Olympic Soccer 2012: Biggest Heroes for the United States in Win over Canada

The heroics of the United States Women's National Team kicked in again on Monday afternoon.

Canada's Christine Sinclair was brilliant and deserves all the props in the world for her hat trick, but there is something about the USWNT that is magical.

Three separate times Sinclair put Canada out in front, but the U.S. dug deep and answered on each occasion to force extra time. The legacy of late game heroics by the USWNT continued when Alex Morgan headed in the match winning goal in the third minute of stoppage time of the second extra time period.

There are the heroes of the match.

Tobin Heath

Tobin Heath did not have a goal or an assist, but the beautiful game is much more than those stats.

Heath was remarkable on the ball. She found herself in heavy traffic numerous times and maintained possession and then made the right pass more often than not. Her pace was also important.

Heath was able to track down balls, recover well, and be the midfielder the U.S. needed her to be.

She may very well be the future of the USWNT along with Morgan and Sydney Leroux. Her skills on the ball are next level. The players she was winning them against were not substandard. She fought tooth and nail against the physical presence of Canada and came out on top the majority of the time.

Keeping possession of the ball was crucial with how well Sinclair and Melissa Tancredi were playing. It continually gave the U.S. chances to score, win corners, and make Canada play their game. It was an impressive performance from the former North Carolina Tar Heel.

Abby Wambach

You cannot talk about heroes without bringing up Abby Wambach.

Wambach came up huge in the 80'. The U.S. were down 3-2 and needed to convert on a penalty kick that was given because of a handball. Who else would take it but Wambach? And she buried it.

The importance of that goal cannot be overlooked.

Wambach was close on other chances. Including a header in extra time that nearly went in, but was just off the crossbar. She was also strong on the ball. Wambach played balls exceptionally well, especially on counterattacks.

She would get the ball down in space and then make the right pass to one of the midfielders on the flanks. Heroics are not just goals. It is making the right play that help set-up those scoring opportunities. Wambach is excellent at that.

Wambach's intangibles cannot be overstated. There is a belief with this team that they are never out of the match. Wambach is the chief reason why they have that belief. Without Wambach to help lead this team it is unlikely they make these dramatic comebacks to win.

Alex Morgan

She is an obvious choice. The match-winning goal was her doing.

Morgan had been silent since the opening match against France, but continued her strong play in other areas. She continually threatened throughout the match against Canada. She had been close on either scoring herself or setting up a teammate on numerous occasions, but the goal just would not come.

The determination to never give up and finish off Canada paid off in the waning seconds of the match. Heather O'Reilly sent in a cross and she got her head on it to send the United States to the gold medal match.

Morgan has had a great 2012. That late goal is the stuff legends are made of.

This goal will go down as one of the greatest in USWNT and Olympic history. Morgan continues her ascent as the next superstar of the team.

Megan Rapinoe

Rapinoe was the woman of the match and the most important player on the pitch for the United States.

While her early goals may be overshadowed by Morgan's game winner, that does not erase how marvelous they were.

Rapinoe took a corner in the 54' that resulted in what looked like an own goal, but after a replay it was clear she bent the ball into the net. After another Sinclair goal the U.S. were down 2-1. Rapinoe struck again in the 70' minute with an amazing power shot from outside the box.

It is as if David Beckham from the early part of the 2000's possessed her body, but that would be disingenuous to her skills. She was phenomenal against Canada.

Rapinoe continued to be incredible the rest of the match. Making excellent passes, dispossessing Canadian players and winning nearly every ball that was remotely close to her. It was a complete performance that showcased how far she has come in her career.

She put on one of the best complete performances in all of women's soccer in recent memory.