Megan Anna Rapinoe (born 5 July 1985, in Redding, California) is an American soccer midfielder currently playing for magicJack of Women's Professional Soccer and is a member of the United States women's national soccer team. She is best known for her crafty style of play and for her game-winning crosses, including the assist to Abby Wambach in the 122nd minute of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup quarterfinals against Brazil. [1]Rapinoe grew up in Redding, California with her parents, Jim and Denise, and five siblings, including her twin, Rachael.In high school, Rapinoe did not play soccer and instead played for the Elk Grove Pride club team, where they won state and league championships, and were the national runner-up in 2003. She also competed in track as a freshman and sophomore, and basketball as a freshman, sophomore, and senior.
Rapinoe was able to make it onto the honor roll every semester of high school. She was named Parade (magazine) and NSCAA All-American as a junior and senior. Rapinoe was also named to the McDonald's All-American Game in 2004.
Rapinoe and her twin, Rachael, both attended University of Portland in Portland, Oregon. The Rapinoe twins almost committed to Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, California before chosing to play for the Portland Pilots.
In 2004, Rapinoe did not play college soccer what would have been her freshman season in order to play in the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship where the United States placed third.In 2005 as a freshman, Rapinoe helped the Portland Pilots to an undefeated season and the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship. She was a NSCAA First Team All-America and was on the Soccer America First Team Freshman All-America. Rapinoe made the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship All Tournament Team and was the West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year. She was also an All-West Coast Conference First Team and an All-West Coast Conference Freshman Team selection. Rapinoe played and started all 25 games as an attacking midfielder, scoring 15 goals and added 13 assists for 43 points. That year, she also had seven recorded game-winning goals.
As a sophomore in 2006, Rapinoe was among the nation's leading scorers with 10 goals and 2 assists in just 11 matches before suffering her first season-ending Anterior cruciate ligament injury against Washington State University on October 5. She joined Tiffeny Milbrett and Shannon MacMillan as the only Portland Pilots to score 25 goals and 15 assists in just two years.
