VANCOUVER – With the clock ticking down in the 2011 Women's World Cup final, the Americans leading, her knee starting to throb viciously and destiny apparently beckoning, Hope Solo refused to cheat.
Solo didn't do what most men's international soccer players and some women's players would in such a situation. Instead of feigning a more serious injury and attempting to stall the game in order to take any momentum out of the action, the United States goalkeeper played it fair.
She first resisted the temptation to halt play and call for the team's trainer. As the pain worsened, she eventually waved for the doctor to come onto the field, but took just a minimal amount of time when her knee was inspected by U.