Aug. 18 (2008)

Lori Chalupny breaks a 1-1 tie with a goal in the 44th minute against Japan in the Olympic semifinals in Beijing. The United States goes on to win, 4-2. Angela Hucles scores twice and Heather O’Reilly nets one.  The USA will defeat Brazil, 1-0, in the gold-medal game on Carli Lloyd’s goal in added extra time. Chalupny had to leave the Olympics’ opening game in the 15th minute after being punched in the head accidentally by goalkeeper Hope Solo as Solo attempted to clear a ball with her fist. Chalupny did not play in the USA’s second match, a 2-0 loss to Norway. But she plays every minute of the USA’s last four Olympic games. Chalupny will retire in late 2015 after appearing in 106 games with 10 goals for the USA and helping the United States win the 2015 World Cup. She will list the 2008 Olympic gold medal as one of her five biggest moments in soccer in a 2016 story by Dave Lange for soccerstl.net.