Soccer Star Returns to Gig Harbor from Germany

Soccer star and Gig Harbor resident Stephanie Cox returned home from the FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany, excited but disappointed, she said in a recent interview.

"We were definitely hoping for a gold, but I guess I just have to go for one more World Cup, hopefully, and see if we can get a gold then."

On Sunday, Cox and her teammates watched the Japanese raise the gold trophy. Her dream of winning the World Cup came up short after the dramatic extra time and penalty shootout as Japan won 3-1 on penalties.

"There was a lot of opportunity for us to win, but it didn't happen," said Cox during a media conference at the Thursday.

Despite the loss, Team USA put away France and Brazil with some impressive performances throughout the tournament, including forward Abby Wambach's overtime goal against Brazil (which recently earned an ESPY award for "Best Play". Wambach scored 4 goals during the tournament.)

Cox, , is now back in Gig Harbor where she lives with her husband, Brian, whom she met at their alma mater, University of Portland.

The soccer star, who flew in Tuesday night, said she checked out the before grabbing dinner at .

The couple moved to Gig Harbor a little more than 3 years ago after Brian, who's originally from Port Orchard, landed the gig as the JV basketball coach at South Kitsap High School. He also coaches the Gig Harbor Stingray baseball team.

"She works incredibly hard. It takes a lot to be where she is," he said. "When she's home, she's at the Y couple times a day, out kicking soccer balls at Bremerton."

Stephanie's dedication has paid off. The 25-year-old defender already has an Olympic gold medal and World Cup bronze and silver medals with the national team. She hopes to be back in her USA uniform for the 2015 World Cup in Canada.

"I've been playing for 20 years now, since I was 5," she said. "I probably love it now more than I ever really have."

As a role model to girls who dream of playing at the top level someday, Cox said it's important to be passionate and love the sport.

According to the U.S. Soccer website, Cox, formerly Stephanie Lopez, is the first player of Hispanic descent to represent the United States in the World Cup. 

"To know that you represent the whole denomination and the country," she said. "All the Hispanic girls out there can look up to me and see a role model that looks like them and that hopefully they dream big and see themselves in my (shoes) someday." 

Since she spends most of her time traveling with her WPS club team, Boston Breakers, Cox said she's taking in as much Gig Harbor before heads back east to join her teammates.

"We have a game on Sunday, Wednesday and Saturday so it's going to be a busy week for me," she said.

In the fall, she plans to travel cross-country with her national team for exhibition games, including a rumored match in Portland. In January, the team will compete to earn a spot in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

In the meantime, she said there aren't any plans to host local clinics with her "unbelievable" goalie and fellow Washingtonian, Hope Solo. 

"She's so famous," Stephanie giggled. "We haven't talked about that. Our schedules are both so busy, but I think that knowing that she's close so that if I ever do, I'll definitely call her up."

Stephanie said before she boards her red-eye flight to Boston Friday night, she'll squeeze in time for a dinner date with friends and celebrate her niece's first birthday.

"I'm really starting to feel like Gig Harbor is home and excited about the community here."

Click here to read stories on Cox by Elk Grove Patch.