poor Ali Krieger

My favorite defender, Ali Krieger, on the USA's women's national team, tore her MLC and ACL in the qualifying game for the 2012 Olympics against the Dominican Republic. Ali will now not be playing in this year's Olympics. So sad for a girl who has worked so hard in training! 

"I feel so unfortunate and I wouldn't wish this on anyone, especially to have it happen in a match where we were in control," said Krieger. "Soccer is a funny dame and this is part of being an athlete. It's unfortunate that the timing is really bad, but this team about way more than one player and I know that with all the support from my teammates, my family and friends from U.S. Soccer, I will come back stronger than ever. It's going to be a fun year and I'll be with the team in spirit the whole way, even if I have to be a vocal leader, just sitting and watching."

As I was watching some soccer videos the other day, some girls on the team shared their new year's resolutions. Ali's was being determined going into the Olympics. Who knew? Now she will have to be determined off the field as a support group and to get better soon. She played a great role in the 2011 World Cup - scoring the game winning goal in shoot outs against Brazil. Ali sure inspires me to take obstacles and look at them with a good perspective, stay determined and strong, because the situation is out of her control. I'll miss watching her this summer in the Olympics, but just like I did, she'll learn a lot during her time off and come back stronger than ever!

Stay strong Ali! <3

~amy