World Cup Winner Learned Her Sport in Prince William

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A player with local roots helped the U.S. women’s team win the World Cup on Sunday in Canada.

Ali Krieger, a 2003 graduate of Forest Park High School, took to the field as a defender for the squad that defeated Japan, 5-2, in the championship match in Vancouver. Krieger grew up in the Dumfries area and plays for the Washinton Spirit, a professional women’s soccer team.

According to Krieger’s biography on her website, both of her parents - Ken and Debbie - were physical education teachers and coaches in the Prince William school system. On Monday on its Facebook page, the school system congratulated Ali on her team’s victory.

Krieger, 30, was captain of the Forest Park soccer team for three years, and during her senior year, she was chosen as Virginia’s Gatorade Player of the Year, according to her bio.

She learned her sport by playing for the Prince William Sparklers, a local youth soccer club. After graduating from Forest Park, she played soccer at Penn State, becoming a two-time All-American.