TEMPLE, Texas —
The Dancing Bear Pub normally opens at 4 p.m. on Sunday, but Sunday was an exception.
The pub opened before 10 a.m. so locals could come together to watch the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team compete in the world's biggest game on the world's biggest stage.
Fans grew nervous as the first half passed without goal.
"Every game up 'til now we've had a goal in the first 15 minutes or so," Jeffrey Saloman said. "Making it though the first half we are biting our fingernails."
The suspense continued until the 61st minute when Megan Rapinoe took a penalty kick after a U.S. player was fouled. Rapinoe scored.
"I'm pretty sure everyone in this place lost their minds after that first goal," Francisco Villa said. "We got it, we got on the board, and we felt pretty good about it."
Villa said the turning point in the match was after that first goal.
Just seven minutes later, the U.S. would strike again. Rose Lavelle found space and struck from the top of the goal box.
"She dribbled down the field between two defenders, took a shot and put it in the corner of the goal. It was great. It was beautiful." Salomon said.
With 20 minutes left in the game the crowd sensed the U.S. Women's team was about to claim their fourth World Cup.
The U.S. team was favored in the game all along. Before Sunday's match, the U.S. Women's National Team had won three of the seven Women's World Cup championships since the competition began in 1991.
After Sunday's win, the team had earned its fourth title, taking claim to half of all Women's World Cup tournaments so far.
"They've been heroes not only on the field but also what they are doing in improving the status of women around the world," Ann Spence said. "We've seen so much more competition from other countries around the world that we haven't seen for the last four or five years."
"They are on top of the world right now, and deservedly so," Villa said. "That's exactly where they need to be right now."
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