Olympic Journey Ends for UConn Grad

Monday, Aug 6, 2012 | Updated 8:22 AM EDT

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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 02: Melissa Gonzalez of the United States competes during the Women's Hockey preliminary match between Australia and United States on Day 6 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Riverbank Arena on August 2, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)

The Olympic journey has ended for UConn alum Melissa Gonzalez.

The 23-year-old played an important role in the U.S. women's field hockey games in the Olympics, but the team needed to win its games against both New Zealand and South Africa to advance to the next round.

On Saturday, Team USA lost, 2-3, to New Zealand and the team lost on Monday morning, 0-7 against South Africa.

But, making it to the Olympics was a dream come true for Gonzalez.

“Not many people get to … have that opportunity,” she said before heading to London.

Gonzalez took on field hockey after her father died at the young age of 57 and she said she used sports as a relief and as a motivator.

That motivation led to Gonzalez playing an important part of getting the team to London when she scored a pivotal goal in the game against Argentina that guaranteed Team USA a spot in the Olympics.

The team went on to beat Argentina again during the Olympic games on Tuesday, July 31, 1-0.

Gonzalez was a two-time All American at UConn.

This was her first Olympic appearance.

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