There are clichés about how adversity can be opportunities. For the U.S. Women’s soccer team, adversity is their reality. They have had a major setback with the loss of Abby Wambach. Along with injuries to experienced team members like Leslie Osborne and Cat Whitehill, the broken leg suffered by Abby Wambach means additional pressure on the new members of the U.S. Women’s Olympic team.

Coach Pia Sundhage had been in the process of instituting a new offense. Under former coach Greg Ryan, the offensive scheme was a kick and chase strategy. The offense relied on moving the ball to Abby Wambach. The opposition knew where the ball was going and, to Abby Wambach’s credit, she was effective in spite of the lack of creativity in the offense. Her size, strength and ball skills made her productive, even though the defenders knew exactly where and to whom the ball was going.

Under Pia Sundhage’s offense, there is more emphasis on creativity and maintaining ball control. It was design to spread the offensive threat. And now, with Abby Wambach forced out of the lineup, the new offensive responsibilities will be tested on one of soccer’s biggest stages, the Olympics.

The injuries have put additional pressures on this team. However, each and every one of these team members is a superb athlete. Exceptional soccer skills are required even to be considered for the team. New team leaders will emerge; and this team will be able to demonstrate its character, as well as its soccer skills, in Beijing. This is still a team with high Olympic expectations.

Catherine Forsythe