NY, NJ soccer players help US Women's team win gold medal at Olympics
NEW YORK (PIX11)—A 12-year drought ended on Saturday, and the US Women's soccer team is once again Olympic champions, taking home gold in the Paris Olympics.
In a special treat, six of the players are from Gotham FC, a soccer club in New Jersey and New York.
Exuberant cheers rang out at Legends sports bar in midtown Saturday as the US Women's soccer team took home Olympic gold. Hundreds of people showed up to watch the women defeat Brazil 1-0.
Brianna Shawah from Clifton, NJ, said, "An awesome win, go USA!"
The crowd went wild when the game-winning goal was scored not long after halftime.
Many in this crowd were there to support the six women from Gotham FC who are on the US Women's National Team.
"I'm so proud to see all the Gotham people on the team," Shawah said.
The Gotham FC players include Long Island's own Crystal Dunn.
Lynn Williams, Rose Lavelle, Tierna Davidson, Jenna Nighswonger, and Emily Sonnett are also included.
Dunn and Davidson started the gold medal match, with Sonnett and Williams also hitting the turf during the game.
One woman in the crowd saying, "It's so exciting and makes me want to go to a Gotham game."
The last time the US women's soccer team won gold was in 2012 in London.
Soccer player Kathleen Bidad was at the watch party and said, "I'm so happy. They've had such a long run, with different coaches and different players, and I'm so proud of this team."
People here say- this win- will encourage future generations of female soccer players.
"It's such an important foundation for our soccer, and I think women and children need to follow it and know that they can do it," Shawah added.
What's next for the 6 Olympians from Gotham FC? They're heading home for their first home game on August 19.
Many of these fans say they'll be in the stands at Red Bull arena in Harrison, NJ, to cheer them on.