have to be ready when you're called on. That's what separates a lot of goalkeepers. It's a mental game. It's hard to do. The defense actually always keeps me a part of them. I'm constantly talking to them, constantly to me. So I feel part of the team."
Solo took pride in being the anchor of a defense that was the only once not to surrender a goal in the tournament.
"We had five games, obviously a lot of goals scored, no goals against," she said. "It really shows the pride we Americans have for keeping the ball out of the back of the net. It's a pride the entire team carries, not just the back four, not the back five. We had a good team defense from the forwards all the way back."
Canada coach John Herdman noted that Sundhage had deployed Kelley O'Hara on the backline. O'Hara helped contain Sinclair, dubbed by the coaches in the tournament as one of the best, if not the best women's player in the world.
Sinclair did not place a dangerous shot on goal and her opportunities to set up teammates were limited.
"Pia made some great decisions tonight," he said. "She put technicians in the fullback positions."
O'Hara appreciated the compliment but spread the praise.
"We just talked about applying pressure higher up on the field," she said. "That was our game plan. The reason our back four was able to do so well defensively is because our top six was so high pressure and really set the tone and the tempo for the defense.
"They did an excellent job and that was the reason why we were able to do so well."
