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Christie Rampone is recognized as the best defender in the world of women’s soccer. With a decade of experience under her belt, she has defined herself as the leader of the United States Women’s National Team, which remains the #1 ranked team in the world. 2008 was a very momentous year for Christie. In January, she became the ninth player in the Women's National Team's 23 year history to be named team captain. Her leadership paid instant dividends as she guided her team to the gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In addition, Rampone earned her 200th cap at the Games and now ranks second only to Kristine Lilly in most career caps with the Women's National Team. Christie maintained her momentum in 2009 as she was named the captain of New Jersey's Sky Blue FC during the inaugural season of the Women's Professional Soccer League. In July, halfway through the season, after unexpected coaching changes, Christie was named interim player/coach. Under her leadership, the team went from last place to earning the final spot in the playoffs, and eventually to an unlikely berth in the championship game. On August 22, 2009, Rampone and her team shocked the league by defeating the season-long favorites Los Angeles Sol to become the first ever WPS Champions. She played on the WPS All-Star team and was named Sportswoman of the Year for the league. In her first season with the U.S. National Team, Christie started in 16 of 18 games and was third overall in minutes played. In 1998, she started the entire year and helped earn the U.S. Women’s National Team a gold medal at the Goodwill Games. Rampone was also a member of the historic 1999 U.S. Women’s World Cup Championship Team. The following year proved to be a stellar one for her, as she started in 30 of the 33 games played, including all five of the matches in the 2000 Olympics, helping the U.S. Women’s National Team earn a silver medal. Christie began the 2001 season with the National Team, but only played four games before tearing the ACL in her right knee. In 2003, after a full recovery, she rejoined the team and became the 15th player in U.S. Women’s Soccer history to earn 100 caps. She played every minute in all of the U.S. matches during the Women’s World Cup in 2003, helping the team to a bronze medal. In 2004, Rampone started 26 of the 28 games she played in, including every minute of the five matches during the 2004 Olympics where she and her team earned gold medals. Christie was a founding player of the Women’s United Soccer Association and played for the New York Power from 2001-2004. After giving birth to her daughter Rylie in 2005, Rampone returned to the Women’s National Team a year later in 2006 stronger than ever. In 2007, she became the most capped defender (active) on the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team. Christie is the only impact player on the Women’s National Team to have ever come from a small university. After being highly recruited by nearly every major college in the country, Rampone chose to attend Monmouth University. She selected them because they were the only school that supported her desire to compete in multiple sports. At Monmouth, Christie excelled as a three sport athlete competing in soccer, basketball and lacrosse. In both 1995 & 1996, she was voted the consensus Northeast Conference Player of the Year and First Team All Mid-Atlantic Region. She led Monmouth to two NEC championships, three ECAC Tournaments and finished her career as the schools all-time leader in goals, assists, and points. Rampone graduated from Monmouth University in 1996 with a degree in Special Education. As a tribute to her heroic achievements and for the world-wide notoriety she brought to her alma mater, the university awarded her with an Honorary Doctorate in Public Services in 2005. Christie was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 1975, but grew up in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. As a senior at Point Pleasant Boro High School, she was named New Jersey High School Female Athlete of the Year. During her senior year, Rampone became the first female athlete in the state's history to lead her conference in scoring in three different sports (soccer, basketball and field hockey). This astounding accomplishment would earn her All-State honors in all three sports. Christie is still heralded as one of the finest athletes the state of New Jersey has ever produced. The Newark Star Ledger ranked her No. 4 in their Top 50 High School Athletes of the 20th Century.
AWARDS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS 1992 New Jersey High School Female Athlete of the Year 1994 College Soccer Association of New Jersey – First Team 1994 ECAC Champion 1995 Northeast Conference Champion 1995 Northeast Conference Player of the Year 1995 First Team All-Mid Atlantic Region 1996 Northeast Conference Player of the Year 1996 First Team All-Mid Atlantic Region 1998 Algarve Cup 3rd Place 1998 Goodwill Games Gold Medalist 1999 Algarve Cup 2nd Place 1999 World Cup Champion 2000 Algarve Cup Champion 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup Champion 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist 2003 Algarve Cup Champion 2003 World Cup Bronze Medalist 2003 Becomes the 15th player in U.S. WNT History to achieve 100 caps 2004 Algarve Cup Champion 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist 2006 Algarve Cup 2nd Place 2006 CONCACAF Gold Cup Champion 2007 Algarve Cup Champion 2007 Currently ranks 2nd among active Women’s National Team players in caps 2008 Four Nations Tournament Champion |
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