BEIJING — They came to the Beijing Olympics as a team trying to find its way, still adjusting to a new coach and each other, still smarting from a loss that brought humiliation on and off the field.

They dropped their first game, hardly an auspicious start for a country that had lost only one other in three Olympics. But bit by bit, game by game, they came together, figuring out what it would take to win.

Yesterday, the U.S. women's soccer team stood as one, Olympic gold medals around their necks, champions once again.

"Vindicated? I feel great, I feel amazing. I just won a gold medal," said goalkeeper Hope Solo, whose banishment at last year's World Cup symbolizes the struggles these Americans have had and without whom they wouldn't have won this game.

Forward Natasha Kai, a Kahuku High and University of Hawai'i alum, was brought in for her fresh legs during the first 15-minute extra-time period. She said Solo's estrangement is no longer a topic of discussion.

"You forgive and you forget," Kai said. "Hope's an amazing person. She's a part of our team. We love her and we love each other, and that's the beauty of it."

Solo made save after save to keep the United States in the game, and Carli Lloyd scored in the sixth minute of extra time to give the United States a 1-0 victory over Brazil and the gold medal for a third time in four Olympics.

It was the first victory in a major tournament for new coach Pia Sundhage, who took over less than nine months ago.

"It was hard, and this win wasn't just down to my goal," Lloyd said. "It was only achievable with the team we have and that we played for each other."

United now, the Americans were ripped apart at last year's World Cup, also in China.

Though Solo had allowed only two goals in four World Cup starts and had a shutout streak of nearly 300 minutes going, then-coach Greg Ryan decided to sit her for the semifinal against Brazil and play veteran Briana Scurry. The move was a disaster, and the United States — a favorite to win the tournament — was humbled 4-0, its worst loss ever at a World Cup.

Solo lashed out at Ryan, and was banished. A month later, Ryan was fired.

"I went through hell. A lot of people did," Solo said. "But I feel stronger in the end. I know it sounds crazy, but I'm glad I went though it."

And she and her teammates have a gold medal as the result.

"Bling," Kai said, cheerfully. "It's bling."

After the game ended, Solo sprinted back out onto the field, a gaudy imitation gold medal around her neck, a phone to her ear and a bright smile on her face. She closed her eyes when the national anthem began playing, and bounced proudly and gripped her medal when the team posed for pictures afterward.

A few fans in the crowd chanted, "We want Hope! We want Hope!"

"I asked two questions: Do you want to win? Yes. Do you need goalkeepers to win? Yes," Sundhage said. "We had to move on, and this day you could see that we did it."

Emotion poured from the Americans at the final whistle. They charged to the middle of the field, screaming in celebration. A few grabbed American flags and sprinted to the U.S. fans in the stands.

"This is such a reward for nine months of hard, hard work and soul-searching after the World Cup," Kate Markgraf said.

For the Brazilians, it was yet another bitter disappointment, the third consecutive time they've been the runner-up at a top event. They outplayed the Americans in the 2004 final, too, and lost in extra time. They also fell to Germany in the World Cup final last year.

"I have no idea why we can't win a final," said Marta, who sobbed when she got her silver.