There are certain dates you never forget.
Wedding days, birthdays, tax day.
But the one seared into Abby Wambach's mind was born of disappointment and despair.
That was the day the U.S. twice blew late leads before losing a penalty-kick shootout to Japan in the only Women's World Cup final Wambach has played in. And she says the memories of that day have pushed her through every workout since.
"It's been that thing that fuels our fire, that motivates us to do that extra sprint, to make that extra fight to extend and to search for that ball," said Wambach, who admitted she can't recall the exact date of any game she's played in except that one.