B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 up to the gods now.B次元官网网址�

Those were the six words Bev Priestman, head coach of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 national womenB次元官网网址檚 soccer team, leaned in and said to longtime equipment manager B次元官网网址� and Semiahmoo Peninsula resident B次元官网网址� Maeve Glass, in the moments before the penalty shootout began between Canada and Sweden in the final match at the Tokyo Summer Olympics.

The two teams had already battled in sweltering heat at Yokohama Stadium for 120 minutes, each scoring once. Now, a gold medal would be determined by penalty kicks.

And though the shootout took an agonizing six rounds to decide, the soccer deities Priestman had invoked ultimately looked favourably on the Canadians, who won on a strike from 20-year-old Vancouver native Julia Grosso, who was still in elementary school when Glass B次元官网网址� the former president of Peace Arch Soccer B次元官网网址� made her Olympic debut with the Canadian squad at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 still on Cloud 9B次元官网网址� it hasnB次元官网网址檛 really sunk in yet. It was absolutely amazing,B次元官网网址� Glass told Peace Arch B次元官网网址 Wednesday, just two days after arriving home.

That gold-medal match was watched by B次元官网网址� including many on the West Coast, who woke up at 5 a.m. to tune in B次元官网网址� and though viewers were no doubt on pins and needles for much of the morning, Glass insisted the team was cool and collected until that final goal.

However, once Grosso scored, B次元官网网址渋t was like an out-of-body experience.B次元官网网址�

Before GrossoB次元官网网址檚 goal, the Swedish captain had sailed her penalty kick attempt high above the Canadian net. Glass, standing next to Priestman B次元官网网址� also a resident of the Semiahmoo Peninsula B次元官网网址� said only one thing, a statement of fact to those standing near her.

B次元官网网址淲e were all quite calm. I just said, B次元官网网址業f Julia scores, we win.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

The Swedish goalkeeper got a hand on GrossoB次元官网网址檚 shot, but rather than deflect the ball up over the net, it stayed under bar to seal the victory.

B次元官网网址淛ulia turned around after she scored, and Bev ran past me like a 100-metre sprinter,B次元官网网址� Glass laughed. B次元官网网址淚t was just so overwhelming.B次元官网网址�

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Glass insisted that the most tense moment of the Olympic tournament for her wasnB次元官网网址檛 the gold-medal game, but actually the quarter-final match against Brazil B次元官网网址� a game that also came down to penalty kicks, with Canada winning 4-3.

That victory set up a dramatic semifinal rematch against the No. 1-ranked United States team, who famously defeated Canada in the semifinals of the 2012 Olympics thanks to a controversial penalty call that cost Canada a shot at gold. They finished with bronze B次元官网网址� the first medals in Olympic history for Canadian soccer B次元官网网址� though the pain of the semifinal loss lingered.

Speaking with PAN at the time, Glass said the team was

This time around, however, the longtime equipment manager B次元官网网址� whose history with the Olympics dates back to 1976 when, as a 16-year-old, she took part in the torch relay at the Montreal-hosted Games B次元官网网址� knew Canada would come out on top, which they did, 1-0, thanks to a Jessie Fleming penalty kick.

B次元官网网址淚 just had a calm about that game. I just had a feeling we were going to win,B次元官网网址� she said.

Just keep saying it until it sinks in! are Olympic Gold Medallists! 馃崄馃��

B次元官网网址� Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN)

Though she was thrilled to be part of a gold-medal winner, Glass B次元官网网址� whose mother, longtime Surrey school trustee Pam Glass, competed for Ireland at the 1948 Olympics as a runner B次元官网网址� was happiest for the players she has known for years, like Canadian soccer legend Christine Sinclair and two of the teamB次元官网网址檚 youngest players, Gross and , both of whom Glass has known since the pair were just 12 years old.

Hours after the gold-medal game ended, Glass and Grosso had a moment to reflect on what had just happened.

B次元官网网址淚 was riding up the elevator with JuliaB次元官网网址� and I said to her, B次元官网网址榊ou guys, this is going to change your life in such a good way, you just have no idea.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

While the Tokyo Olympics were a unique experience even for Olympic veterans due to COVID-19 protocols B次元官网网址� there were countless COVID-19 tests, no fans in attendance and Olympians were only allowed to be in Japan a few days before their event, then were ushered home almost immediately after B次元官网网址� Glass said the Games were still incredible.

B次元官网网址淎fter the semifinal, we got to go into the Olympic Village B次元官网网址� we hadnB次元官网网址檛 been there yet, we werenB次元官网网址檛 staying there. I think for a lot of the newcomers, the first-time Olympians, thatB次元官网网址檚 when it really started to feel like the Olympics,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been to five Olympics now, and this village was one of the best IB次元官网网址檝e been to. You have to hand it to the Japanese B次元官网网址� in really, really difficult circumstances, they pulled it off and it was amazing.B次元官网网址�

Back home in South Surrey, Glass is still battling jet lag and a little bit of a B次元官网网址渟urrealB次元官网网址� feeling, knowing she was a part of such a historic moment for Canadian soccer. She noted that Priestman has also had to adjust since returning.

B次元官网网址淚 talked to Bev yesterday and she said everywhere she goes B次元官网网址� she was down at White Rock beach B次元官网网址� people are stopping her and congratulating her,B次元官网网址� Glass explained. B次元官网网址淪he said sheB次元官网网址檚 went out for dinner a couple times and nobody will let her pay. I just told her to enjoy it, because sheB次元官网网址檚 worked her backside off for it.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 very cool.B次元官网网址�

sports@peacearchnews.com
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