( CNN ) -- Despite their second-place status in the 2011 FIFA World Cup Final , the women of the U.S. soccer team hope their success in the tournament -- especially their appearance in the final game before a global audience -- encourages more Americans to get excited about the women 's sport . `` I think we did something pretty special for women 's soccer here in America , '' said Megan Rapinoe , a midfielder from California . `` Hopefully this has kind of opened people 's eyes a little bit to how beautiful the women 's game can be . '' Playing in a sport that has long labored in the shadow of the men 's game , and representing a country where soccer has long fought for attention against football , baseball , basketball and other major-league sports , made the thousands of roaring fans in the final game in Frankfurt , Germany , all the more stimulating for the team . `` When you have 50,000 fans you ca n't hear anything , '' said Alex Morgan , a forward . `` It definitely raises energy . '' The enthusiasm of fans followed the team back to the United States . The women arrived at the W Hotel in New York 's Times Square Monday evening to a supportive crowd . Inner-city girls inspired by World Cup soccer . `` It 's great to come back to all our support , '' said team captain and defender Christie Rampone . `` We really felt that ... we could n't be prouder . '' The support from the fans and the excitement that women 's soccer might get more recognition in the United States , however , did n't take away the sting of the 5-3 loss . `` We got so many e-mails , so many texts , '' said Shannon Boxx , a midfielder . `` It makes me really proud to be an American ... We 're really disappointed we could n't bring everything home for everyone . '' Millions of Americans tuned in on Sunday to watch Japan and the United States duke it out on the field -- and they got a show . World Cup final No . 2 all-time for daytime cable telecasts . The U.S. women 's team managed to hold strong for most of the game , but the score was tied 2-2 by Japanese midfielder Homare Sawa with just a few minutes left in extra time , which prompted a round of penalty kicks . Japan hit three of its penalty kicks , the U.S. made only one . But the U.S. women did n't fault Japan for the championship win . `` I really took my hat off to Japan , '' said goalkeeper Hope Solo . `` I was OK with their storybook ending , knowing that they were fighting for so much more than the game . '' Japan was considered by many to be the sentimental favorite going into the game , in the aftermath of Japan 's devastating earthquake and tsunami in March . With the World Cup behind them , the loss still hurts , but the women say they are looking toward future endeavors . `` I do know that it hurts more a day later , '' said Solo . `` We have to pick up the pieces ... this is a team that hopefully will win us a gold medal . '' The team will begin training for the 2012 London Summer Olympics in January .
Players hope their appearance in the final round brings more attention to soccer . `` We did something pretty special , '' says 5 team member . Penalty kicks helped California win 2011 in London Summer Olympics final one -3 .