The autographs have been signed, the interview requests and appearances have been met, and now it's time to strap on those shin guards.
After months of hype surrounding the U.S. National Team's inaugural appearance in Salt Lake City, game day is finally here. The atmosphere in Rice-Eccles Stadium will no doubt be one of the most spirited environments the facility has ever hosted when the U.S. women step onto the field.
With more than 15,000 tickets already sold for Saturday's 7 p.m. friendly game with Ireland (ESPN2), it has already far surpassed the attendance of any other U.S. match on domestic soil this year.
"Ireland will be coming into an environment that sounds like it is going to be incredible," said U.S. striker Mia Hamm.
While the game will be rich with entertainment value, one thing it won't be is suspenseful.
Ireland is a middle-of-the-pack European team, which didn't even qualify for the Women's World Cup this year.
Despite knowing it should win quite handily, the United States isn't going to let up.
"We're inside four months of the World Cup, and we're looking to still develop as a team," said midfielder Lorrie Fair. "We have to get the most out of every single game we play. Regardless of who we play, we have to continue to raise the level."
For all those adoring Mia Hamm and Brandi Chastain fans, that's great news. There's a good chance goals will be flying in from all angles early in the match.
"If you ask our coaches, they'd like us to score in the first seconds," joked Tiffeny Milbrett, the third-leading scorer in U.S. history with 97 goals. "Especially as you get to higher levels of soccer, the first 15 minutes is nothing but a grudge match. That means winning 50-50 balls, going in for challenges and setting the tone early."
As of Friday afternoon, the U.S. players had no clue how they were going to do that.
Ireland and the United States have met just once in women's soccer, which was a 5-0 victory for the Americans on their 1999 World Cup victory tour.
Even though Ireland's strengths and weakness were highlighted in a team meeting Friday night, Milbrett doesn't believe scouting reports in an exhibition game matter much.
"What I've realized through the course of playing almost 200 international games with the U.S., and who knows how many in the WUSA, you can only prepare so much," said Milbrett. "And the rest you've got to just react out there."
A win isn't enough either.
"We want to win, but we want to win well," said Fair. "We want to have complete control of the game."
U.S. coach April Heinrichs has devised a strategy to implement that domination.
"We want to play with great speed of play and move the ball quickly. "We want to make it difficult for Ireland to set up against us. We'd like to move the ball from one side to the next so quickly that fatigue sets in."
For young U.S. players like Cat Reddick, Abby Wambach and Heather O'Reilly, it's critical they execute their coaches' tactics in the event they get into the game. Saturday's game is the second to last before Heinrichs has to announce her 23-player roster for the World Cup, and time is running out.
U.S. NOTES: Coach Heinrichs trimmed her roster to 20 active players by releasing goalie Jaime Pagliarulo, defender Kylie Bivens and midfielder Lindsay Tarpley. Traditionally only 18 players are allowed on an active roster, but Saturday's game is a friendly so Heinrichs can keep 20. For fans who can't get enough soccer, the U.S. match will be preceded by a Utah Blitzz vs. Orange County game at 4 p.m.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S SOCCER
USA vs. Ireland
Saturday, 7 p.m.
Rice-Eccles Stadium
TV: ESPN2
E-MAIL: jedward@desnews.com