NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Fourteen million people watched the US Women's National soccer team defeat the Netherlands (2-0) on Sunday. On Wednesday, the team returns to celebrate with a ticker tape parade in New York. For five of these players, the celebrations are brought back close to home. Crystal Dunn, Tobin Heath, Carli Lloyd, Allie Long and Alyssa Naeher started their World Cup Champion career here in the tri-state area:
CRYSTAL DUNN - ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY
From New York Gatorade Player of the Year to Women's Fifa World Cup Champion, Crystal Dunn started off in Rockville Centre, New York. Dunn had the taste for being a champion as a young player. She played three seasons at South Side high school where she was only defeated in two games. In all three seasons, Dunn assisted her team in making it to their championship game. Crystal was a dynamic player to every team she joined as she could be found in both offensive and defensive positions. Dunn brought her talents to the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill where she was their leading scorer in her first season on the team. Dunn, only 27 years old, brings home the 2019 World Cup Championship metal to New York.
TOBIN HEATH - BASKING RIDGE, NJ
Tobin Health began her path to gold medals in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. The central Jersey town named Tobin Heath Field after the local champion. After a successful high school career, Tobin joined Crystal on UNC's team. Continuing to play after college, Dunn was named U.S. Soccer Athlete of the year in 2016. Dunn, now age 31, won the U.S. two Olympic gold metals in Beijing and London as well as accompanying the Women's National team win the last two World Cup Championships in 2015 and 2019.
CARLI LLOYD - DELRAN, NJ
Carli Lloyd mastered her ball skills in hometown Delran Township, New Jersey. Sticking to her Jersey roots, Lloyd made her mark on the Rutger's soccer field. Carli was the only Rutgers' player to be named First-Team All-Big East and she did it four times. But her title winning was just starting. Lloyd has earned Olympic gold medalist, Fifa World Cup champion and Fifa player of the Year not once but twice. Carli Lloyd brings back this year's World Cup win at age 36.
ALEXANDRA (ALLIE) LONG - NORTHPORT, NY
Like her teammates, Allie Long grew up in cleats and shin guards. Before entering high school, Allie played on clubs teams like Albertson Soccer Club where she won four consecutive State Open Cup titles. Long grew up in Northport, New York where she attended high school. In her four years, her team went undefeated and were named All-State first team and All-County team each season. Long began college soccer at Penn State University where she was a coveted starting player. Transferring her junior year to join teammates Dunn and Heath, Long finished strong as as UNC Tar heel. Fast forward to today, Allie is bringing home her first Fifa World Cup metal at age 31.
ALYSSA NAEHER - BRIDGEPORT, CONN.
The greatest obstacle for penalty shots grew up in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Alyssa Naeher attended Christian Heritage School where she was a title winning soccer and basketball player. Next for Naeher, she took her goal keeping abilities to Penn State University. During that time she earned Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2007. Continuing to block shots on goal after college on club teams, Naeher assisted the US Women's National team in their last two World Cup Championships.