Skip to content

A town square for an unsquare town

redbankgreen

Standing for the vitality of Red Bank, its community, and the fun we have together.

RUMSON: SOCCER STAR INSPIRES RFH PLAYERS

christie-rampone-6558431Press release from Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School

Three-time Olympic Gold Medalist and two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion Christie Rampone recently provided an unforgettable experience for local soccer players with dreams of their own.

Rampone made an appearance at a scheduled practice for the Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School girl’s soccer team at Meadowridge Field East in Rumson on September 28. During an informal motivational session, Rampone described participation in high school soccer as a “privilege.”

“There are a lot of things I wish I would have known when I was in high school, and one of them

is that roles are constantly changing and you need to keep an open mind,” said the 40-year old Rampone, who plays for the Piscataway-based Sky Blue FC Club team, and is the only “99-er” – referring to a player on the highly regarded U.S Women’s National Soccer team that won the 1999 World Cup – still on the field.

“Always give 100% even if you are not playing the position you thought you would, and remember that confidence comes from within…you can’t rely on your coaches to give it to you.”

In addition to stressing the importance of good nutrition and training as well as a positive attitude, Rampone shared some interesting facts with the RFH players, such as:

• She is working toward the goal of playing in her fifth Olympic games — to be held in 2016 in Rio De Janeiro — and the chance to become the oldest Olympic soccer player in history

• Her favorite Olympic venue was Greece, where she spent six weeks and greatly enjoyed the beauty of the country and the warmth of its people

• She never dreamed that she would play soccer in the Olympic games

• The experience of riding through New York City’s “Canyon of Heroes”  after winning the 2015 FIFA World Cup was indescribable, and made even more exciting by the fact that her daughters were in the car with her

• Her favorite 2015 World Cup matchup was U.S. versus Germany, because she felt that the game was evenly-matched with exciting shifts in momentum

• She considers herself to be closest with U.S. Women’s National Soccer teammates Shannon Box and Sydney Leroux (“Sydney teaches me about style, and I teach her to make good choices”), and her Co-Captain Abby Wambach

Rampone told the RFH players that in addition to her responsibilities as Co-Captain of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team, she also takes the issue of women’s rights very seriously.

“Off the field, I am constantly fighting for women’s rights and working to get the best treatment for our players,” she said. “This is a side of my role that you don’t see as much.”

“As women, we have to keep pushing the bar to get to the same level as the men.”

When asked about factors that led to the 2015 World Cup triumph, Rampone stressed the importance of communication among players.

“People fear the American team because we talk a lot,” she said. “Teammates that communicate and support one another on the field put up a strong united front.”

“The best team will always win – I can promise you that.”

Rampone, who grew up in Point Pleasant, attended Monmouth University and excelled as a three-sport athlete (soccer, basketball, and lacrosse) after being heavily recruited by nearly  every major college in the country. During her senior year, she accepted an offer to train and travel with the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team. She finished her collegiate soccer career  with a start in all 80 games, led her team with 79 career goals and 54 assists, and was Monmouth’s record holder for goals, assists, and points in a season.

Rampone has played in five FIFA Women’s World Cup finals and four Olympics women’s soccer tournaments (earning three Olympic gold and one silver medal). She has participated in the second-largest number of international matches in U.S. and world history.

Remember: Nothing makes a Red Bank friend happier than to hear "I saw you on Red Bank Green!"
Partyline
RED TRUCKS AT RED ROCK
A small dishwasher fire at Red Rock Tap and Grill was put out quickly by firefighters overnight, causing minimal damage. Red Bank Fire Depar ...
CREATIVE COVER UP
The windows of Pearl Street Consignment on Monmouth Street were smashed when a driver crashed their car through them injuring an employee la ...
THEY’RE BACK!
Ospreys returned to the skies over Red Bank this week for the first time since they migrated to warmer climes in late fall. With temperature ...
SPRING IS SPRUNG
RED BANK: Spring 2024 arrives on the Greater Red Bank Green with the vernal equinox at 11:06 p.m. Tuesday.
RED BANK’S FINEST – AND NEWEST
Red Bank Police Officer Eliot Ramos was sworn in as the force’s newest patrolman Thursday, and if you’re doing a double take thinkin ...
EASTER EGG MAYHEM AT THE PARK
An errant whistle spurred an unexpectedly early start to the Spring Egg Hunt on Sunday, which had been scheduled to begin at eggsactly 11am ...
PRESEASON DOCKWORK
RED BANK: With winter winding down, marina gets ready for boating season with some dockwork on our beautiful Navesink River.
CORNED BEEF AND DISCO FRIES?
It’s Friday, and smart Lent-observing Leprechauns know the pot of gold at the end of Red Bank’s rainbow is actually the deliciou ...
SURFBOARD DITCHED
It’s a violation of etiquette in surfing to ditch your board.  (it could hit another surfer and hurt them). But someone appears to ha ...
ELSIE, TAKE ME WITH YOU!
Soaked by pouring rain with the temperature hovering in the low 40’s, this sign in the window of Elsie’s Subs on Monmouth Street ...
WALK THIS WAY
PARTYLINE: Before-and-afters of a sidewalk cleanup on West Street.
SOGGY NOTION
RED BANK: Breezeway sculpture captured the mood downtown as heavy rains fell Saturday morning.
HOME DELIVERY
RED BANK: After a subdivision, an instant house rises on a new Catherine Street lot.
COMMUNITY PROFILES
For Black History Month, Red Bank's Community Engagement and Equity Advisory Committee has been running a series of local profiles on Facebo ...
HEARTY FAREWELL FOR HARDY
RED BANK: Council to honor DPU supervisor Rich Hardy, who retired recently after almost 39 years of keeping things running.
HOMEBOUND? READ ON…
RED BANK: Can't get to the public library? It's now offering free delivery and pickups for homebound borough residents.
TAMING A BEAST OF A WEEK
RED BANK: After the second snowfall of the week, a borough family finds the perfect use for it – a Godzilla snow sculpture.
RED BANK: LIBRARY CLOSED, BUT THE HILL’S OPEN
RED BANK: Though the library was closed by a snowstorm, kids got to enjoy the riverfront property's steep slope Tuesday.
LIGHT(HOUSE) MAKEOVER
This year, getting ready for spring means a midwinter makeover for Strollo's Lighthouse in Red Bank.
TODAY: LOCAL PUPPY COMPETES ON ANIMAL PLANET’S “PUPPY BOWL”
Red Bank’s very own rescue puppy, Biscuit, is set to compete in Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl this Sunday, February 11, at 2 PM. Th ...