NJ Soccer Camps Abuzz As US Women Make Run At FIFA World Cup Title
WESTFIELD, N.J. (CBS 2) -- Not since 1999 has there been so much excitement over the US women's soccer team, as they'll face Japan in the FIFA Women's World Cup championship game Sunday in Germany.
As CBS 2's Christine Sloan reports, five of the players are from New Jersey, and that has young players watching.
Girls at the Lady Blue Devil Soccer Camp in Westfield, New Jersey were beside themselves rooting for the US women's soccer team.
"It's been awesome," Briana O'Brien said. "I didn't expect USA to go so far."
"How they play from the start to the finish, is just amazing," said Judy McDonald.
Like the Lady Blue Devils, five of the players on the national team are from the Garden State.
"I think it's amazing there are so many of them from New Jersey," Sarah Broughton said.
Heather O'Reilly graduated from East Brunswick High School, with her number 7 retired on the field.
"As a senior, she was the player of the year in New Jersey, and she got all the ink and all the publicity," East Brunswick High athletic director Frank Noppenberger said. "You would never know it – she was just a great teammate."
The national team is the topic of discussion at every soccer camp.
"I think Abbie Womback – she knows she's got to get a goal, and she just keeps fighting," Eliana Cestero said.
The Lady Blue Devils watched the women face off against France as a team.
"To get these girls passionate about soccer at such a young age was just amazing for me to watch," Lady Blue Devils coach Alex Schmidt said.
If the US team wins on Sunday, it would be the first time any nation has won three Women's World Cup titles.
