Gov. Ned Lamont proclaimed Wednesday Alyssa Naeher Day in celebration of the Team USA goalkeeper from Stratford.

More than four months following the women's national team's World Cup win, Naeher returned to her home state and got quite the welcome at the Capitol.

State officials, Naeher's family and dozens of young soccer players attended the ceremony for the champion goalie, where Lamont touted her hard work, perseverance and her fight for gender equality in sports, calling her a role model.

"This is a special day. I'm very proud to be from Connecticut, spent my whole life here and the state means a lot to me," says Naeher. "It's just really special to be able to come back and have the governor give me my own day, that's something I never thought would happen."

 

 Naeher grew up in Stratford and attended Christian Heritage School in Trumbull. Some of her biggest fans were on hand to celebrate her and get some memorabilia signed.

Naeher is known by others for her perseverance. Her parents say she's all about her teammates and her family.

"We really as a family are so proud of her, but she's just our Alyssa, and that's who she is," says Donna Lynn, Alyssa's mother.