Oneonta, N.Y. - U.S. Women’s National Team forward Abby Wambach will share her reflections on the 2008 Olympic Gold Medal winning U.S. Women’s National Team and her pursuit of excellence as the most prolific scorer in U.S. women’s soccer on Saturday, September 27^th at 7:00 PM. The appearance will take place at the National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum in Oneonta, NY. “Abby has produced goals at a prodigious rate,” Hall of Fame President Steve Baumann said. “She has clearly been a leader of our women’s team and the sight of her laying on the field appealing for help after breaking her leg just before the Olympics was one of the most heart-rending in recent memory.” “However, this is an extraordinary woman who has shown the ability to meet and overcome adversity,” Baumann continued. “She is one goal short of 100, placing her 5^th on the All-Time U.S. goal scoring list. What’s remarkable is that those who are ahead of her, with the exception of Hall of Famer Michelle Akers, have all played more than twice the number of games. This is an incredible opportunity to meet and hear from one of the great players in history – an Olympic Gold Medalist at the 2004 Athens Olympics, a Women’s United Soccer Association professional champion in 2003, scoring the sudden death game-winning goal, and an NCAA Division I Champion in 1998.” “I am looking forward to visiting the Hall of Fame,” Abby said. “I hope I’ll be able to pass along the thrill I get from soccer and from my amazing teammates, past and present, like Hall of Famers Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy, and my current teammates who did such a great job in winning the Gold Medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.”

Her career as an outstanding player began in her hometown of Pittsford, NY, on the Our Lady of Mercy High School girls’ soccer team, a top high school squad that won three section championships only to lose in the NY State Finals. While attending the University of Florida she won an NCAA Division I National Championship in 1998. Following graduation she joined the Washington Freedom of the WUSA where the team won the 2003 league championship on an Abby goal.

She joined the national team in 2001 and has played in two FIFA Women’s World Cups and won an Olympic Gold Medal at the 2004 Athens Games. She has scored 99 goals in 127 games, the best strike rate in U.S. women’s soccer history. She broke her leg this past June in the final warm-up match prior to the Olympics and is now rehabbing the injury. She expects to be on the field when Women’s Professional Soccer, the new women’s league, kicks off in the spring of 2009.

The Museum will have extended hours on September 27^th, opening at 10:00 AM and remaining open until 9:00 PM. Standard Museum admission rates will apply to those attending the program.

This event is made possible with funding by the Otsego County Bed Tax Event Grants Program. Otsego County Tourism, 800-843-3394/visitcooperstown.com. Additional support was provided by the A. Lindsay & Olive B. O'Connor Foundation, and MVP Healthcare.