Boxx from the Back

Not many players can muscle Shannon Boxx off the ball, not even the FIFA World Player of the Year

U.S. midfielder/defender Shannon Boxx scored a great goal in today's scrimmage against Swedish club side Djurgården, running onto a cross on the ground from Lindsay Tarpley and hitting a first-time inside-out blast with her right foot that screamed into the right side netting from about the middle of the penalty box. Sure it was just a scrimmage, but scoring any goal is fun. Boxx, whose fantastic play in the center midfield was a key to the USA's gold medal triumph in Beijing, was slightly surprised herself, considering she hasn't scored since January of 2008 with a looping header against China at the Four Nations Tournament. That goal, like her one in the scrimmage today, was a game-winner. "I play the whole year last year in midfield and score one goal and I play one game at center back and I score!" said the amused Boxx, who has 18 career goals for the USA from the midfield.