Mainstream America has always viewed soccer much like the metric system.
Never got it. Never will.
But then a soccer game comes along like Monday's epic between the United States and Canada in the women's semifinals at the London Olympics, and suddenly we're converting Alex Morgan's game-winning header from feet into meters.
The U.S. women's 4-3 victory, secured with less than 30 seconds left in a second extra-time period, was one for the ages. While nobody's going to put this victory on the same shelf as the 1980 Miracle on Ice, it's somewhere lower in the same hutch.
Win or lose Thursday's gold-medal game against Japan, this women's team has us jumping out of our seats with its never-say-die determination.
At least 0.91 meters high.
Tonight's prime time
Ch. 3, 8 p.m.-midnight
• Track and field: Finals in men's 1,500 and high jump, women's 100 hurdles
• Gymnastics: Finals in men's parallel bars and high bar, women's balance beam and floor exercise
• Beach volleyball: Men's and women's semifinals
For more TV listings, see Page C2; for a detailed schedule of events and complete TV listings, go to sacbee.com/olympics.
Locals watch
• Megan Rapinoe, Redding, soccer: She scored two goals in the U.S. women's 4-3 win over Canada in extra time Monday. The final against Japan is Thursday at 11:45 a.m.
• Becky Holliday, Penryn, track and field: The pole vaulter finished ninth in Monday's finals.
• Jamie Nieto, Sacramento, track and field: Today's high jump finals begin at 11 a.m.
• Derek Miles, Citrus Heights, track and field: Qualifying in the pole vault begins Wednesday at 2 a.m.; the finals are Friday at 11 a.m.
Medal leaders
Team G S B T China 31 19 14 64
United States 29 15 19 63
Russia 7 17 18 42
Britain 18 11 11 40
See Scoreboard on Page C7 for complete medal standings.
Today's poll
Which team will win the women's gold-medal soccer game?
• United States
• Japan
Vote above or leave your comments in the comments field; or go to www.sacbee.com/sports
Monday's results
Who has been the biggest U.S. star of the Summer Olympics so far?
• Gabby Douglas: 29%
• Missy Franklin: 25%
• Michael Phelps: 42%
• Abby Wambach: 2%
• Other: 2%
Total votes: 336
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