As the torch passed hands from the old guard to the new, Seth Boyle didn't want to miss a minute.

So when the U.S. women's soccer team's gold-medal showdown with Brazil went into overtime Thursday, the Elk Grove High School German teacher and former soccer coach stayed glued to his television set rather than show up on time for a staff meeting.

When he finally arrived 30 minutes late, his announcement brought people to their feet cheering.

Stephanie Cox was golden.

Cox, who played for Boyle at Elk Grove, and her U.S. teammates won the gold medal with a nail-biting 1-0 overtime victory over Brazil at the Olympic Games in Beijing.

"My allegiances are to my players," Boyle said of his late arrival. "I was surprised at the reaction (at the meeting). People were jumping out of their seats."

Carli Lloyd's goal six minutes into overtime proved the difference, with the Americans withstanding numerous corner kicks and other Brazilian scoring opportunities in the remaining 24 minutes.

The group that led the United States to gold in 2004 – Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, Brandi Chastain, Kristine Lilly and Joy Fawcett – has now officially given way to the next wave of American talent: Lloyd, Amy Rodriguez, Angela Hucles, Lori Chalupny, Hope Solo.

Cox, known as Stephanie Lopez before she married Brian Cox in December, established herself as part of that fresh talent last year, when she played all but 45 minutes as the United States finished third in the World Cup.

The 22-year-old University of Portland graduate played in five of six Olympic matches, including one start, and contributed the lone assist in a 1-0 victory over Japan.

On Thursday, Cox received a taste of what it's like to be the best in the world. The defender entered the game in the final minute before a critical Brazilian corner kick, helping the Americans withstand a furious assault.

"I was really happy for her," Boyle said. "She was on the field when they won the gold medal."

It didn't seem to matter that the Americans' cast of characters had changed dramatically, there was no go-to star after the pre-Olympic injury to Abby Wambach, and new U.S. coach Pia Sundhage had been on the job for only nine months.

"I think so many of us for so long looked up to the players who are no longer here," defender Kate Markgraf told the U.S. Soccer Federation. "Hopefully, now America will start to look up to the players around me."

The United States, which beat Brazil 2-1 in the 2004 Olympic gold-medal game but lost to the Brazilians 4-0 in the 2007 World Cup semifinal, appeared to have good team chemistry.

"It's just a feeling that we have, and nobody can break that bond," Chalupny told the U.S. Soccer Federation.

Others noticed.

"I think the chemistry of that U.S. Olympic team was fantastic," said Sacramento State women's coach Randy Dedini, who took his team to the NCAA Tournament last season. "It had a lot to do with the new coach. She made the game fun again for that team."

The U.S. victory, its third gold medal in four tries since women's soccer made its Olympic debut in 1996, served as a reminder of how much talent there is in this country. And how emphasizing something can make it better.

"A lot of them just needed the opportunity to be put on that stage," Dedini said. "In Europe, that (soccer) is a men's sport. There's not as many opportunities as in the States."

The U.S. men, meanwhile, haven't won an Olympic soccer medal since claiming silver in 1904.

"It was really (not until) the '80s we took it really seriously," said Berhane Andeberhan, technical director of Capital Athletic Soccer Academy in Sacramento.

"The rest of the world has been going for 100 years. … On the other side of the coin, in most countries they don't encourage young ladies to participate in sports. Fortunately, it's getting better.

"We're historically ahead in women's soccer. We're historically behind in men's soccer."

How will the U.S. win affect soccer here?

"It's a fantastic boost to the game itself," Dedini said. "It gives younger players in club soccer something to strive for."

Said Andeberhan: "I hope it keeps a whole bunch of youths motivated. It's great."

Cox, who led Portland to an NCAA championship in 2005, almost didn't get the chance to go to Beijing. She was left off the pre-Olympic roster in June, then was added 10 days later when defender Cat Whitehill suffered a knee injury.

"It really makes you see how much you value your teammates and people around you," Cox told The Bee after she rejoined the team. "I value the opportunity I do have even more."

Cox is the third Sacramento-area Olympian to win gold in the Beijing Games, joining Orangevale product Mary Whipple (rowing, women's eight) and Galt resident Stephanie Brown Trafton (track and field, discus).

Boyle said he was happy to see Cox, "an All-American-type kid," reach the pinnacle of her sport.

"She hasn't sacrificed her ideals, ethics or morals or anything like that," he said. "All she's sacrificed is her time and energy."

Call The Bee's John Schumacher, (916) 326-5523.