Former Prairie Ridge soccer player Jessie Allan has marveled at watching the career of high school teammate Amy LePeilbet.

“It’s always been surreal to see her playing at the national level and on the world stage,” Allan said. “It was awesome last year seeing her in the World Cup, but there’s nothing like seeing her get a gold medal.”

Allan said she held back tears Thursday while watching LePeilbet receive her gold medal with the U.S. women’s soccer team, which defeated Japan, 2-1, in the Olympic championship match in London. The victory avenged the U.S.’s loss to Japan in last year’s World Cup final.