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United States' Alex Morgan prepares to score her side's 3rd goal during the semifinal match between France and the United States at the Women s Soccer World Cup in Moenchengladbach, Germany, Wednesday, July 13, 2011. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

After knocking home her maiden World Cup goal Wednesday, solidifying the United States' first finals berth since 1999, Alex Morgan could hardly focus on the celebration.

She was too busy keeping up with her newfound stardom.

The former Cal All-American had already become a mini Internet sensation through the World Cup. But the budding star ramped up her own buzz with a brilliant left-footed chip that gave the United States a 3-1 lead in Wednesday's semifinal victory over France. The Facebook fan page of the U.S.'s youngest player has been awash with congratulations -- and marriage proposals -- ever since.

"The last 24 hours has been a lot of reading tweets and Facebook messages," Morgan told the Mercury News via telephone as the team bus headed to Frankfurt for Sunday's final with Japan.

Morgan, 22, has picked up some 50,000 Twitter followers and almost 20,000 Facebook fan page "likes" since the beginning of the tournament. The reserve forward, who has entered four of the five U.S. games as a second-half sub, has soccer followers clamoring for more.

Some forums and blogs are questioning why she hasn't seen more playing time, but it isn't just fans chattering about Morgan. Soccer experts are praising the energy she has brought off the bench, particularly against the French.

Early in Wednesday's second half, France had leveled the score 1-1 and was dominating possession. Les Bleus seemed to have the U.S. on the ropes. That was until U.S. coach Pia Sundhage sent on fresh legs in the form of Morgan and Megan Rapinoe, shifting the momentum in favor of the Americans.

Sundhage has used Morgan as a spark plug throughout the tournament, inserting her as a second-half substitute for forward Amy Rodriguez. Morgan had scored seven goals in her first 18 matches for the United States before the World Cup but hadn't found the back of the net in the tournament until Wednesday's clinching goal.

"I think that with these knockout stages -- the quarters and the semis -- I've tried to take more chances and be more dangerous," Morgan said. "In the first few games, I concentrated a little too much on scoring goals. With (the France game), I just wanted to contribute, and that's when the goal came."

Not surprisingly, Morgan's inspired play has some wondering aloud whether she should start in Sunday's final. Rodriguez (zero goals) has had few good scoring chances.

It's not likely Sundhage will replace the more experienced Rodriguez (70 international caps) with Morgan (23 international caps), and Morgan certainly hasn't lobbied for it. She does, however, say that she will be ready for whatever role she is asked to play Sunday.

"No matter what, I come out and play the same way -- wanting to make an impact and wanting to contribute," Morgan said.

Her contributions were obvious against France and not lost on even her most veteran teammates.

"Mark my words, that's the first of many Alex is going to score in the World Cup," U.S. striker Abby Wambach said.

Wambach has tallied 121 career international goals, and some look at Morgan as Wambach's heir apparent. Morgan said that playing with Wambach and fellow national team veterans Lauren Cheney and Christie Rampone has been "inspiring."

Even if Morgan goes on to have a career like Wambach's, she will always remember the goal that kick-started her World Cup résumé.

"It's kind of hard to describe," Morgan said. "It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience."