By Rob Miech
SportsLine Staff Writer

SportLine staff writer Rob Miech rates the players on the U.S. Women's soccer team (with 10 being the highest rating) during the World Cup:

• Briana Scurry (6): She only faced three attempts in two hours of play, but came up huge during the penalty-kick stage by smothering Liu Ying's attempt. Her chemistry and communication with her defenders was very good after some breakdowns during the tournament. She owes Kristine Lilly a very nice Christmas present.
• Carla Overbeck (8): Scurry also owes a lot to the U.S. captain, who was never far from snuffing out potential trouble. Overbeck showed why the light-blue armband is hers after the first extra period, when she settled her teammates. The turnaround in the second 15 minutes was dramatic.
• Kate Sobrero (7): The native of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., was almost as big a pain to China as Overbeck. She got more active as the game wore on, impressive in the 90-degree heat and humidity. Right before the end of regulation play, she nearly freed herself on a sprint down the left side that could have threatened China, but the lob was too long.
• Brandi Chastain (6): The team's designated throw-in artist, Chastain is a former striker who has learned the finer points of defense to retain a spot on this team. Had some questionable passes, but she sealed the World Cup victory with the last kick of the day. David Letterman will love how she took off her jersey. (Yes, she was wearing a sports bra.)
• Joy Fawcett (7): The 5-foot-5 defender from Huntington Beach, Calif., bit the Rose Bowl turf a team-high four times Saturday. She controlled the ball well, probably better than any other U.S. player. Some passes were spotty, but she never lost sight of China's outstanding Sun Wen and was solid in relief of Akers in the middle.
• Julie Foudy (5): Disappeared in stretches and did some questionable things, which was most evident when she tried lobbing a long ball across the field to Mia Hamm down the right side. It fell far short of its target and China countered quickly, although Scurry could have laughed at the weak attempt on goal that came of it.
• Michelle Akers (6): Can you say Runaway Train? Hurricane Michelle? Akers and Akers of bumps, bruises and blood? That's the foundation of the U.S. team, but Akers needs to look at the jerseys sometimes. Exhaustion claimed her in the final minute of regular time.
• Kristine Lilly (9): The four-time NCAA champ at North Carolina is the pride of the nation after nodding Liu Ying's header away from the left side of the goal in the first 15-minute extra period. Before that, she maneuvered well in traffic. Timing was off on some passes, but that plagued all the U.S. players on Saturday. She picked the right time to save the day, and the WWC trophy, for America.
• Mia Hamm (6): She was aggressive, but that's her job. Lobbed a few into the box when it was clear nothing but red jerseys were within 25 yards of China's goal. Corner and free kicks just missed their targets, and she sometimes had a short fuse with teammates. Billed as the greatest female player ever, for some reason she lacks penalty-kick confidence.
• Cindy Parlow (5): Played 57 uneventful minutes. Unlikely that anyone but family or close friends knew she was on the field for long spells. The U.S. offense sputtered big time, largely due to China's stinginess. When it seemed some of his front-line players couldn't solve the puzzle, coach Tony DiCicco had to turn to reserves.
• Tiffeny Milbrett (6): Was very active, but maybe too active. The 5-foot-2 spark plug was nabbed for being offsides three times and it highlighted what DiCicco said was a very impatient offense. In the second half, she even tripped on the ball. Seconds later, the U.S. got it back and Overbeck threw her palms to the ground to try to settle the team.
• Sara Whalen (7): Came in for Akers at the start of the first 15-minute extra time and performed admirably once she settled down and the U.S. survived an onslaught by China.
• Shannon MacMillan (6): Immediately caused some havoc when she relieved Parlow in the second half. She committed three fouls -- as many as Akers -- and her one shot on goal floated into Gao Hong's arms.
• Tisha Venturini (5): Ran around for only five minutes in a last-ditch effort by DiCicco to create some instant office. It didn't work. Weren't you hoping to see that double somersault back flip again, too?
• Lorrie Fair, Christie Pearce, Tiffany Roberts, Danielle Fotopoulos, Saska Webber and Tracy Ducar did not play.