Put on the spot, Markgraf connects

Kate Markgraf's teammates wouldn't let her hide any longer.

In her 193rd game for the U.S. women's national team - a streak that includes World Cup championships and Olympic gold medals - the Notre Dame graduate had never scored. So when the referee pointed to the penalty spot in the first half of Saturday night's 2-0 victory against Ireland in a post-Olympic friendly, the American women pushed Markgraf forward.

The central defender buried her shot in the left corner of the net like a good forward would.

"For the past 10 years anytime we had a PK in a major tournament, they tried to get me to take one, and today I finally just came and said OK, I'll take one today," said Markgraf, who on Tuesday partnered with fellow Olympians Carli Lloyd and Lindsay Tarpley in joining the Chicago Red Stars of the new Women's Professional Soccer, which begins play in the spring.

Why today?

"Because we're in Chicago, but also because there was so much pressure. I couldn't keep the pressure off me anymore. I just had to get rid of it," Markgraf said.

"She was giving us a hard time," Lloyd said. "She didn't really want to take it. But we forced her."

Markgraf jumped for joy after the goal and was mobbed by her teammates.

"Of course I was happy," said Markgraf, who last scored in 2005 while playing club soccer in Sweden. "Everyone's happy when they score. If you're not happy when you score, why are you playing soccer?"

The other future Red Stars figured in the first goal. Tarpley set up in the Ireland penalty area with her back to the goal, then tapped a one-touch pass to defender Lori Chalupny, who beat Ireland goalkeeper Emma Byrne in the 19th minute.

"We took possession and Carli found me and then I saw Lori making a run, so, a little slip ball in behind (the defense), and she finished it off really well," Tarpley said.