Megan Rapinoe
Encyclopedia
Megan Anna Rapinoe is an American soccer midfielder
who is currently a free agent in the Women's Professional Soccer
League and a member of the United States women's national soccer team
. She is best known for her crafty style of play and for her game-winning crosses, including the assist to Abby Wambach
in the 122nd minute of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup quarterfinals against Brazil
.
with her parents, Jim and Denise, and five siblings, including her twin, Rachael.
In high school, Rapinoe did not play soccer and instead played for the Elk Grove Pride club team, where they won state and league championships, and were the national runner-up in 2003. She also competed in track as a freshman and sophomore, and basketball as a freshman, sophomore, and senior.
Rapinoe was able to make it onto the honor roll every semester of high school. She was named Parade (magazine)
and NSCAA
All-American as a junior and senior. Rapinoe was also named to the McDonald's All-American Game in 2004.
in Portland, Oregon
. The Rapinoe twins almost committed to Santa Clara University
in Santa Clara, California
before chosing to play for the Portland Pilots
.
In 2004, Rapinoe did not play college soccer what would have been her freshman season in order to play in the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship
where the United States
placed third.
In 2005 as a freshman, Rapinoe helped the Portland Pilots
to an undefeated season and the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship
. She was a NSCAA
First Team All-America and was on the Soccer America First Team Freshman All-America. Rapinoe made the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship
All Tournament Team and was the West Coast Conference
Freshman of the Year. She was also an All-West Coast Conference
First Team and an All-West Coast Conference
Freshman Team selection. Rapinoe played and started all 25 games as an attacking midfielder
, scoring 15 goals and added 13 assists for 43 points. That year, she also had seven recorded game-winning goals.
As a sophomore in 2006, Rapinoe was among the nation's leading scorers with 10 goals and 2 assists in just 11 matches before suffering her first season-ending Anterior cruciate ligament injury
against Washington State University
on October 5. She joined Tiffeny Milbrett and Shannon MacMillan
as the only Portland Pilots
to score 25 goals and 15 assists in just two years.
As a junior in 2007, Rapinoe appeared in just two matches off the bench early in the year before suffering yet another season-ending Anterior cruciate ligament injury
for the second consecutive season. She was granted a medical hardship waiver by the NCAA, but never used it.
As a senior in 2008, Rapinoe started all 22 games for the Portland Pilots
and was named a Soccer America First-Team All-American and a NSCAA
Second Team All-American. Rapinoe was also voted West Coast Conference
Player of the Year. Her senior year, Rapinoe led the Portland Pilots
and the West Coast Conference
in assists (13).
She had one more season of college eligibility remaining, due to her NCAA medical hardship waiver, but opted to enter the Women's Professional Soccer
draft instead.
Rapinoe is also one of the only players in the University of Portland
's history to get 30 goals and 25 assists in a career. Her 88 point career (30 goals, 28 assists) is the 10th in the school's history despite playing just 60 total games due to injuries.
. Over her four years, she scored 25 goals for the club.
Rapinoe was selected 2nd overall in the 2009 WPS Draft
to Chicago Red Stars
of Women's Professional Soccer
. In the inaugural 2009 Women's Professional Soccer season
, Rapinoe appeared in 18 games (17 starts, 1375 minutes) and scored two goals and assisted on three others. She was named a Women's Professional Soccer
First-Team All-Star. In 2010, Rapinoe struggled with illness, but played in 20 games (19 starts) scoring one goal on the last touch of the last game of the season.
In December 2010 Rapinoe moved on to Philadelphia Independence after the Chicago Red Stars
ceased operations. Rapinoe appeared in four games and made one goal before she was traded to the MagicJack (WPS)
.
While in Germany
for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, Rapinoe was traded to the MagicJack (WPS)
. It was reported that the "cash considerations" involved in the transfer was an unprecedented $100,000. This was the most expensive trade in WPS history. On October 25, 2011, the Women's Professional Soccer
League voted to terminate the magicJack franchise, leaving Rapinoe and many other big names as free agents for the 2012 season.
In October 2011 Rapinoe signed with W-League (Australia)
team Sydney FC
as a guest player (2 games) and in her second and final game against Melbourne Victory, she scored 8 minutes from time to seal all three points for Sydney FC.
and Houston, Texas
.
Rapinoe played for the United States Youth Soccer Association
International Tournament in Houston, Texas
in May 2003.
Rapinoe played for the United States U-19
team. She made 21 appearances and scored nine goals. Her first camp with the U-19 was in January 2003 in Chula Vista, California
. She traveled with the U-19s on European tour to Netherlands
and Germany
in July 2003. She scored her first goal with the U-19s against Mexico
on March 1, 2003. Rapinoe played in three matches at the 2004 CONCACAF
U-19 Qualifying Tournament, scoring three goals. Her most notable appearances was in the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship
in Thailand
where she scored a team-high three goals, including one in the third place match victory against Brazil
.
. She came into training with the team early in 2006 and played in four matches. Rapinoe made her United States Women's National Team
debut on July 23, 2006 against Ireland
. She scored her first (and second) senior team goal(s) on October 1, 2006 against Chinese Taipei
.
Due to two separate anterior cruciate ligament
injuries, Rapinoe did not play for the senior team in 2007 or 2008. These injuries caused her to not be able to play in the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup and 2008 Olympics where the team went on to win gold.
Upon her return to the United States Women's National Team
in 2009, Rapinoe led the team in points with five (two goals and one assist). She played in seven games, starting in six. Rapinoe scored against Norway
in the Algarve Cup
in a 1-0 victory, and also added a goal against Canada
in Toronto
.
In 2010 Rapinoe started eight of the 10 games she played and scored four goals with two assists. One of the assists came in the second match of the Women’s World Cup playoff series against Italy
that set up Amy Rodriguez
’s game-winning goal. Rapinoe scored against Sweden
and China
and twice against Guatemala
at the CONCACAF
Women's World Cup Qualifying tournament, in which she played three games.
Rapinoe was selected as part of the U.S. team for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. She came on as a substitute in a group stage match vs Colombia
in the 50th minute and scored almost immediately to put the U.S. up 2–0. Rapinoe started in the USA's last group stage match versus Sweden
, in which the U.S. lost 2–1. During the quarterfinal match against Brazil
, Rapinoe came on as a sub and lofted a cross into the box for Abby Wambach
's game-tying, extra-time header; she would later convert her shot during the penalty shootout
to help send the United States to the semifinals in a miraculous fashion. Following the match against Brazil
, Rapinoe was named ESPN
's Next Level Player of the Week for completing 5 of 10 crosses while the rest of the team was 0 for 18. Rapinoe went on to make two more critical assists in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup semi-finals and finals against France
and Japan
respectively. She ended the tournament with 1 goal and 3 assists. Following her appearance in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, Rapinoe's hometown of Redding, California
officially made September 10, 2011 Megan Rapinoe Day.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who is currently a free agent in the 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...
League and a member of the United States women's national soccer team
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...
. She is best known for her crafty style of play and for her game-winning crosses, including the assist to Abby Wambach
Abby Wambach
Mary Abigail "Abby" Wambach is an American professional soccer player, coach and Olympic gold medalist. A four-time winner of the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award, she has been a regular on the U.S. women's national team since 2003...
in the 122nd minute of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup quarterfinals against 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....
.
Early life
Rapinoe grew up in Redding, CaliforniaRedding, California
Redding is a city in far-Northern California. It is the county seat of Shasta County, California, USA. With a population of 89,861, according to the 2010 Census...
with her parents, Jim and Denise, and five siblings, including her twin, Rachael.
In high school, Rapinoe did not play soccer and instead played for the Elk Grove Pride club team, where they won state and league championships, and were the national runner-up in 2003. She also competed in track as a freshman and sophomore, and basketball as a freshman, sophomore, and senior.
Rapinoe was able to make it onto the honor roll every semester of high school. She was named Parade (magazine)
Parade (magazine)
Parade is an American nationwide Sunday newspaper magazine, distributed in more than 500 newspapers in the United States. It was founded in 1941 and is owned by Advance Publications. The most widely read magazine in the U.S., Parade has a circulation of 32.2 million and a readership of nearly 70...
and NSCAA
NSCAA
The National Soccer Coaches Association of America is an organization of American soccer coaches founded in 1941. The NSCAA has grown from a handful of college soccer coaches to more than 22,000 members, making it the largest coaching organization in the world. Its members coach at all levels of...
All-American as a junior and senior. Rapinoe was also named to the McDonald's All-American Game in 2004.
College career
Rapinoe and her twin, Rachael, both attended University of PortlandUniversity of Portland
The University of Portland is a private Roman Catholic university located in Portland, Oregon. It is affiliated with the Congregation of Holy Cross and is the sister school of the University of Notre Dame. Founded in 1901, UP has a student body of about 3,600 students...
in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. The Rapinoe twins almost committed to Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is a private, not-for-profit, Jesuit-affiliated university located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Chartered by the state of California and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, it operates in collaboration with the Society of Jesus , whose...
in Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara , founded in 1777 and incorporated in 1852, is a city in Santa Clara County, in the U.S. state of California. The city is the site of the eighth of 21 California missions, Mission Santa Clara de Asís, and was named after the mission. The Mission and Mission Gardens are located on the...
before chosing to play for the Portland Pilots
Portland Pilots
The Portland Pilots were a Class-B minor league baseball team in Portland, Maine out of the New England League. Created in 1946 as the Portland Gulls, the Pilots lasted until 1949, when the New England League collapsed...
.
In 2004, Rapinoe did not play college soccer what would have been her freshman season in order to play in the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship
2004 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship
-Group B:---------------------Group C:--------------------- Knockout Map :-Quarterfinals:-------------Semifinals:-----Third place play-off:-Final:-Awards:-All star team:-Goalscorers:...
where the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
placed third.
In 2005 as a freshman, Rapinoe helped the Portland Pilots
Portland Pilots
The Portland Pilots were a Class-B minor league baseball team in Portland, Maine out of the New England League. Created in 1946 as the Portland Gulls, the Pilots lasted until 1949, when the New England League collapsed...
to an undefeated season and the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship
NCAA Women's Soccer Championship
NCAA Women's Soccer Championships are divided into three divisions. This article lists NCAA Women's soccer championships.-Division I:The NCAA began conducting a Women's Division I Soccer Championship tournament in 1982 with a 12-team tournament...
. She was a NSCAA
NSCAA
The National Soccer Coaches Association of America is an organization of American soccer coaches founded in 1941. The NSCAA has grown from a handful of college soccer coaches to more than 22,000 members, making it the largest coaching organization in the world. Its members coach at all levels of...
First Team All-America and was on the Soccer America First Team Freshman All-America. Rapinoe made the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship
NCAA Women's Soccer Championship
NCAA Women's Soccer Championships are divided into three divisions. This article lists NCAA Women's soccer championships.-Division I:The NCAA began conducting a Women's Division I Soccer Championship tournament in 1982 with a 12-team tournament...
All Tournament Team and was the West Coast Conference
West Coast Conference
The West Coast Conference is an NCAA collegiate athletics conference consisting of nine member schools across the states of California, Oregon, Utah and Washington....
Freshman of the Year. She was also an All-West Coast Conference
West Coast Conference
The West Coast Conference is an NCAA collegiate athletics conference consisting of nine member schools across the states of California, Oregon, Utah and Washington....
First Team and an All-West Coast Conference
West Coast Conference
The West Coast Conference is an NCAA collegiate athletics conference consisting of nine member schools across the states of California, Oregon, Utah and Washington....
Freshman Team selection. Rapinoe played and started all 25 games as an attacking midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
, scoring 15 goals and added 13 assists for 43 points. That year, she also had seven recorded game-winning goals.
As a sophomore in 2006, Rapinoe was among the nation's leading scorers with 10 goals and 2 assists in just 11 matches before suffering her first season-ending Anterior cruciate ligament injury
Anterior cruciate ligament injury
An injury to the anterior cruciate ligament can be a debilitating musculoskeletal injury to the knee, seen most often in athletes. Non-contact tears and ruptures are the most common causes of ACL injury....
against Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
on October 5. She joined Tiffeny Milbrett and Shannon MacMillan
Shannon MacMillan
-References:...
as the only Portland Pilots
Portland Pilots
The Portland Pilots were a Class-B minor league baseball team in Portland, Maine out of the New England League. Created in 1946 as the Portland Gulls, the Pilots lasted until 1949, when the New England League collapsed...
to score 25 goals and 15 assists in just two years.
As a junior in 2007, Rapinoe appeared in just two matches off the bench early in the year before suffering yet another season-ending Anterior cruciate ligament injury
Anterior cruciate ligament injury
An injury to the anterior cruciate ligament can be a debilitating musculoskeletal injury to the knee, seen most often in athletes. Non-contact tears and ruptures are the most common causes of ACL injury....
for the second consecutive season. She was granted a medical hardship waiver by the NCAA, but never used it.
As a senior in 2008, Rapinoe started all 22 games for the Portland Pilots
Portland Pilots
The Portland Pilots were a Class-B minor league baseball team in Portland, Maine out of the New England League. Created in 1946 as the Portland Gulls, the Pilots lasted until 1949, when the New England League collapsed...
and was named a Soccer America First-Team All-American and a NSCAA
NSCAA
The National Soccer Coaches Association of America is an organization of American soccer coaches founded in 1941. The NSCAA has grown from a handful of college soccer coaches to more than 22,000 members, making it the largest coaching organization in the world. Its members coach at all levels of...
Second Team All-American. Rapinoe was also voted West Coast Conference
West Coast Conference
The West Coast Conference is an NCAA collegiate athletics conference consisting of nine member schools across the states of California, Oregon, Utah and Washington....
Player of the Year. Her senior year, Rapinoe led the Portland Pilots
Portland Pilots
The Portland Pilots were a Class-B minor league baseball team in Portland, Maine out of the New England League. Created in 1946 as the Portland Gulls, the Pilots lasted until 1949, when the New England League collapsed...
and the West Coast Conference
West Coast Conference
The West Coast Conference is an NCAA collegiate athletics conference consisting of nine member schools across the states of California, Oregon, Utah and Washington....
in assists (13).
She had one more season of college eligibility remaining, due to her NCAA medical hardship waiver, but opted to enter the 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...
draft instead.
Rapinoe is also one of the only players in the University of Portland
University of Portland
The University of Portland is a private Roman Catholic university located in Portland, Oregon. It is affiliated with the Congregation of Holy Cross and is the sister school of the University of Notre Dame. Founded in 1901, UP has a student body of about 3,600 students...
's history to get 30 goals and 25 assists in a career. Her 88 point career (30 goals, 28 assists) is the 10th in the school's history despite playing just 60 total games due to injuries.
Professional career
From 2002 through 2005, Rapinoe was a member of Elk Grove Pride, which plays in Women's Premier Soccer LeagueWomen's Premier Soccer League
The Women's Premier Soccer League is a national women's soccer league in the United States and Puerto Rico, and is on the 2nd level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, alongside the W-League and below Women's Professional Soccer....
. Over her four years, she scored 25 goals for the club.
Rapinoe was selected 2nd overall in the 2009 WPS Draft
2009 WPS Draft
The 2009 WPS College Draft took place on January 16, 2009. It was the first college draft held by Women's Professional Soccer to assign the WPS rights of college players to the American-based teams.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:-Round 5:...
to Chicago Red Stars
Chicago Red Stars
The Chicago Red Stars are a American professional soccer club that is based in the Chicago suburb of Lisle, Illinois that participates in the Women's Premier Soccer League. From 2009-2010, the Red Stars played their home games at Toyota Park in the Womens 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...
. In the inaugural 2009 Women's Professional Soccer 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...
, Rapinoe appeared in 18 games (17 starts, 1375 minutes) and scored two goals and assisted on three others. She was named a 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...
First-Team All-Star. In 2010, Rapinoe struggled with illness, but played in 20 games (19 starts) scoring one goal on the last touch of the last game of the season.
In December 2010 Rapinoe moved on to Philadelphia Independence after the Chicago Red Stars
Chicago Red Stars
The Chicago Red Stars are a American professional soccer club that is based in the Chicago suburb of Lisle, Illinois that participates in the Women's Premier Soccer League. From 2009-2010, the Red Stars played their home games at Toyota Park in the Womens Professional Soccer...
ceased operations. Rapinoe appeared in four games and made one goal before she was traded to the MagicJack (WPS)
MagicJack (WPS)
MagicJack was an American professional soccer club based in Boca Raton, Florida. The team competed in Women's Professional Soccer. MagicJack was originally founded in 2001 as the Washington Freedom of the defunct Women's United Soccer Association. In 2011, the team relocated to Boca Raton, Florida...
.
While in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, Rapinoe was traded to the MagicJack (WPS)
MagicJack (WPS)
MagicJack was an American professional soccer club based in Boca Raton, Florida. The team competed in Women's Professional Soccer. MagicJack was originally founded in 2001 as the Washington Freedom of the defunct Women's United Soccer Association. In 2011, the team relocated to Boca Raton, Florida...
. It was reported that the "cash considerations" involved in the transfer was an unprecedented $100,000. This was the most expensive trade in WPS history. On October 25, 2011, the 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...
League voted to terminate the magicJack franchise, leaving Rapinoe and many other big names as free agents for the 2012 season.
In October 2011 Rapinoe signed with W-League (Australia)
W-League (Australia)
The W-League is the preeminent women's semi-professional football league in Australia. Established in 2008, it is composed of eight teams - seven of them are affiliated with seven of the Australian clubs currently in the A-League, with the eighth team based in Canberra...
team Sydney FC
Sydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
as a guest player (2 games) and in her second and final game against Melbourne Victory, she scored 8 minutes from time to seal all three points for Sydney FC.
Youth National Teams
Rapinoe played for the U-16 Girl's National Soccer team in 2002 and traveled with the U-16s to FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
.
Rapinoe played for the United States Youth Soccer Association
United States Youth Soccer Association
The United States Youth Soccer Association is the youth affiliate and largest member of U.S. Soccer, the governing body for soccer in the United States. US Youth Soccer includes 55 state youth soccer associations, one per state except for California, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas, which...
International Tournament in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
in May 2003.
Rapinoe played for the United States U-19
United States U-20 women's national soccer team
The United States U-20 women's national soccer team is a youth soccer team operated under the auspices of U.S. Soccer. Its primary role is the development of players in preparation for the full Women's National Team. The team's most recent major tournament was the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World...
team. She made 21 appearances and scored nine goals. Her first camp with the U-19 was in January 2003 in Chula Vista, California
Chula Vista, California
Chula Vista is the second largest city in the San Diego metropolitan area, the seventh largest city in Southern California, the fourteenth largest city in the State of California, and the seventy seventh largest city in the U.S....
. She traveled with the U-19s on European tour to Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in July 2003. She scored her first goal with the U-19s against Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
on March 1, 2003. Rapinoe played in three matches at the 2004 CONCACAF
CONCACAF
The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football is the continental governing body for association football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean...
U-19 Qualifying Tournament, scoring three goals. Her most notable appearances was in the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship
2004 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship
-Group B:---------------------Group C:--------------------- Knockout Map :-Quarterfinals:-------------Semifinals:-----Third place play-off:-Final:-Awards:-All star team:-Goalscorers:...
in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
where she scored a team-high three goals, including one in the third place match victory against Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
Senior National Team
Rapinoe trained with the team at 2006 Residency Training Camp in Carson, CaliforniaCarson, California
Carson is a city in Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2010 census, Carson had a total population of 91,714. Located south of downtown Los Angeles and approximately 14 miles away from the Los Angeles International Airport, it is known as a suburb of the city....
. She came into training with the team early in 2006 and played in four matches. Rapinoe made her United States Women's National Team
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...
debut on July 23, 2006 against Ireland
Republic of Ireland women's national football team
The Republic of Ireland women's national football team, selects players from both the 350 Women's Football Association of Ireland teams, in 21 affiliate leagues throughout the nation, and the international women's football community. The WFAI was founded in 1973...
. She scored her first (and second) senior team goal(s) on October 1, 2006 against Chinese Taipei
Chinese Taipei women's national football team
The Chinese Taipei women's national football team is the international women's football team for the Republic of China . -World Cup record:-AFC Women's Asian Cup record:-OFC Women's Championship:...
.
Due to two separate anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
injuries, Rapinoe did not play for the senior team in 2007 or 2008. These injuries caused her to not be able to play in the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup and 2008 Olympics where the team went on to win gold.
Upon her return to the United States Women's National Team
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...
in 2009, Rapinoe led the team in points with five (two goals and one assist). She played in seven games, starting in six. Rapinoe scored against Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
in the Algarve Cup
Algarve Cup
The Algarve Cup is a global invitational tournament for national teams in women's football . Held annually in the Algarve region of Portugal since 1994, it is one of the most prestigious women's football events, alongside the Women's World Cup and Women's Olympic Football...
in a 1-0 victory, and also added a goal against Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.
In 2010 Rapinoe started eight of the 10 games she played and scored four goals with two assists. One of the assists came in the second match of the Women’s World Cup playoff series against Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
that set up Amy Rodriguez
Amy Rodriguez
Amy Joy Rodriguez is an American soccer forward currently playing for Philadelphia Independence of Women's Professional Soccer and is a member of the United States women's national soccer team....
’s game-winning goal. Rapinoe scored against Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and twice against Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
at the CONCACAF
CONCACAF
The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football is the continental governing body for association football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean...
Women's World Cup Qualifying tournament, in which she played three games.
Rapinoe was selected as part of the U.S. team for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. She came on as a substitute in a group stage match vs 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...
in the 50th minute and scored almost immediately to put the U.S. up 2–0. Rapinoe started in the USA's last group stage match versus 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...
, in which the U.S. lost 2–1. During the quarterfinal match against 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....
, Rapinoe came on as a sub and lofted a cross into the box for Abby Wambach
Abby Wambach
Mary Abigail "Abby" Wambach is an American professional soccer player, coach and Olympic gold medalist. A four-time winner of the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award, she has been a regular on the U.S. women's national team since 2003...
's game-tying, extra-time header; she would later convert her shot during the penalty shootout
Penalty shootout
The shootout is a method of determining a winner in sports matches that would have otherwise been drawn or tied. The rules for penalty shootouts vary between sports and even different competitions; however, the usual form is similar to penalty shots in that a single player takes one shot on goal...
to help send the United States to the semifinals in a miraculous fashion. Following the match against 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....
, Rapinoe was named ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
's Next Level Player of the Week for completing 5 of 10 crosses while the rest of the team was 0 for 18. Rapinoe went on to make two more critical assists in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup semi-finals and finals against France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
respectively. She ended the tournament with 1 goal and 3 assists. Following her appearance in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, Rapinoe's hometown of Redding, California
Redding, California
Redding is a city in far-Northern California. It is the county seat of Shasta County, California, USA. With a population of 89,861, according to the 2010 Census...
officially made September 10, 2011 Megan Rapinoe Day.