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She was still shaking in the chilly night outside one of the most famous stadiums in world soccer. Maybe it was due to the cold, or maybe it was just the emotional overload, “wanting to laugh and cry at the same time,” as she put it. Alex Morgan had just scored one of the most famous goals in U.S. soccer history — a 123rd-minute game-winning header to beat Canada 4-3 and send the U.S. to the Olympic final — and if she was having a hard time coming to grips with the enormity of the occasion, well, there haven’t been many like it.

“I can’t remember ever feeling this way after scoring a goal,” Morgan said. “It’s just so exhilarating.”

At the age of 23, Morgan has scored 20 goals in 2012, becoming only the sixth U.S. player to do so in a single year. But for all her talents — including blazing speed and a ruthless right foot — Morgan has been a project for coach Pia Sundhage when it comes to heading the ball. “Heading is something that Pia has always said is one of my weakest points,” says Morgan, “which is probably a true statement.”

In the final minute of a game filled with a bit of everything — goals galore, unexpected comebacks and never-before-seen officiating calls — it seemed like the U.S. and Canada were on the way toward a penalty-kick shootout. U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo stood in her penalty box and got ready mentally for spot kicks. “In my head I had decided on a plan of attack,” she said. On the sideline, Sundhage met with her assistants and started putting together a list of penalty-takers.

During the break before extra-time, U.S. forward Abby Wambach had brought her teammates together and delivered a familiar speech: “It really does just take one moment, one chance, one moment of brilliance,” she told them.

There had been so many moments like that already on this remarkable night — and now there would be one more. With the seconds ticking, Wambach pushed the ball out to Heather O’Reilly on the right flank. “It was a little bit heavy of a pass, so I had to get there in a hurry,” said O’Reilly. “Abby’s one of the most prolific goal-scorers with her head in the world, so usually when you put things in the mixer good things happen. And this time there was Alex Morgan to get her head on it.”

Morgan had been a frustrated striker, going four games without scoring, but she put just enough on her header to direct it over Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod into the net. Bedlam. In the U.S. dogpile afterward, Wambach located Morgan and screamed into her ear: “I love you! You just sent us to the gold-medal match!”