By Colleen Kane
Enquirer staff writer

Cincinnati native Heather Mitts was one of 18 players named to the U.S. Olympic women's soccer team Thursday afternoon by head coach April Heinrichs.

It will be the first Olympics for Mitts and eight other players, including University of Florida teammate Abby Wambach and 19-year-old forward Heather O'Reilly. They will join seven players from the 1996 Olympic gold medal team, including Mia Hamm and Brandi Chastain.

"I was extremely nervous," Mitts said. "I knew they were taking 18, but I wasn't sure if they would take five or six defenders, so the stress has been building for a couple weeks now. It's relief more than anything, and utter joy. I've been dreaming about this opportunity since I was a little girl."

Mitts joins the squad less than a year after she was left off the 2003 World Cup team roster, in part due to a broken leg she suffered in June. She served as an alternate and was an in-studio analyst on ESPN for the Cup games.

"It was huge motivation because when I didn't make the World Cup team I was devastated," Mitts said.

Said Heinrichs: "(A player gets) fueled by that disappointment. She stepped into camp in January the sharpest, fittest, most motivated player."

Mitts doesn't know how much playing time she'll get.

"If I start, that's absolutely wonderful," Mitts said. "If not, any chance I get to be on the field, I'll take advantage of it."

Mitts has started the U.S. national team's past nine matches, doubling as an outside back and a center back while Olympic team member Joy Fawcett was having back surgery.

"(Mitts) has tremendous skill, speed and diversity," Heinrichs said. "And despite her size, she has bite in her tackle."

The U.S. team opens Olympic play Aug. 11 against Greece and finishes group play with an Aug. 14 match against Brazil and an Aug. 17 match against Australia.