Hamm nets 150th goal in victory

BLAINE, Minn. — Mia Hamm’s latest goal unloaded a burden just in time for the Olympics.

Hamm scored her 150th career goal and the U.S. national team beat Australia 3-1 Wednesday night in anOlympic warmup before a sellout crowd of 10,276 at the National Sports Center.

“It meant a lot,” Hamm said of scoring No. 150 before next month’s Olympic Games. “Now I don’t have to worry about it or answer any of those questions in Athens. I can get that off my shoulders and focus on what I need to do and the team needs to do to be successful at the Olympics.”

Hamm, the highest-scoring soccer player in the world, was scoreless in her two previous games after notching her 149th goal on May 9 against Mexico. But her milestone goal on Wednesday added another achievement to an already impressive resume.

“It just shows you how dominant she’s been for so long,” said Julie Foudy, Hamm’s longtime teammate. “Some players are great, and then there are ones who rise above greatness. She’s been doing it for 17 years now and you never see a dip. Her consistency is amazing. It’s been fun to be a part of for so many years.”

Hamm scored in the 76th minute to break a 1-1 tie. She took a breakout pass from Heather O’Reilly, faked out one defender and beat goalkeeper Cassandra Kell in the top right corner of the net.

O’Reilly also set up the final goal of the game by Abby Wambach in the 81st minute.

Australia took a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute when Danielle Small scored her sixth career goal. Heather Garriock found Small alone near the front of the net, and she chipped a right-foot volley over the head of goalkeeper Briana Scurry.

The United States tied the game in the 56th minute when Shannon Boxx fought through a crowd to redirect Hamm’s corner kick, setting up Hamm’s go-ahead goal.