Heather O'Reilly

Football player infobox
playername = Heather O'Reilly


fullname = Heather Ann O'Reilly
nickname = HAO
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1985|01|02| cityofbirth = East Brunswick, New Jersey
countryofbirth = United States
height = height|ft=5|in=5
years =
clubs =
currentclub = New Jersey Wildcats
clubnumber =
position = Forward
youthyears =
youthclubs = University of North Carolina
caps(goals) =
nationalyears = 2002-present
nationalteam = United States
nationalcaps(goals) = 83 (19)
pcupdate =
ntupdate = April 21, 2008
MedalTop

Heather Ann O'Reilly (born January 2, 1985 in New Brunswick, New Jersey and a graduate of both Saint Bartholomew's School and East Brunswick High School), is an American women's soccer player. Her father is an assistant track coach at St. Joseph High School in Metuchen, New Jersey. She also has three other brothers, one of which ran track and cross country at the Air Force Academy. She was a striker at the University of North Carolina, where she majored in education, and the New Jersey Wildcats, a W-League team.

O'Reilly made her first appearance with the US Women's National Team, on March 1, 2002 against Sweden.

On August 23, 2004, O'Reilly scored the game-winning goal in the Olympics quarterfinal match against wnft|Germany, propelling the United States into the final, in which they defeated wnft|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, tying the game at 2-2 and saving the Americans from a devastating opening-round loss. USA ended up taking the bronze medal, where O'Reilly scored a goal during the 4-1 win against Norway. As of November 2007, she has 15 career international goals. O'Reilly now wears the No. 9 jersey for the national team, a number made famous by Mia Hamm.

O'Reilly has been nominated as Sports Illustrated's 2007 Sportsman of the year.

On February 24 of 2008, had her jersey, # 20, retired from UNC's women's soccer team.

External links

* [http://www.usolympicteam.com/26_13786.htm Heather O'Reilly's U.S. Olympic Team bio]
* [http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/sports/w-soccer/mtt/oreilly_heather00.html Heather O'Reilly's UNC Athletics bio]
* [http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1819129_1819134_1825731,00.html "Heather O’Reilly"] , n°15 on "Time"’s list of "100 Olympic Athletes To Watch"