Soccer Star Christie Rampone Welcomed by Hundreds at Jersey Shore Medical Center

Ms. Rampone signed autographs for gushing fans, took pictures with them and beamed ear to ear.

And so did her mom.

Christie Rampone, who graduated from Point Pleasant Borough High School and left Monmouth University as a soccer star, won two Olympic gold medals, and just led the US Women's Soccer team to four game victories during the World Cup tournament, was almost being outdone by her own little offspring.

Rylie Rampone may only be 5, but she's got the give-the-fans-what-they-want bit down pat.

And no wonder. Her mom, US Women's Soccer Captain and Defender Rampone, was feverishly signing soccer balls, cleats, shirts, flags, papers and anything else that a Sharpie can leave a mark on at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune Wednesday morning.

Rampone, who moved to Manasquan with her family in 2008, had walked into a sea of hundreds of cheering fans waving American flags.

She couldn't even make it halfway down the red carpet before fans held out autograph books and soccer balls for her to sign.

The crowd included hospital staff and many of their children, including wee ones in the hospital's day care program.

And, clearly, Rylie was ready.

She was so excited to see the fans, clapping and waving small, American flags, that she walked quite a bit ahead of her parents and had to be reeled back in.

When her mother spoke at the podium, thanking hospital staff and area residents for all of their support for her and the team, Rylie was up there, front and center.

When her mom got busy signing autographs for what seemed to be an endless line of people, Rylie got busy herself.

Behind a fabric partition hung behind her mom, Rylie was accommodating teenage girls saying things like, "Oh, Rylie, will you please sign this for me?"

Rylie whipped out the Sharpie like a seasoned rock star and signed everything that was put in front of her.

Her little sister, Reece, 1, sitting next to her, was a lot more interested in the cracker she was eating than she was in anyone in her family writing their names or being in pictures.

Rylie's father, Chris Rampone, laughed and shook his head when he was asked about his oldest daughter's autograph session.

"I know," he said. "It's kind of good, kind of bad. I'm not sure."

What's good is that Rampone is reunited with her daughters who she missed badly while she was away for five weeks playing in the World Cup in Germany. She turned 36 right after leaving home and celebrated her birthday without her children.

Rampone would often tweet about how much she missed them since she could only see them via Skype for five weeks.

The homecoming was bittersweet because she was thrilled to be with her family again, but sad she wasn't bringing home the trophy.

It was Rampone's fourth and final shot at the coveted Cup. In 1999, she was on the team that won it. But not this time.

"Behind the scenes, yes, she's sad," said Chris Rampone, who was with her in Germany during the World Cup.

"She's a perfectionist, so she's always thinking, 'We could have done it better," he said, looking over at his wife, smiling and taking pictures with fans.

"But she has the right perspective on it," he said. "Participation in soccer is going up, in leagues and in camps. It's growing. That's the positive out of this.

"Being a mom is first priority for her," said Chris Rampone. "She was really happy to see the girls again."

"It was tough being away from home and away from my kids," Rampone told the crowd packing the massive atrium inside the hospital's main entrance.

She said she didn't realize what a media sensation the team had become until she came home.

"There were American flags all over my front lawn," she said of her home in Manasquan. "And then to come to camp last night and see 300 smiling girls."

Rampone was referring to 300 summer campers at a girls' soccer camp she is coaching which is sponsored by the hospital. Not surprisingly, it's filled to capacity.

"Even though we didn't bring home the World Cup, it was an amazing experience," she said, standing at the podium. "It was truly inspiring. I couldn't be more appreciative to wear the uniform.

"And I'm not done, I've got one more year to make the Olympic team," she said to cheers and applause.

The US team will compete in the Summer Olympics in London in 2012.

She said the game her team narrowly won against Brazil had a little of everything.

"Everything that could happen in a soccer game happened in that one game," she said. "The media thought it would be a final between Brazil and Germany. I'm proud to be a part of our team."

She then presented Jersey Shore President Steve Littleson with a Hovnanian Children's Hospital flag signed by all US Women's Soccer players. The children's facility is part of Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

Rampone had said in an interview before she flew to Germany for the World Cup that her goal is for America to watch live soccer games in stadiums, the way they flock to watch football and baseball games.

That will help secure paid sponsorships for women's soccer teams, which will help keep those teams and leagues alive, said Rampone, who also plays for Magic Jack, based in Florida.

Rampone and the US team had Americans watching their games on the edge of their seats in living rooms, restaurants, bars and anywhere else there was a screen.

The American team's successful game against Brazil had record-high ratings, as Rampone had tweeted. The team had also beaten North Korea, Colombia and France before falling to Japan in last Sunday's final.

Rampone was invited to the hospital which has an arrangement with her as a paid, celebrity spokesperson.

Robert Cavanaugh, a hospital public relations official, said "it was a natural fit" for the hospital to ask Rampone to be their spokesperson because she had both of her daughters there and had been a patient there when she needed rehabilitation for a soccer-related knee injury.

"She goes out and talks to kids about healthy eating and exercise," Cavanaugh said. "She's a good role model."