Heather O'Reilly
Encyclopedia
Heather Ann O'Reilly also known by her initials HAO, is a member of the United States women's national soccer team
and a two-time Olympic Gold medalist. She is a midfielder currently playing for Sky Blue FC
of Women's Professional Soccer
.
, O'Reilly played on the girls soccer team at East Brunswick High School
. In her four-year career she scored 143 goals. In 2001, as a junior, she led the team to win the New Jersey State High School Title.
Throughout high school, O’Reilly was a member of the National Honor Society and played on the school’s basketball team. In her senior year she was named Parade All-American and the Parade National Player of the Year. In 2002 she was named the Gatorade High School National Player of the Year and the National Soccer Coaches Association Player of the Year.
O'Reilly was Soccer Americas number one college recruit in the country.
She was an education major at University of North Carolina where she played forward for the North Carolina Tar Heels women's soccer
program from 2003 through 2006. She appeared 97 times for the Tar Heels, scoring 59 goals and assisting on 49 others. She led her team to national championships in 2003 and 2006. In her senior year ESPN the Magazine
named her the All-American Player of the Year and was awarded the NCAA's Today's Top VIII Award
following her senior year.
Her #20 jersey was retired by the program, joining luminaries such as April Heinrichs, Lorrie Fair
, Tisha Venturini
, Kristine Lilly
, Mia Hamm
and 13 others.
of W-League
from 2004 to 2005, winning the championship in 2005.
She was allocated to Sky Blue FC
of Women's Professional Soccer
on 16 September 2008, along with Natasha Kai
and Christie Rampone
. She appeared in 17 matches as co-captain in the 2009 inaugural season
, leading Sky Blue to an unexpected playoff berth. In the championship 2009 Women's Professional Soccer Playoffs
game against Los Angeles, she scored the only goal.
on March 1, 2002 against Sweden
.
After recovering from a broken fibula from a match a year before, O'Reilly made the U.S. Women's National Team roster for the 2004 Summer Olympics
in Athens
. At nineteen years old, she was the youngest player on the roster. On 23 August 2004, O'Reilly scored the game-winning goal in the Olympic semifinal match against Germany
, propelling the United States into the final, in which they defeated Brazil
for the gold medal.
In the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup, O'Reilly made a critical score against North Korea
in the 69th minute, which tied the game at 2-2. It saved the Americans from a devastating opening-round loss. The United States ended up taking the bronze medal, with O'Reilly scoring a goal during the 4-1 win against Norway
. She was nominated as Sports Illustrated
s 2007 Sportsman of the Year
.
O’Reilly was a part of the U.S. Women’s Team roster for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games
in Beijing
. She scored the fastest goal in Olympic women's soccer history against New Zealand
to earn the team a spot in the quarterfinals. She also scored a goal in the semifinal match against Japan. The team went on to defeat heavy-favorite Brazil 1-0 to win the gold medal. Prior to the Summer Games, Time
magazine ranked her number 15 on its list of 100 Olympic Athletes to Watch.
She was selected for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup and on her second game during the group stage, she scored the first of three goals for USA
against Colombia
.
United States women's national soccer team
The United States women's national soccer team represents the United States in international soccer competition and is controlled by U.S. Soccer. The U.S. team won the first ever Women's World Cup in 1991, and has since been a superpower in women's soccer. It is currently ranked first in the world...
and a two-time Olympic Gold medalist. She is a midfielder currently playing for Sky Blue FC
Sky Blue FC
Sky Blue FC is an American professional soccer club based in Piscataway Township, New Jersey which participates in Women's Professional Soccer....
of Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer is the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States. It began play on March 29, 2009. The league was composed of seven teams for its first two seasons and fielded 6 teams for the 2011 season, with continued plans for future expansion...
.
High school career
A resident of East Brunswick Township, New JerseyEast Brunswick Township, New Jersey
The town is located southwest of New York City and 48 miles northeast of Philadelphia.Lawrence Brook, a tributary of the Raritan River, runs along the western border of the township...
, O'Reilly played on the girls soccer team at East Brunswick High School
East Brunswick High School
East Brunswick High School is a comprehensive public high school serving students in grades 10 through 12 in East Brunswick Township, in Middlesex County, New Jersey, operating as part of East Brunswick Public Schools. The school was recognized by the Blue Ribbon Schools Program in the 1990-91...
. In her four-year career she scored 143 goals. In 2001, as a junior, she led the team to win the New Jersey State High School Title.
Throughout high school, O’Reilly was a member of the National Honor Society and played on the school’s basketball team. In her senior year she was named Parade All-American and the Parade National Player of the Year. In 2002 she was named the Gatorade High School National Player of the Year and the National Soccer Coaches Association Player of the Year.
O'Reilly was Soccer Americas number one college recruit in the country.
University career
North Carolina Tar Heels women's soccer
The North Carolina Tar Heels women's soccer team represent the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the Atlantic Coast Conference of NCAA Division I soccer...
program from 2003 through 2006. She appeared 97 times for the Tar Heels, scoring 59 goals and assisting on 49 others. She led her team to national championships in 2003 and 2006. In her senior year ESPN the Magazine
ESPN The Magazine
ESPN The Magazine is a bi-weekly sports magazine published by the ESPN sports network in Bristol, Connecticut in the United States. The first issue was published on March 11, 1998....
named her the All-American Player of the Year and was awarded the NCAA's Today's Top VIII Award
Today's Top VIII Award
The Today's Top VIII Award is given each year by the National Collegiate Athletic Association to honor eight outstanding senior student-athletes of the preceding calendar year. From 1973 through 1985, this award was known as the Today's Top V Award or the Top Five Award and was given to honor five...
following her senior year.
Her #20 jersey was retired by the program, joining luminaries such as April Heinrichs, Lorrie Fair
Lorrie Fair
Lorraine Ming "Lorrie" Fair was a member of the World Cup Champion United States national soccer team. Over the span of ten years, she was a part of one World Cup Team and three Olympic teams, and retired from international play in 2005.Her twin sister, Veronica Ching Fair, was also a member of...
, Tisha Venturini
Tisha Venturini
Tisha Venturini-Hoch is a former American soccer player and current National Spokesperson for Produce for Better Health.-Career:...
, Kristine Lilly
Kristine Lilly
Kristine Marie Lilly Heavey is a retired American soccer player who last played for Boston Breakers of Women's Professional Soccer and was a member of the United States women's national soccer team for 24 years...
, Mia Hamm
Mia Hamm
Mariel Margaret "Mia" Hamm is a retired American soccer player. Hamm played many years as a forward for the United States women's national soccer team and was a founding member of the Washington Freedom. Hamm has scored more international goals in her career than any other player, male or female,...
and 13 others.
Club career
O'Reilly played for New Jersey WildcatsNew Jersey Wildcats
New Jersey Wildcats is an American women’s soccer team, founded by Vincent Baldino in 1996. The team is a member of the United Soccer Leagues W-League, the second tier of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada. The team plays in the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference against the D.C...
of W-League
W-League
The USL W-League is a national women's soccer league in the United States on the 2nd level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, alongside the Women's Premier Soccer League and below Women's Professional Soccer....
from 2004 to 2005, winning the championship in 2005.
She was allocated to Sky Blue FC
Sky Blue FC
Sky Blue FC is an American professional soccer club based in Piscataway Township, New Jersey which participates in Women's Professional Soccer....
of Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer is the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States. It began play on March 29, 2009. The league was composed of seven teams for its first two seasons and fielded 6 teams for the 2011 season, with continued plans for future expansion...
on 16 September 2008, along with Natasha Kai
Natasha Kai
Natasha Kanani Janine Kai is an American soccer forward currently playing for Philadelphia Independence of Women's Professional Soccer.-University of Hawaiʻi:Kai played for the University of Hawaiʻi Rainbow Wahine from 2002-2005...
and Christie Rampone
Christie Rampone
Christie Patricia Rampone is an American soccer defender currently playing for magicJack of Women's Professional Soccer. She is a member and current Captain of the United States women's national soccer team.-High school:...
. She appeared in 17 matches as co-captain in the 2009 inaugural season
2009 Women's Professional Soccer season
The 2009 Women's Professional Soccer season served as the inaugural season for WPS, the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States...
, leading Sky Blue to an unexpected playoff berth. In the championship 2009 Women's Professional Soccer Playoffs
2009 Women's Professional Soccer Playoffs
The 2009 WPS Playoffs were the postseason to Women's Professional Soccer's 2009 Season, that started on August 15 and culminated on August 22 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.-Format:...
game against Los Angeles, she scored the only goal.
U.S. national team
In 2002, while still in high school, she was named to the U.S. national team. O'Reilly made her first appearance with the United States women's national soccer teamUnited States women's national soccer team
The United States women's national soccer team represents the United States in international soccer competition and is controlled by U.S. Soccer. The U.S. team won the first ever Women's World Cup in 1991, and has since been a superpower in women's soccer. It is currently ranked first in the world...
on March 1, 2002 against Sweden
Sweden women's national football team
Sweden women's national football team are a football team officially representing Sweden in women's football. They won the unofficial European Championships in 1984, a success the team has not managed to repeat, it has however won one World Cup-silver as well as three European Cup-silvers...
.
After recovering from a broken fibula from a match a year before, O'Reilly made the U.S. Women's National Team roster for the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
. At nineteen years old, she was the youngest player on the roster. On 23 August 2004, O'Reilly scored the game-winning goal in the Olympic semifinal match against Germany
Germany women's national football team
The German women's national football team represents Germany in international women's football and is directed by the German Football Association . The team – informally called West Germany in English – played its first international match in 1982...
, propelling the United States into the final, in which they defeated Brazil
Brazil women's national football team
The Brazil women's national football team represents Brazil in international women's association football. Brazil played their first game on July 22, 1986 against the United States....
for the gold medal.
In the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup, O'Reilly made a critical score against North Korea
Korea DPR women's national football team
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea women's national football team represents North Korea in international women's football. North Korea were the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship winners, and won the AFC Women's Asian Cup in 2001, 2003 and 2008....
in the 69th minute, which tied the game at 2-2. It saved the Americans from a devastating opening-round loss. The United States ended up taking the bronze medal, with O'Reilly scoring a goal during the 4-1 win against Norway
Norway women's national football team
The Norway women's national football team represents Norway in international women's football. The team, controlled by the Football Association of Norway, are former European, World and Olympic champions and thus one of the most successful national teams...
. She was nominated as Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
s 2007 Sportsman of the Year
Sportsman of the Year
Since its inception in 1954, Sports Illustrated magazine has annually presented the "Sportsman of the Year" award to "the athlete or team whose performance that year most embodies the spirit of sportsmanship and achievement." Both Americans and non-Americans are eligible, though in the past the...
.
O’Reilly was a part of the U.S. Women’s Team roster for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games
Summer Olympic Games
The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. She scored the fastest goal in Olympic women's soccer history against New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
to earn the team a spot in the quarterfinals. She also scored a goal in the semifinal match against Japan. The team went on to defeat heavy-favorite Brazil 1-0 to win the gold medal. Prior to the Summer Games, Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine ranked her number 15 on its list of 100 Olympic Athletes to Watch.
She was selected for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup and on her second game during the group stage, she scored the first of three goals for USA
United States women's national soccer team
The United States women's national soccer team represents the United States in international soccer competition and is controlled by U.S. Soccer. The U.S. team won the first ever Women's World Cup in 1991, and has since been a superpower in women's soccer. It is currently ranked first in the world...
against Colombia
Colombia women's national football team
The Colombia women's national football team represents Colombia in international women's football.Colombia were runners-up in the 2010 South American Women's Championship, their best ever finish, earning the team a place in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup finals in Germany.-World Cup...
.