The US Women's Team easily qualified for next year's World Cup Tournament with a shutout win over Mexico. America's 3-0 victory saw goalie Hope Solo secure shutout #76, while her biggest challenge to date may not involve soccer at all. On November 4, Solo will stand trial for two counts of fourth-degree domestic violence. In the meantime, Solo and her teammates and coaches at Team USA say she's innocent until proven guilty.
Team Captain Christie Rampone says she is standing by Hope for as long as she is presumed innocent. If a jury convicts, however, the team will be forced to deal with the fallout (via New York Times):
"We're definitely going to have to address it. It's not going to go pushed under the rug. There will be disciplinary actions. And that comes from U.S. Soccer and then obviously the coach. And then, depending on the pulse of the team, that would be the third thing - going to the coach about that."
Abby Wambach, another leader on the team and nominee for FIFA Player of the Year, echoes her captain's sentiments. She feels that until Solo has her day in court, the team should stand by her. But it's a tight rope walk because of the gravity of her situation (via New York Daily News):
"It's hard because we're in a tricky position because we're teammates with Hope and we also are role models so we know how massive and we know how big of an issue this is. That's not lost on us by any means. On so many different levels, our hands are tied."
US Women's coach Jill Ellis has declined to comment on the subject, saying she does not deal with hypotheticals.
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