U.S. Women's Soccer, Tobin Heath Going for Gold

Thursday is the day that the U.S. women's soccer team is scheduled to head out on the field at Wembley Stadium in London — a world epicenter for soccer — to go for Olympic gold, with a graduate and former Ridge soccer player as part of that team

Thursday's match, scheduled for 2:45 p.m., is a rematch of the same rivalry — U.S. vs. Japan — as in last year's World Cup final. Japan triumphed in that game on penalties following a 2-2 draw at the end of 120 minutes.

Heath, who has moved into a starter spot in this Olympics soccer games, also during which local fans cheered her on then as Heath, and the team, have since July 25 through a string of victories to reach the point where the U.S. women's team has a shot at Olympic gold.

Heath is a 2006 graduate of Ridge. She played on the school's girls soccer team for three years before taking on more advanced soccer commitments.

The game is scheduled for 2:45 Eastern Time on Thursday, at Wembley Stadium in London. Olympic events can be accessed via NBC Sports Network, NBC Soccer Channel, NBC Live Extra (web).

According to ESPN soccer.net, the United States' last-gasp extra-time win in a sealed the team's spot in the Olympics women's soccer final for the fifth successive tournament. A video with highlights from the game is on the Huffington Post.