Mullinix, Ramsey Off To Olympic Camp
By Ray Alley

For Siri Mullinix the women’s residential camp in California, which begins the final training for the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, marks the final step in realizing a longtime dream.

For Alyssa Ramsey it is just another whirlwind rush to achieve something she thought might be in the future. For her the future is now.

Both North Carolina natives are on the list of 30 Olympic team candidates invited to train full-time in California.

Mullinix, a Greensboro native who once played for the Greensboro Twisters, knows what to expect. She’s been there before. After leaving Ragsdale High School a year early to attend UNC, she has a four-year career as Carolina’s All-America goalkeeper as a foundation for national team play. She was part of the residential program that proceeded the 1999 FIFA World Cup, and was the goalkeeper left off the three-goalkeeper 20-player squad. After a great showing in the Algarve Cup victory in Portugal, in which she posted four shutouts, was earned her fifth in the 0-0 draw with Iceland at Ericsson Stadium, April 8. She and World Cup starter Briana Scurry are the two experienced goalkeepers going to Olympic training.

While Mullinix was trying to make the World Cup team, Ramsey was playing for her Charlotte Soccer Club team, and leading North Mecklenburg to the quarterfinals of the state AAAA playoffs. She got her national team break when she was invited to December training in Ft. Lauderdale, when younger players were brought in while the veterans contemplated boycott and contract negotiations. She was called back to Florida as the team held its first sessions with new head coach April Heinrichs. Ramsey had played on the U18 national team for Heinrichs, and had verbally committed to play for her at the University of Virginia. She got in two games as a reserve against Norway during that training camp, and the rest is history. A year ago, did Ramsey ever think, in her wildest imagination, that she would be leaving high school early to train for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team?

"Definitely not," she said. "I had hoped it would happen in the future, but not this quickly." Ramsey really doesn’t know what to expect from the residential camp, but she does know what is expected of her.....if she is to have a chance at a spot on the team. "I really don’t know what to expect," she said. "People haven’t told me a lot about it, and I haven’t asked. I guess I probably should have. "I do know that in order for me to earn a spot I have to compete. National training camps are very competitive, so I just have to compete. "When I spoke with April she said that she was excited to get to see me compete with women now."

Mullinix left school after her junior year with the goal of playing in the Olympics. She knows she is better prepared for this residency program, but she also knows she is still competing for a spot on the team. "I feel more comfortable and confident this year," said Mullinix. "I know what is expected in training. I’m just glad to be playing. "Last year the training was great, but I only got to play 45 minutes in a game. I have always felt that I am a better game player."

Briana Scurry, who is coming off an injury, hasn’t seen any time in goal this year for the U.S. team, but Mullinix isn’t taking anything for granted. She can’t assume she is on the team or that she will be the starting goalkeeper. There is too much soccer to be played, and too much time, between now and the Olympic Games.

"Everyone’s goal is to train to be the #1 keeper," said Mullinix, who will also be challenged by two young keepers, Jenni Branam and Hope Solo. "Bri is a world class goalkeeper, and when she is at the top of her game she is #1. I can’t automatically consider myself on the team, and I can’t just train to make the roster. The goal is to earn the starting position."

One of Mullinix’ assets is her ability to play the ball with her feet. That is essential with the type of flat-back defense played by the USA. It is not unlike that she played behind at UNC. "Anson (Dorrance) really emphasized that at UNC, and I am very comfortable playing the ball with my feet. UNC was a good foundation for what I have to do with the national team."

It’s only been five years since Mullinix left for UNC, but it to her seems like "forever". She left high school early without reservations.

For Ramsey, the move is sudden. She’ll give us things like her senior high school season, senior prom, beach trips with her friends. She’ll complete her school work by fax and email with her North Meck teachers. "When it was first mentioned in Ft. Lauderdale I had some reservations," said Ramsey. "I knew I would miss a lot of things in my senior year, but you only get this chance one time. I am very excited about going. I won’t miss school, but I know I’ll miss my family and friends. I’ve never been away from my family that long before."

The 30-player roster will be trimmed to 18 for the Olympic Games. Unlike the World Cup roster of 20, the Olympic roster will include only two goalkeepers. Different players will take part in different competitions over the next several months. It will be months filled with training, games, tours and tournaments.

"A different group will be selected for different competitions," speculated Mullinix. "I think that the final selection will be in early August, perhaps late July."

And so these two Tar Heels set off in quest of a dream. The veteran player who’s time has come and the youngster who has found that the future is just a day away.

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What a difference three days and a bunkered defense makes!

Two teams took the field at Ericsson Stadium, April 8, but only one came to play. The other came to defend.

Three days after being ripped 8-0 in a closed-door game at Davidson College by a U.S. squad made up of mostly non-starters, Iceland chose to pack it in before a television audience and came away with a 0-0 draw.

After being pounded in a 3-5-2 formation, Iceland changed to 4-5-1 in the second meeting. At times it looked more like 5-4-1.

The U.S., playing before a crowd of 10,315 on a cold and wet April evening, outshot Iceland 19-4, including eight shots by Tiffany Milbrett. Most were on goal, but none in the goal, primarly because goalkeeper Thora Helgadottir had the game of her career, making 11 saves. Several were spectacular.

On the other end of the field Siri Mullinix picked up her fourth consecutive shutout, was seldom tested and called on to make three saves - none difficult.

In the earlier 8-0 win Coach April Heinrichs, started only one World Cup player - Cindy Parlow. After a scoreless game for 37 minutes, the U.S. put in three goals before halftime, and added six in the second half.

The only dangerous offensive player for Iceland in either game was Rakel Ogmundsdottir, who played as Rakel Karvelson (family name) at UNC. There she earned the title of "Super Sub."

"Sometimes you play a game and do all the right things and one player has a spectacular game and that was their goalkeeper tonight," said Chastain, who played on a three-player back line with Kate Sobrero and Joy Fawcett. "Iceland is not in the Olympics, but today was their Olympic Games."

Heinrichs echoed Chastain’s comments about Helgadottir.

"Their goalkeeper made every save in the book, high, low, crosses, breakaways," said Heinrichs, whose team is now 5-2-1 for the year. "She was terrific, but not just their goalkeeper. Every player really came out and played with pride on the Iceland team."

The USA played without four World Cup starters. Michelle Akers is recovering from shoulder surgery, Carla Overbeck has begun treatment for Graves Disease, Parlow suffered an ankle injury in the earlier game with Iceland, and Julie Foudy was dropped from the lineup just before kickoff because of a groin injury.

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U.S. Women's National Team captain Carla Overbeck has been diagnosed with Grave's Disease, a condition caused by over-activity of the thyroid gland, but one that is completely treatable and should not prevent her from competing for a spot on the USA's 2000 Olympic Team.

Grave's Disease is an autoimmune condition of the thyroid gland, which is located in the neck and produces thyroxine. Elevated levels of thyroxine can cause accelerated metabolism, weight loss, tremors, elevated heart rate as well as exercise and heat intolerance.

"My goal is to get her back to top performance as soon as possible," said Dr. Ann Brown, an Endocrinolgist at Duke University, where Overbeck is an assistant women's soccer coach. "I'm impressed with how few symptoms she showed, except when she was at peak performance. Since she has so few symptoms at rest, I'm optimistic for a very rapid recovery. Her physical performance will not suffer in any way when this is fully treated."

Overbeck underwent treatment Friday, April 7, to control the over-production of thyroxine by the thyroid gland. Overbeck will need to monitor her condition along with team doctors. She will not play in the April 8 game against Iceland in Charlotte, NC, but will be able to resume full-time training when the USA begins its residency camp period in San Diego on April 17.

"For the last few months I really haven't been feeling well, especially during training," said Overbeck, who captained the USA to a gold medal in the 1996 Olympics and to the 1999 Women's World Cup title. "Fortunately, I now know why I was having trouble and we are taking the measures to correct the problems. I am confident that our great group of doctors will do what's best to get me back to top playing condition as soon as possible." "If anyone can overcome this condition to compete at a world class level, it's Carla Overbeck," said U.S. Team Physician Dr. Joyce Tarbet. "This condition has clearly affected her training and performance for the last month or so, but I'm optimistic that the treatment will allow her to achieve the level of fitness and competitiveness that she is used to."

U.S. sprinter Gail Devers was also diagnosed with Grave's Disease in 1988 and recovered to win gold medals in the 100-meter dash at both the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games. Overbeck has played 161 times for the USA since her debut in 1988. She scored the crucial first penalty kick during the shootout at the historic 1999 Women's World Cup Final.

The cause of Grave's Disease is autoimmune in nature, and while it is not known what triggers the condition, it is not related to intense physical activity. "I told Carla that she did not have anything to prove to me," said U.S. head coach April Heinrichs, who preceded Overbeck as captain of the U.S. and who played alongside her on the 1991 Women's World Cup championship team. "I know that when she is healthy, she is one of the fittest players on this team. She continues to be a great leader and motivator. She's a world class player and I know that when she gets this condition under control, that she will be a consistent figure in our preparations as we move towards the Olympics."

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USA Crushes Iceland 8-0

Tiffeny Milbrett set up Christie Welsh for all three of her goals as a young U.S. Women's National Team featuring a starting lineup with an average age of just over 20 years crushed Iceland, 8-0, in a April 5 closed door match here at Davidson College. U.S. Head Coach April Heinrichs rested most of her veteran players, many of whom will see action when the two teams meet again on Saturday, April 8, at Ericsson Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. Kickoff for that match is 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2 at 9 p.m.).

"I'm very pleased with style with which they played and they really stepped up their competitiveness after halftime," said Heinrichs, whose team scored six second half goals. "Tentativeness and indecision will not help you in terms of confidence. If you want to get confidence and comfortable out there representing the U.S. Women's National Team, then compete. And I think that was the biggest difference in the second half. I told a few players at halftime that I don't care if you make mistakes, I want to know if you will compete for us for 90 minutes. And I think we learned a few things today."

Welsh’s first goal came in the 37th minute, and her 43nd minute goal gave the USA a 2-0 halftime lead. Defender Christy Pearce had her first two-goal game for the USA as the Americans outshot their opponents 26-4.

The USA could have easily been down a goal in the 35th minute when former University of North Carolina Tar Heel star Rakel (Karvelsson) Ogmundsdottir popped free behind U.S. defense and lifted ball over goalkeeper Hope Solo, but the ball bounced wide right past the open net.

The USA picked up where it left off in the second half as Milbrett drew a diving save from Helgadottir in the 48th minute and Wagner hit the cross bar on a volley in the 52rd. No metal would deny Wagner in the 53rd minute as she stroked a 30-yard shot into the upper right corner from the left side of the penalty arc. One minute later, Christie Pearce picked off a pass on the run and streaked through the teeth of the Iceland defense to finish her one-on-one chance by slotting her shot under Helgadottir.

Milbrett set up Welsh for her first career hat trick in the 69th minute, deftly unlocking the Iceland defense with a short through ball. Helgadottir got her hand to Welsh's driven shot, but not enough to keep the ball out of the net as it settled into the left corner. The three goals gave Welsh five scores for her career in just seven matches.

"There are a lot of great young players out here and we all know that we have to try to improve every game," said Welsh. "In soccer, some days you are on and some days you can't pay for a goal. I just got really good service from Tiffeny today and was able to finish my chances."

Mia Hamm and Kristine Lilly entered the game in the 70th minute and both wasted little time putting their mark on the match. Just one minute later, Lilly's hard cross from the left side was pushed by the diving Helgadottir straight to Hamm, who slammed her shot into the net from eight yards out. Lilly got a goal of her own in the 77th, hitting a long cross from an extremely sharp angle on the left flank that swerved over Helgadottir and smacked into the side netting at the far post for her 83rd career goal. The goal for Hamm on her first touch of the game was her world record 117th. Lilly played in her 197th career game as she continues her run for an unprecedented 200 caps.

"We still have a lot to prove," said Hamm. "Just because we've won Olympics and World Cups doesn't mean that we don't challenge ourselves every day. We feel that we have another level that we can reach and with all these young players there, is no doubt that we will get there."

The eighteen-year-old goalkeeper Hope Solo, a key member of the USA's Pan-American Games gold medal squad for the Under-18 National Team last summer, picked up her first cap and shutout in the nets.

United States 8, Iceland 0

Lineups: United States - Hope Solo, Christie Pearce, Michelle French, Nandi Pryce, Danielle Slaton, Jenna Kluegel, Nikki Serlenga, Aly Wagner, Sara Whalen (Kristine Lily 70), Christy Welsh, Cindy Parlow (Tiffeny Milbrett 31, Mia Hamm 70). Iceland - Thora Helgadottir, Edda Gardarsdottir, Iris Saemundsdottir, Gudrun Gunnarsdottir, Gudlaug Jonsdottir, Rakel Ogmundsdottir (Rakel Logadottir 83), Asthildur Helgadottir, Margret Olafsdottir (Hrefna Johannesdottir 87), Erla Hendriksdottir (Asdis Thorgilsdottir 80), Katrin Jonsdottir, Olga Faerseth (Asgerdur Ingibergsdottir 61).

Scoring: United States - Christie Welsh (Tiffeny Milbrett) 37th minute. United States - Christie Welsh (Tiffeny Milbrett) 43. United States - Aly Wagner (Danielle Slaton) 53. United States - Christie Pearce (Unassisted) 54. United States - Christie Welsh (Tiffeny Milbrett) 69. United States - Mia Hamm (Kristine Lilly) 71. United States - Kristine Lilly (Unassisted) 77. United States - Christie Pearce (Danielle Slaton) 84.

Shots: United States 24, Iceland 6. Saves: United States 2, Iceland 7. Corner kicks: United States 15, Iceland 2. Fouls: United States 6, Iceland 6. Offside: United States 3, Iceland 2.

Referee: John Wilson (United States) Referee assistants: John Frey (United States), Alex Almaguer (United States) Attendance: closed-door match at Davidson (N.C.) College Weather: Clear, breezy, 68 degrees.

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Heinrichs Announces Olympic Residency Roster

U.S. Women's National Team Head Coach April Heinrichs has named the 30-player Olympic residency camp roster from which the 18-player 2000 Olympic roster will likely be chosen.

Heinrichs did not name five players from the 1999 FIFA World Cup championship team to that roster. Left off were Tiffany Roberts, Tisha Venturini, Danielle Fotopoulos, Tracy Ducar and Saskia Webber.

The USA will take part in the second Olympic women's soccer tournament from Sept. 14-28 in Australia, traveling Down Under to defend the gold medal it won in Atlanta in 1996. The 30 players will form the pool from which Heinrichs will select rosters for the approximately 20-22 matches that the USA will play before the Olympics. That run begins April 3 when Heinrichs brings 26 of those players to Charlotte, NC, to begin training for the USA's April 8 clash with Iceland at Ericsson Stadium (Kickoff 7:30 ET/TV - 9:00 p.m. ET on ESPN2).

The Charlotte training camp will be the beginning of the USA's residency camp period as the stars of the Women's World Cup, and the future, come to North Carolina. Following the Iceland match, the USA will have a week off and then move to San Diego and the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif., where the team will be based from mid-April until June. The team will begin training at the OTC on April 17, but due to an extensive travel and competition schedule, the U.S. team will spend a total of approximately five weeks training in San Diego. The residency camp roster features 15 players from the 1999 Women's World Cup championship team, including all 11 starters from the historic Women's World Cup Final match. The -player pool features four goalkeepers, eight defenders, 12 midfielders and six forwards. Along with the core of veterans, eight of whom have played 135 or more international matches, Heinrichs has mixed in a group of wonderfully talented young players as a full half of the residency roster has 11 caps or less.

Young defenders include 17-year-old Nandi Pryce who made her debut with the USA at the Australia Cup in January and former Under-21 captain Michelle French, who was a part of the Women's World Cup residency camp last year. Heinrichs also chose 19-year-old left-sided defender Danielle Slaton, who proved a solid option at outside fullback by playing well in all four Algarve Cup matches. "It was difficult to make the final decisions regarding residency, because every player brought to Portugal played the best soccer I've seen in the year 2000," said Heinrichs. "This is a good problem for a coach to have. I'm very much looking forward to working with the residency group so that we can focus our energy and attention on these 30 players which are the ones that will be fighting for a position on the Olympic Team." Heinrichs will bring a cadre of young midfielders to the residency camp period, including the left-footed Jena Kluegel, who made her debut in February against Norway. Leading the way for the youthful midfield corp is Aly Wagner, one of the most experienced of the young players with 11 caps, a member of the Women's World Cup residency camp and one of the final cuts from the 1999 Women's World Cup Team.

Heinrichs has included three other 17-year-olds in residency camp as Aleisha Cramer, Veronica Zepeda and Sara Randolph will train with the U.S. team when the squad is in San Diego, but will play most of their matches with the U.S. Under-21 Team. Cramer, the nation's top high school player, has represented the USA at the U-16, U-18, U-21 and full national team levels. Zepeda, a highly skilled attacking midfielder, scored her first ever goal during the Australia Cup in January. Randolph, who just turned 17 last month, was the youngest of 39 players at the February training camp in Florida, but made an impression and will get the chance to train alongside the best in the world.

At striker, 17-year-old Alyssa Ramsey, 18-year old Christy Welsh and 19-year Susan Bush (the youngest of the 1999 Women's World Cup residency camp players and now a veteran amongst the youth), will vie for minutes on a U.S. forward line that has been one of the world's most potent for years. Women's World Cup hero Briana Scurry will also rejoin the team after missing the Algarve Cup with a leg injury. Scurry is at 99 caps, and in Charlotte, will likely become the 11th member and first goalkeeper in the USA's 100-cap club.

A trio of talented young goalkeepers will be pushing Scurry for the starting sport in the nets. Siri Mullinix, a member of the Women's World Cup residency camp who had a stellar match in helping the USA to the Algarve Cup title earlier this month, will be joined by a pair of powerful young goalkeepers in Jen Branam and Hope Solo, both veterans of the USA's youth national teams. Of the 30 players invited to residency camp, 26 will come to Charlotte, minus Cramer, Zepeda and Randolph, as well as Michelle Akers, who suffered a dislocated shoulder while training and will undergo an MRI later this week to determine if she will need surgery. This will be the USA's second trip to Ericsson Stadium after destroying Japan, 9-0, there last year in a Women's World Cup tune-up. Tiffeny Milbrett tied a U.S. record for points in a game, scoring four times with two assists, on a chilly night in front of 10,119 fans who braved sub-freezing temperatures. Heinrichs, herself a former All-American at the UNC Chapel Hill, will bring 10 players to Charlotte with North Carolina ties, including Ramsey, who stars for the Charlotte Soccer Club and may get the chance to play in front of her hometown fans. Mullinix hails from Greensboro, NC, and is one of nine present or former Tar Heels on the pool roster for Charlotte. Heinrichs will choose 18 players from the 26 to be eligible to face Iceland. The USA has played Iceland just twice in its history, both games coming in 1998, when the Americans registered a 6-0 victory in Indianapolis, but then battled the game Icelanders for a 1-0 win in Bethlehem, Pa.

Tickets are priced at $15-$28 and can be purchased by calling TicketMaster at 704/522-6500. For more information and group tickets, call 336/856-7529.

Roster...

Goalkeepers:Jen Branam, 19 years-old (Placentia, Calif, 1 international appearance), Siri Mullinix, 21 (Greensboro, N.C., 5), Briana Scurry, 28 (Dayton, Minn., 99), Hope Solo, 18 (Richland, Wash., 0).

Defenders: Brandi Chastain, 31 (San Jose, Calif., 111), Joy Fawcett, 32 (Huntington Beach, Calif., 157), Michelle French, 23 (Kent, Wash., 7), Carla Overbeck, 31 (Chapel Hill, N.C., 161), Christie Pearce, 24 (Point Pleasant, N.J., 58), Nandi Pryce, 18 (Casselberry, Fla., 5), Danielle Slaton, 19, (San Jose, Calif., 9), Kate Sobrero, 23 (Bloomfield Hills, Mich., 37), Sara Whalen, 23 (Greenlawn, N.Y., 47).

Midfielders: Michelle Akers, 34 (Orlando, Fla., 147), Aleisha Cramer, 18 (Lakewood, Colo., 6), Lorrie Fair, 21 (Los Altos, Calif., 57), Julie Foudy, 29 (Mission Viejo, Calif., 171), Jena Kluegel, 20 (Mahtomedi, Minn., 1), Kristine Lilly, 29 (Wilton, Conn., 196), Shannon MacMillan, 25 (Escondido, Calif., 95), Sara Randolph, 17 (Cincinnati, 0), Nikki Serlenga, 21 (San Diego, 2), Aly Wagner, 19 (San Jose, Calif., 11), Veronica Zepeda, 17 (Riverside, Calif., 4).

Forwards: Susan Bush, 19 (Houston, 7), Mia Hamm, 28 (Chapel Hill, N.C., 187), Tiffeny Milbrett, 27 Portland, Ore., 135), Cindy Parlow, 21 (Memphis, 71), Alyssa Ramsey, 18 (Charlotte, N.C., 2), Christie Welsh, 29 (Massapequa Park, N.Y., 6).

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Mullinix Leads USA to Algarve Cup Title

Siri Mullinix has had a special soccer goal every since she was a junior in high school. That goal was to play in the Olympics. She left high school after her junior year to begin her collegiate career at UNC Chapel Hill. She did that to put herself in an environment that would allow her to improve.

She isn't there yet, but she took a couple of steps in the right direction when she posted three shutouts for the U.S. Women's National Team in the USA's championship in the Algarve Cup in Portugal. It marked the first time the U.S. women had won the tournament in six tries.

Mullinix was in goal when the U.S. beat Portugal 7-0 to open the tournament. She was also in goal in the championship game, a 1-0 victory over Norway. In between she split two games with UNC freshman Jennie Branham, blanking Sweden 1-0 after Branham made her international debut in the USA's 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Denmark.

In the championship game the U.S. took a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute when Mia Hamm was taken down in the penalty box and awarded a penalty kick. The kick was taken and made by Brandi Chastain.

The U.S. expected to be playing China in the title match, but Norway surprised the Chinese 3-0 in group play. The U.S. has not played China since the FIFA Women's World Cup championship match last summer. Norway had beaten the U.S. in two 2-1 games last February in Florida.

"U.S. coach) April (Heinrichs) talked about this game being basically about rolling up your sleeves, getting your fingernails dirty and getting the job done," said Hamm, "and I think that's what you saw today. I think everyone played extremely well. The back line along with (midfielders) Julie Foudy and Lorrie Fair was tremendous and they were all so organized.

Dagny Mellgren had all three goals for Norway in the win over China, and had a good opportunity against the U.S., missing from a sharpe angle just after halftime. In the 89th minute Mullinix punched a corner kick clear, and then smothered Mellgren again by diving at her feet to gather the ball.

"I was definitely big-time nervous for the first 10 minutes of both halves," said Mullinix. "You have the pressure of never winning this tournament and then we are up by a goal. But for me, once I get into the game and make my first save, I settle down. I feel like I'm at my best in a game environment."

Mullinix came away from the championship game with a large bump and a small gash above her right eye from a Norwegian cleat. But the Greensboro, NC. native is used to bumps and bruises.

Cindy Parlow had three goals in the opening game, and Shannon McMillian's game-winner about four minutes from the end of regulation advanced the U.S. against Denmark. Hamm came on as a second half reserve against Sweden and 10 minutes later scored her 116th international goal for the win. The U.S. gave up only one goal in the four games.

"Winning close games shows hard defending," added Henrichs, who moved her U.S. national coaching record to 4-2 with the victory. "It wasn't the prettiest game, but there is a certain amount of attractiveness to Norway-USA games. I told the players to bring their hard hat and hammer to work today because it was going to be a classic battle and it really was."

China captured the bronze medal with a 1-0 win over Sweden, while Canada beat Denmark 1-0 for fifth place. Finland blanked Portugal 3-0 for seventh place.

The USA will take on Iceland April 8 in Charlotte's Ericsson Stadium. Kickoff is at 7:30 pm.

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Fort Lauderdale, Fl (Sunday, Feb. 6, 2000)--Charlotte (NC) high school senior Alyssa Ramsey earned her first international cap in the USA's 3-2 loss to Norway before a crowd of 12,031 at Lockhart Stadium. Ramsey, a senior at North Mecklenburg High School who is headed to the University of Virginia next fall, entered the game in the 74th minute for Mia Hamm.

The U.S. took a 2-1 lead over their rivals on Kristine Lilly's unassisted goal in the 71st minute, but gave up two late goals to suffer their 12th defeat in 23 all-time meetings between the world powers in women's soccer.

The equalizer came in the 71st minute when goalkeeper Saska Webber came off her line to take a cross, but allowed the ball to bounce past her. U.S. defender Carla Overbeck, attempting to make the clearance, nodded the ball into her own goal to make the score 2-2.

The game-winner came in injury time nine minutes later as Dagny Meelgren hit a screamer from the top of the penalty box over the head and off the finger tips of Webber. Webber was a member of last year's World Championship team, but did not see action in that competition.

After Norway took the lead in the 20th minute on a penalty kick, the U.S. went ahead on Hamm's diving header off a Shannon McMillian cross. It was Hamm's 115th international goal.

The loss marred the debut of April Heinrichs as the new U.S. Women's head coach, who made her international playing debut in 1986 in a 2-0 win over Canada. Heinrichs, the current coach at the University of Virginia, was named the new head coach in mid-January.

"They lost, but they learned," said Heinrichs of her team. "Every player made some mistakes today, but I also saw a lot of positives. No one is ever satisfied after a loss, but integrating the young players and growing as a team is the priority."

The game marked the return of the World Cup veterans to the U.S. team after a boycott of the team's trip to the Australia Cup in January. A "replacement" team of younger players made that trip and came away with the championship with two wins and a draw.

Joy Fawcett, Kate Sobrero, Brandi Chastain, McMillian, Julie Foudy, Lilly, Hamm and Tiffeny Milbrett were starters against Norway from the World Cup championship team. Overbeck, the team captain, did not start for the first time in 61 international appearances since July 4, 1996.

Also in the starting lineup was Colorado high schooler Aleisha Cramer, who was replaced by Santa Clara's Aly Wagner in the 67th minute.

Game Stats

Lineups:

United States - Saskia Webber, Joy Fawcett, Kate Sobrero, Nandi Pryce, Brandi Chastain, Shannon MacMillan (Susan Bush 67), Aleisha Cramer (Aly Wagner 67), Julie Foudy - captain (Carla Overbeck 77), Kristine Lilly, Tiffeny Milbrett (Christy Welsh 46), Mia Hamm (Alyssa Ramsey 74).

Norway - Bente Nordby, Bente Kvitland, Goril Kringen, Anne Tonnesen, Brit Sandaune, Hege Riise, Anita Rapp (Siljie Jorgensen 89), Monica Knudsen, Unni Lehn (Dagney Mellgren 69), Ingrid C.F. Saethe (Kjersti Thun 61), Marianne Pettersen.

Scoring:

Norway - Riise (penalty kick) 20
United States - Hamm (MacMillan) 25
United States - Lilly (unassisted) 71
Norway - own goal (Overbeck) 81
Norway - Mellgren (unassisted) 90+

Shots: United States 9, Norway 11
Saves: United States 3, Norway 4
Corner kicks: United States 2, Norway 11
Fouls: United States 9, Norway 8
Offside: United States 4, Norway 6
Yellow card caution: Norway - Tonnensen 39
Referee: Sandra Hunt (United States)
Assistant referee: Sharon Wheeler (United States), Roger Sill (United States)
Attendance: 12,031 at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Weather: Sunny, breezy, 72 degrees.

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Boycott Is Over

(Friday, January 28, 2000) -- The boycott is over and the 20 members of the U.S. 1999 World Cup championship team have agreed to a new contract with the U.S. Soccer Federation. The new contract, the terms of which have not been disclosed, includes a salary increase, plus a special bonus system based upon the number of games in which each individual player appears.

The agreement was first reported on a web site of which Alan Rothenberg, former USSF president, is chairman. Rothenberg, an attorney, was the lead negotiator for U.S. Soccer in the dispute with the women.

The 20 players who were on last year’s World Cup team boycotted a trip earlier this month to the first Australia Cup, a four-team international round robin tournament. A young "replacement team" was sent to Australia to represent the United States and came back the champions with wins over the Czech Republic (8-1) and Australia (3-1) and a 0-0 draw with Sweden. Both Australia and Sweden have qualified for the eight-country Olympic Games this summer in Australia.

A press conference will be held early next week in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, to announcement the new agreement. The U.S. women will play Norway in Ft. Lauderdale on February 6. That match at Lockhart Stadium will be broadcast live at 2 p.m. (ET) by ESPN.

The game with Norway will be the first for new U.S. Women’s head coach April Heinrichs, who expects approximately 35 players to report to training camp next week in Ft. Lauderdale.

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CHICAGO (Wednesday, November 3, 1999) - Tony DiCicco, who has more wins than any coach in U.S. Soccer history, resigned his position today as Head Coach of the U.S. Women's National Team, effective at the end of the year.

DiCicco took over the U.S. team at the beginning of 1995 and guided the USA to a third place finish at the 1995 Women's World Cup in Sweden. DiCicco revamped the team's style, and along with a core of veteran players, regrouped and refocused to win the 1996 Olympic gold medal and the 1999 Women's World Cup, becoming the first coach and first team to hold both titles concurrently. After making his final decision yesterday, DiCicco spoke to his players and staff via conference call this morning.

"I can't think of anyone more deserving of the attention and praise brought on by the U.S. Women's National Team's success and popularity than Tony DiCicco," said U.S. Soccer President Dr. S. Robert Contiguglia. "He has won every trophy in sight and done it with grace and style. He has been an integral part of the team's success since our first World Cup championship in 1991, and he has met every challenge head on. We respect, understand and admire his desire to share his life with his family."

DiCicco steps aside to spend more time with his wife and four sons, ages 8, 12, 14, and 17, who supported him through a schedule which saw him on the road for as many as 250 days a year. DiCicco began his career with the Women's National Team in 1990 as the goalkeeper coach, and was an assistant on the 1991 Women's World Cup championship team, before taking over the head job from Anson Dorrance in 1995. He continued to train the national team goalkeepers, helping make Briana Scurry into an international star. DiCicco was also the main force behind organizing and strengthening the youth Women's National Team programs, enabling the Under-16, Under-18 and Under-21 teams to compete with great success and continue to develop players for the future. DiCicco helped institute the two-year old U-18 program.

"The main reason I'm stepping down is that it's more important for me to be a world class husband and father than a world class coach," said DiCicco. "When I looked at the generous financial opportunities available to me next year, I didn't see how they could possibly enrich my life more than spending time with my wife and boys. The things I'll miss the most are the players, what they taught me, what we learned together and how they made me feel. And how much fun it was to go after something great together."

DiCicco finishes with a 103-8-8 record in full international matches and a winning percentage of .899, both U.S. records. DiCicco's teams won five straight U.S. Women's Cups, and during his tenure, he saw Mia Hamm break the international record for goals scored and Kristine Lilly break the record for most appearances.

"U.S. Soccer gave me a tremendous privilege and opportunity when they hired me for the head coaching position," added DiCicco. "When I took over the team, I might not have been the first choice in many people's minds. But Alan Rothenberg and Hank Steinbrecher thought I would develop into a coach that would win for them, and I did. I sincerely appreciate the chance U.S. Soccer gave me. I think together we brought women's soccer to a whole new level both in America and globally."

"Tony DiCicco has been a model of professionalism as the head coach of our U.S. Women's National Team," said Steinbrecher, Secretary General of U.S. Soccer. "He will be sorely missed. I honestly believe he was the Phil Jackson of soccer coaches, bringing a sense of unity and team to a squad of veteran players who have been together for over a decade. This was clearly a decision from the heart and we respect that more than any other. He has said all along that spending time with his real first team, his family, was critical to him coming out of the Women's World Cup."

DiCicco steps down after accomplishing perhaps his greatest triumph, leading the USA through the preparation and competition of the Women's World Cup that included a sometimes overwhelming amount of pressure and distractions on the home team. The tournament concluded with the largest crowd ever to watch a women's sporting event as the USA won the Women's World Cup in front of a sell-out of 90,185 fans at the Rose Bowl. The television audience of 40 million made it the highest rated soccer match ever in the United States.

"I want to thank my staff and especially my assistant coaches, Lauren Gregg and Jay Hoffman, and mental skills coach Colleen Hacker," added DiCicco. "Their loyalty, expertise and uncanny ability to fill in the gaps when I needed it will always be tremendously appreciated."

"Tony is no doubt one of the best women's soccer coaches in the world," said Carla Overbeck, who served as team captain during the majority of DiCicco's tenure. "Being a mother myself, I totally empathize with him wanting to be at home with his family. We will always cherish the successes we achieved, and we will miss him tremendously as a coach and friend."

DiCicco's last year was his finest in terms of statistics. The USA went 25-2-2, setting a record for wins in a calendar year, and scored 111 goals, the second highest yearly total in the history of the program.

"Obviously, it's a sad day for the team because we all have tremendous respect for Tony as a coach, a person and friend," said Julie Foudy, who co-captained the team with Overbeck. "But we understand his commitment to his family and his desire to spend more time with his wife and sons. He's put in a lot of years with us, and spent many hours away from his family for us, and sacrificed a lot for the team. We'll always be proud of the things we accomplished together. It will very difficult to replace him, but we look forward to working with a new coach in our goal to win the Olympics."

"For U.S. Soccer, the focus now turns to finding a replacement," added Steinbrecher. "Within the coming weeks we will begin to identify candidates and then begin the interview process, but no timetable has been set at this time."

U.S. Soccer is in discussions with DiCicco to continue with the Women's National Team's programs in an advisory capacity. DiCicco will also be pursuing a range of new business interests. He will also continue to conduct clinics and speaking engagements as well as run his highly successful summer soccer camp business.

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Are There More Coaching Changes Coming?
By Ray Alley

Some records have been set by the U.S. Women’s National Team, and some questions remain unanswered.

The U.S. downed Brazil (5-0) in an exhibition before a Denver, CO, crowd of 25,099, giving Tony DiCicco his 100th victory as the women’s head coach. It also tied the record for wins (22-2-2) in a single season for the '99 FIFA World Cup champions.

DiCicco and his family were honored by the U.S. Olympic Committee with the inaugural USOC President’s Coaching Award, but the question remains - how long will he remain the women’s head coach.

DiCicco, who has more wins than any other U.S. national coach, has a contract with U.S. Soccer through the end of the year. Meetings with U.S. Soccer officials have been scheduled and an evaluation by both parties is currently taking place.

Many expect DiCicco to remain as head coach through the Olympic Games next year in Australia. It would be a commitment of less than a year.

However, DiCicco has indicated that he wants to spend more time with his family, and that the last four years have been difficult with so much time required away from his Connecticut home.

While most of the current U.S. players are expected to continue playing through the Olympics, the next four years are likely to be a period of great transition for the women’s national player pool. If a change is to be made, depending on who the new coach might be -- this might be a good time.

The question was raised in a recent issue of Soccer America magazine and DiCicco responded to a question about whether his contract would be extended by saying that it was "probably 50-50."

In either case he remains the U.S. coach and is in charge through the current Nike U.S. Women’s Cup. If he is replaced there are several capable candidates, including assistant coach Lauren Gregg and University of Portland head coach Clive Charles. Charles is currently the U.S. Under-23 coach.

Gregg has certainly paid her dues and deserves consideration. It has been reported that Jay Hoffman, another women’s assistant, has expressed interest in the head coaching position should it come open.

U.S. Soccer recently made a number of coaching appointments on the men’s staff. Not included in the list was Bob Bradley, head coach of MLS’ Chicago Fire, who has been mentioned as a full-time assistant to Bruce Arena.

John Ellinger will continue in his role as the U-17 men’s national coach, while Virginia head coach -- and an Arena protegee -- George Gelnovatch has been named the Under-18 men’s coach. Ken Lolla, a former Duke player who is the men’s coach at the University of Akron, has been appointed the Under-16 national coach and Wolfgang Suhnholz will coach the Under-20s.

Suhnholz comes to U.S. Soccer after a storied career in both the German Bundesliga and the North American Soccer League. He was Sigi Schmid’s assistant with the U.S. team in the U-20 World Championships in Nigeria. He now lives in Texas.

Should Bradley be made an offer to join the men’s staff, he could be selected to replace Clive Charles as the Under-23 coach. The U-23 team, one age below the full national team, will represent the U.S. in the Olympic Games.

Bradley has served on occasion as an assistant to Arena with the full national team, as has Gelnovatch, and his appointment as the U23 national men’s coach is an easy fit.

It is unlikely that Bradley will be named by U.S. Soccer to replace Charles without him being offered another position. Charles has World Cup experience, having served as Steve Sampson’s assistant coach at the ‘98 World Cup in France. He is currently the head coach for both the men’s and women’s teams at Portland, where he coached both Tiffeny Milbrett and Shannon McMillan from the current U.S. squad.

So what’s the chance of DiCicco continuing to coach the women through the Olympic games in Sydney next year? Fifty-fifty he says. Here’s hoping he gets the chance if he wants it. He’s earned it!

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Click for WWC 99 Updates

The celebrations are over and it’s time for the U.S. Women’s World Cup champion U.S. Women’s National Team to go back to work. Coach Tony DiCicco’s squad will take the field for the first time since their World Cup win over China when they face the Republic of Ireland on Saturday, Sept. 4 at Foxboro Stadium in suburban Boston.

The match will be played as part of a doubleheader with the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer, who will take on the Tampa Bay Mutiny at 7:40 PM. The USA vs. Ireland game is set for 4:30 PM.

The USA will be in action for the first time in 56 days after battling China to a scoreless 120 minutes before Brandi Chastain’s shootout penalty kick clinched the Americans’ second world championship.

The match against Ireland, which will be the first meeting between these two women’s national teams, represents the beginning of preparation for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, that is scheduled for September. U.S. Soccer’s post-Women’s World Cup schedule for the Women’s National Team in both 1995 and 1999 represents a stark contrast to 1991, when the USA played just two matches in 1992, basically going dormant for 15 months.

"The U.S. team is still enjoying the excitement and popularity generated from the Women’s World Cup," said DiCicco, who is two wins away from 100 career international victories. "At the same time we want to use this enthusiasm to start our preparation for Sydney 2000. The team loves to play and they are excited about getting back together, but anytime you play a team for the first time, you have to be prepared for surprises and that’s the case for the Republic of Ireland. They are working hard to climb the ladder in Europe."

The Ireland match will be the 25th game of 1999 for the U.S. Women. With three games in the Nike U.S. Women’s Cup on the horizon in October, and several other possible match-ups in the works, the USA may have the busiest year ever, surpassing the 28 matches played in 1991.

The U.S. women are 20-2-2 this year, and with a win over Ireland the U.S. would move to within one game of its record for victories in a year, currently 22, which was set last year.

"Since we won the World Cup, we’ve all been pretty busy with appearances as well as trying to take some time off," said Tisha Venturini, who scored twice in the U.S. victory over North Korea in World Cup group play. She celebrated the second goal with the now-famous back-flip. "But what we really love to do is to compete together so everyone is looking forward to getting back on the field."

U.S. Men’s National Team goalkeeper Kasey Keller is expected to miss the opening game of the Spanish League with his new team, Rayo Vallecano. He has been diagnosed as having a case of gastroenteritis, which has taken him out of training for the two days leading up to Saturday’s opener. Keller has been sharing keeper duties with Julen Lopetegui, who was Rayo Valecano’s keeper last year. Keller signed with the new club after having played with Leiscester City in the English premier League.

U.S. reserve keeper Brad Friedel dressed for Liverpool’s shocking loss to Watford (1-0) at home, but did not play. Friedel, who has yet to play in the first two league matches, is Liverpool’s third keeper and will move on from the English Premier League team. Liverpool’s starting keeper was Dutchman Sander Westerveld, for whom Liverpool paid a $6.4 million transfer fee from Vitesse Arnhem this summer.

Claudio Reyna continues to excel with the Glasgow Rangers in the Scottish League. He had three goals in the Rangers’ first two games, and had a pair of assists in a 4-1 win over Motherwell.

Tony Sanneh did not play Herta Berlin’s Bundesliga opener, and Frankie Hejduk got only three minutes of playing time for Bayer Leverkusen’s 0-0 opening draw.

Jovan Kirovski, who played well in the USA’s third-place effort in the recent Confederations Cup, may be without a team. He is under contract with Borussia Dortmund, which loaned him last year to the German Second Division club Fortuna Cologne last year. He may not have a future with Dortmund, which is looking to sign Brazilian midfield star Evenilson, in a deal that would include a multi-million dollar transfer fee.

Jeff Agoos is in South Africa to represent the U.S. on a FIFA International all-star team that will face the South African national team in a tribute match for Nelson Mandela. 

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'99 Women's World Cup......One Month Later
By Ray Alley

It’s been over a month since Brandi Chastain struck the golden goal in the championship shootout that ended a 0-0 struggle with China, ripped off her shirt and fell to her knees to begin a month-long celebration.

Over 650,000 people saw the World Cup games in person, and the championship game drew a television audience that exceeded the ‘99 NBA championship.

The afterglow continues to burn bright. In the days following the final the team took trips all over the country. Network television appearances in New York, including a return to David Letterman, filled the first days of celebration. Then individual appearances by team members.

Mia Hamm drew over 1,500 for a book signing in Chapel Hill. Others visited WNBA games, clinics, camps, etc. A proposed indoor soccer tour stop in Raleigh in November sold out in two days. Everywhere the cheers continue.

To the person, the players hope the overwhelming success of the 1999 Women’s World Cup will bring a women’s professional league to the United States. But will all this be enough to make that dream come true.

Fortunately, the U.S. team will plunge right back into competition within the next several months. The 2000 Olympics is only a year away, and that is likely to keep the fires burning for the next 12 months. Nothing of a serious nature is likely to take place before those Games are completed.

Whether or not there will be a professional league for women after the Olympics comes down strictly to business. The Women’s World Cup was an event. No, it was more than just an event! It was a flag-waving, patriotic event in the United States where the U.S. team was the local hero. The players were just like us.

A professional league will break that team apart. The veteran players will be divided among the leagues teams, paired with younger members of the U.S. team, up-and-coming young players, international players, and players who are now playing in the USL’s W-League.

While 650,000 roared their support of Hamm, Chastain, Kristine Lilly, Julie Foudy, Michelle Akers, Carla Overbeck, and Joy Fawcett, will Hamm/Christie Pearce/Tiffany Roberts, Lilly/Briana Scurry/Sara Whalen, Foudy/Kate Sobrero/Tisha Venturini - and a supporting cast of non-USA players - make the turnstiles whirl?

Major League Soccer, born in the aftermath of World Cup ‘94, continues to struggle to find its audience. Attendance as declined since that first season, when crowds exceeded expectations. To MLS’ credit, none of the original 10 franchises have been relocated since the league began four years ago.

At the book-signing, Hamm spoke about the success of the World Cup carrying over to a pro league. She also said that television, and the sponsorship and advertising dollars that were involved in broadcasting the games, was important to a league.

Alas, when MLS began there was no television contract, and in that first year the league bought time to have its games shown on television.

So what lies ahead. Your guess is as good as mind, but let’s consider the WNBA, the women’s pro basketball league. That league is owned by the National Basketball League. The club owners own NBA franchises, and in most cases own the arenas in which the games are played. That the WNBA plays in the summer, which is off-season for the NBA, is not a coincidence.

Perhaps the first step would be for Major League Soccer to operate the league, place the teams within the existing MLS franchises, play doubleheaders, market the teams as a joint package. The logistics would be simplified. Everything would be doubled, including travel, housing, marketing, season tickets, etc.

Women’s National Team games have been structured as part of a doubleheader with MLS teams before. Sometimes the women outdrew the men, and the big whoosh that was heard after the women’s game was the cars leaving the parking lot.

It certainly wouldn’t be what the women had hoped for - a league of their own. But it would be a start, and just maybe a good business decision.

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On Top Of The World

Dreams do come true! The U.S. Women’s National Team had a dream, born from the ashes of a semifinal loss to Norway in the 1995 Women’s World Cup, that they would recapture the world championship at home, in America, before their fans and followers.

When Brandi Chastain slammed home a left-footed kick from the penalty mark into the side netting past China’s goalkeeper Gao Hong, the dream became reality.

When those U.S. players committed four years ago to bringing the championship "home" again , little did they know it would be in Pasadena’s Rose Bowl before a loud and loving crowd of 90,185.

Little did they realize that the World Cup on U.S. soil would draw record crowds, exceeding a total of 600,000 for the three-week event. Sweden, which hosted that World Cup in ‘95, drew a little over 125,000 for the entire tournament.

For 90 scoreless minutes that dream was on hold as the USA and China played even through regulation. Before the game, most objective observers said it was too close to call.

Thirty-more minutes of sudden death overtime went scoreless. Ten minutes into the first 15-minute overtime the dream almost ended.

Off a corner kick, Fan Yunje got off a perfect header that appeared destined to settle this classic struggle. Kristine Lilly, standing on the goal line, kept the dream alive as she headed the ball away - and the struggle continued.

Twenty-five minutes later all that was left were the game-deciding kicks from the penalty mark. The shootout that is said to have been seen by a billion people around the world would settle the outcome of this scoreless struggle.

By now, Michelle Akers, the USA’s primary taker of penalty kicks, was in the locker room, hooked up to an IV with ice packs over various parts of her body.

Coach Tony DiCicco picked five veteran players to take the kicks. Three were defenders - Carla Overbeck, Joy Fawcett and Chastain. The others were Lilly and Mia Hamm.

Briana Scurry, magnificent all day long, knew she only had to stop one of China’s shots to have a chance to win. She did it on the third attempt, stretching out to her left to smother a low shot by Liu Ying.

One by one the U.S. players nailed their shots - Overbeck, Fawcett, Lilly after Scurry’s save to put the U.S. up 3-2, Hamm and then Chastain.

A forward when the U.S. won its first World Championship in China in 1991, Chastain didn’t make the team in 1995. Her dream of playing in another World Cup - this time on home soil - was the foundation of her comeback to the National Team as a defender.

Her moment of glory came as a shooter. She buried the fifth and final kick.

The dream was reality. The USA was once again the Champion of the World.

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So what is the legacy of this World Cup and this United States women’s team?

Moments after the game Brandi Chastain responded to a reporter’s question "All of these people, the 20 people on this team, that Chinese team over there, and all of these smiling kids."

This game and this team certainly has made an impact on women’s soccer in this country, and on women’s sports. But will this game have any effect on women’s soccer around the world.

A USA Today editorial called this game "a defining moment for women’s sports."

There is talk of a "world tour" for this American team. Take the message overseas.

But the reality is that it probably won’t have much effect outside our borders. It more a "society thing" than a sports thing.

Most people, who ever knew, have forgotten that 65,000 people attended the USA vs. Norway final in the 1991 World Championship in China. FIFA didn’t even call it a World Cup back then.

It’s doubtful many of those actually paid to get into the stadium. China had lost in the semifinals and the Chinese soccer federation was so embarrassed it closed down its women’s program for two years.

Today, women’s soccer in China, even though this team is as talented as the USA, takes a back seat to the men’s team, which has yet to achieve much at the international level. Only 20 people went to the airport to see the Chinese women off to the United States back in June.

Only days before the final in Pasadena there was a soccer story on the front page of a popular Beijing newspaper. It wasn’t about the Chinese women. It was about the Chinese men’s team losing to a second-tier foreign team.

Various articles during women's soccer's "three-weeks in July" spoke of the difficulties female athletes encounter outside the United States.

Of the 16 countries which participated in this World Cup, only the European countries have a long history of support back home. Certainly there is strong support for the teams from Germany, Sweden and Denmark, and Italy has had a professional league for many years.

In many ways this U.S. team is a product of the 1972 Title IX legislation that forced an equalization of opportunities for girls at the collegiate level. Only eight players on the U.S. roster were born before Title IX, and those eight have also benefitted from that legislation.

Other countries do not have Title IX-type legislation.

North Korea had never played a game outside Asia before the World Cup. The team was comprised of women from the North Korean military.

Neither Nigeria and Ghana, representing Africa, enjoy status back home in the soccer community. Australia, spent a lot of money and kept its team in training for a year, but failed to win a game. Canada, also winless, did not qualify for the Olympics, and many of its players have voiced concern that the program might become dormant.

China’s women’s national professional league pays its players $200 a month, but there are only about 10,000 registered women players in a country with a population of 1.2 billion people. Their national team stars are state employees and make less than $4,000 a year.

"The women do better than the men," said Zhang Yongqiang, who represents adidas in China, "but that has no influence on the standing of women’s soccer."

Zhang Honghong, a star on China’s team in 1991, was quoted as saying "Frankly, we are pretty envious that so many Americans are supporting their women’s team, but actually, the number of girls who play soccer in China is decreasing."

Brazil, which finished third in this World Cups, recruits its players from the poor neighborhoods, much like the men.

"Unfortunately, women’s soccer still doesn’t have a chance in Brazil," said Armando Nogueira, one of Brazil’s leading sports commentators. "The best woman player in Brazil will never be as popular as the worst male player, and the reason is that women have been idolized as delicate objects of desire, incapable of playing a physical-contact, body-to-body sport."

Russia, a surprise quarterfinalist, doesn’t have much support back home.

"Very weak support, quite frankly," said Oleg Lapshin, president of Russia’s women’s soccer association, when quizzed about the sport’s popularity at home.

Russia’s coach Yurri Bystrizkii said he only had one week with his entire squad before bringing the team to the USA.

The W-1 League Raleigh Wings played exhibition games against both Brazil and Russia, losing to the Brazilians 2-1 and beating the Russians 1-0.

There is no doubt that what happened here over three weeks in July will forever have a positive affect on women’s sports in America. Worldwide - we’ll have to wait and see.

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Only One More To Go!

It has been a magical carpet ride through the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup for the United States National Team. The dream continues for Coach Tony DiCicco’s team of Americans, and after the next game we’ll know if their dream really can become reality.

A 2-0 victory over Brazil on the Fourth of July before a loud and supportive crowd of 73,123 at Stanford Stadium thrust the USA into the championship match, June 10 in the Rose Bowl against China. The Chinese completely destroyed defending champion Norway in their semifinal match, racing to a 2-0 halftime lead and winning 5-0.

In previous games in this World Cup the U.S. had given up early goals, but this time it was the home team that got on the scoreboard first. Cindy Parlow headed home a cross from Julie Foudy in the fifth minute when Brazilian goalkeeper Maravilha’s "hops" weren’t high enough and the ball slipped threw her hands into the path of Parlow.

For a long time that goal looked to be the only score, but in the 80^th minute the U.S. got a bit of breathing room when Mia Hamm raced into the penalty area from the left side and was pulled down Brazil’s captain Elane. Michelle Akers slammed home the penalty kick and the U.S. led 2-0.

Akers, 33, the oldest player on the U.S. team and the player who scored the first U.S. international goal 14 years ago, was magnificent. The story about her constant battle with chronic fatigue syndrome is well documented. Despite playing a full 90 minutes three days earlier in the 3-2 quarterfinal win over Germany, she went the distance again and anchored a strong defensive effort from her midfield position to hold the dangerous Brazilians scoreless.

However, the hero of this game was goalkeeper Briana Scurry, who probably played her best game ever for the USA. Brazil outshot the U.S. 13-10 and Scurry was credited with six saves in earning her 52^nd career shutout.

She can out to win every cross, and punched the ball away in traffic. She tipped away a sure goal on a 35-yard shot to the back post by Nene in the first half, and in the second she stopped several point-blank shots. In the 83^rd minute she went sprawling to her right to deflect a hard low shot by Pretinha. Her determination to not allow a goal showed on her face as her confidence grew throughout the game.

"Any game where I can do my part and get my team in the final of the Women’s World Cup is my best game," said Scurry. "I definitely think today was my best effort in my five years playing on the team."

"Thank God Bri is on our team," said Hamm. "She was awesome today. Bri showed she is one of the best goalkeepers in the world."

The final features the two teams most people felt would meet for the World Cup championship. This year during the Road to Pasadena pre-Cup tour, the USA and China split a pair of games. China, which lost to the U.S. in the championship game of the 1991 World Championships that they hosted, was the team given the most chance of beating the Americans on their home soil. The U.S. also won the 1996 Olympic gold medal over China in that final in Athens, GA.

So the stage is set. Both teams will be rested and ready. Perhaps the different will come from the "Twelfth Player"…a pro-American crowd. All attendance records for the Women’s World Cup have already been shattered. Over 70,000 tickets have reportedly been sold for the final…and a sellout (86,000 for soccer) is very possible.

Sun Wen, who shares the goal-scoring lead in this World Cup with Brazil’s Sissi with seven goals, has been the scoring leader for China, which has a tournament high of 19 goals. The U.S. is right behind with 18 goals, but no American player has scored more than two.

Perhaps Hamm said it best in a Denver Post article; "It’s good to have balance. From the opposing coach’s point of view, who do you mark? Do you mark me? Do you mark Julie (Foudy)? Do you mark Tiffeny (Milbrett)?"

That’s a problem China will have to solve if they are to realize their own dream of upsetting the USA in the final!

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It will be a "Star Spangle Banner" semifinal. USA vs. Brazil, Stanford Stadium, FIFA World Cup, the Fourth of July. Déjà vu or destiny?

The U.S. women’s National team will host the world’s most improved soccer team on Sunday in the World Cup ’99 semifinals in Palo Alto, CA. China meets defending champion Norway the same day in Foxboro Stadium outside Boston.

Ironically, five years ago in the 1994 FIFA World Cup the U.S. men met eventual champion Brazil in a second-round game that stands as a historic moment in U.S. soccer. The U.S. lost 1-0 to the heavily favored Brazilians, but raised the hopes and expectations of the American soccer community that the U.S. had broken through in its drive to become one of the world’s top soccer powers.

While there are comparisons to be made, the fact remains that this American team - the U.S. Women’s National Team - will be favored over Brazil. They are on a mission to recapture the championship they won in China in 1991 when FIFA held its first women’s World Championship. While the American men in ’94 were seeking their place in soccer’s world order, these American women are reaffirming their place as the "best team in the world."

It is more than déjà vu! Perhaps it is destiny as they pursue their dream.

The dream of winning the World Championship on their home soil was challenged in the quarterfinals, as the Americans rallied for two goals to eliminate defending European Champion Germany 3-2 before a crowd of 54,462 at Jack Kent Cooke Stadium in Landover, MD. Once again, defensively shaky in the early minutes, the U.S. gave up an own goal five minutes into the game, and after drawing even on a Tiffeny Milbrett strike, the Americans fell behind before halftime as Betinna Weigmann scored a rocket two minutes into extra time.

Germany, one of the top four seeded teams in the tournament, challenged the USA with a tightly organized defense. However, the U.S. found a way to score – on corner kicks. Defender Brandi Chastain, credited with the first-half own-goal, first-timed a Mia Hamm corner in the 49th minute to tie the game.Joy Fawcett, another veteran defender who has only 16 goals in 126 international appearances, flicked Shannon MacMillian‘s near-post corner kick past German keeper Silke Rottenberg for the game-winner at the 66th minute mark.

The second semifinal was two games in one. Brazil took a 3-0 halftime lead against Nigeria and put the game on cruise control. However, it was Nigeria who cruised to three second-half goals to tie the game and force overtime. Sissi, who has seven goals in the tournament, saved the Brazilians with a free-kick goal 14 minutes into sudden death overtime.

China defeated Russia (2-0) and Norway eliminated Sweden (3-1) in the other semifinals.

For the Americans, the dream continues. Julie Foudy, an 11-year member and co-captain of the U.S. team - and a former Stanford All-American, spoke from California of that dream the day after the game with Germany.

"For how many years now?," she said, "that we have been together. The hours we (the team) have been together, sweating, training, and killing each other in practice. For us to play the World Cup in our country, on our home soil and to win the championship – that has been our dream.

"At halftime (against Germany) Tony (DiCicco) spoke about that. Carla (Overbeck) spoke about that and they said to not let this (the second half) be our last 45 minutes."

The significance of the July 4^th meeting with Brazil has not been lost on DiCicco, the U.S. Women’s National Coach.

"We are aware of the comparison (with the men in ’94), and this should be a great game," said DiCicco. "Brazil is the most improved women’s soccer team since 1991. That makes our task more difficult. The men’s game with Brazil in 1994 on July 4^th was historic, but unlike that team that started a lot of naturalized Americans, we will put all Americans on the field on Sunday who learned to play the game in this country."

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June 24, 1999 – Nigeria’s dream lasted 19 minutes, and then it turned into the Super Falcons’ worst nightmare.

Inside of the first two minutes of the game, Nikru Okosieme had given Nigeria a 1-0 lead over the USA. She collected a loose ball in front of Briana Scurry and slammed it in the Americans’ goal for a 1-0 lead to stun the pro-American sellout crowd of 65,080 in Chicago’s Soldier Field. That set off a celebration from the Nigerian fans that lasted for the next 17 minutes.

At that point, Michelle Akers ran into the box and slid to reach a Mia Hamm free kick. At first she was given the goal, but later officials ruled it went off a Nigerian for an on-goal. Less than 30 seconds later Hamm took a long pass from Kristine Lilly and blasted a shot from 15 yards out past Nigerian goalkeeper Ann Chiejine.

The route, that would be 6-1 by halftime and 7-1 at the end of the game, was one. The U.S. scored their first three goals over a four-minute period. Five players, Hamm, Akers, Tiffeny Milbrett (2), Lilly and Cindy Parlow scored goals.

Nigeria’s goal was the result of a weak clearance from the penalty area by USA’s Julie Foudy, but really the American’s were a bit tentative as the game began. In the days since Nigeria’s 2-1 win over North Korea to start the competition, the talk had been how the Super Falcons did not fear the U.S. and how they would pull off the upset.

U.S. scouting reports remarked on the athleticism of the Nigerian players, but made note of their lack of defensive organization. Since they had never before played the U.S., little did they know what they were in for in front of a sellout World Cup crowd on U.S. soil?

Perhaps Tony DiCicco’s veteran team respected their opponents a bit too much early on, and certainly Nigeria failed to respect the Americans enough.

"You can never prepare for a team coming out and scoring within the first two minutes, but I think it was a blessing in disguise for us because it made us get angry and alert right away so that we played out game," said Milbrett.

The game was physically brutal and by halftime Nigeria had committed 17 fouls, most of which had come from tackles-from-behind. Only one yellow card, given late in the half, had been given a Nigerian player by halftime. Hamm was taken down time after time from behind, which referee Nicole Mouidi-Petigant of Switzerland failed to recognize as cardable offenses.

At halftime DiCicco replaced Akers and defender Kate Sobrero with Lorrie Fair and Sara Whalen. After Hamm was slammed to the ground again in the opening minutes of the second half, DiCicco pulled her out, replacing her with Shannon MacMillian. Sobrero, who sprained an ankle the previous day in training, was a question mark for the for this game. She played and played very well.

"This is the World Cup," said the former Notre Dame defender. "I just decided that I needed to suck it up. It hurt just a little bit late in the half."

I’m really proud of the team for handling the physical nature of the game, which was close to getting out of hand," said DiCicco.

In the second half the U.S. scored only one goal and while they continued to attack, they also spent a lot of the time knocking the ball around and avoiding tackles.

While the U.S. have virtually assured itself of a quarterfinal game in Washington, D.C., (Jack Kent Cooke Stadium) on Thursday, July 1, North Korea’s 3-1 upset of Norway does leave the Group A standings with some question marks. Norway has two losses, Nigeria and North Korea has a loss each, so the final standings will be determined by the third games in group play. The U.S. will play North Korea Sunday in Boston, while Nigeria will play Denmark on Sunday in Washington.

When FIFA decided to use only female referees to officiate the 1999 Women’s World Cup, a number of eyebrows were raised. Not that there was a concern that female referees were not qualified to work international competitions, but rather whether there were enough with international experience to cover the entire World Cup.

Some World Cup Coaches, including USA Head Coach Tony DiCicco, were quoted as having reservations about the qualifications of a number of the referees chose, since FIFA took referees and referee assistants from each of the FIFA confederations.

Nicole Mouidi-Petigant of Switzerland worked the USA’s 7-1 win over Nigeria. She whistled Nigeria for 29 fouls, most for tackles from behind that left U.S. players, particularly Mia Hamm, slammed to the ground. However, she failed to recognize that fouls from behind, according to FIFA, were to be dealt with severely.

Mouidi-Petigant, who has been an international referee since 1996, also worked the Brazil vs. Mexico game earlier in the week. On the FIFA referee page she lists her principal matches as the Swiss Youth Cup Final. Now that’s a far cry from the Women’s World Cup before 65,000-plus.

The U.S. has two referees working in this World Cup. Sandra Hunt of Bellingham, WA, worked Japan vs. Russia and China vs. Australia. Kari Seitz of San Mateo, CA, worked the Australia vs. Ghana match.

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When the United States was awarded the third FIFA Women’s World Cup the plan was to play all of the games on the East Coast in medium sized stadiums. In Sweden most of the games were played before crowds of 5,000 or less.

After the huge attendance at the women’s soccer venues during the ’96 Olympic Games, FIFA, US Soccer and its World Cup organizers filed away the old plans and began all over. The new plan was to place the games in major stadiums from coast to coast.

There were skeptics who felt the plan was ambitious at best. With ticket sales already over 500,000, the organizers’ goals are now reality. As the second series of first-round games of the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup is set to begin, organizers look back at the opening-game successes with the hope that success will continue throughout the tournament.

The total attendance of the 1995 World Cup in Sweden was surpassed in the opening series of first round games as 112,000 tickets were sold for games in New Jersey, San Jose, Boston and Pasadena. Certainly, the 78,972 fans that witnessed the USA’s 3-0 victory over Denmark at Giants Stadium in New Jersey bolstered that total. That was the largest crowd to ever witness a women’s-only sporting event, surpassing the USA’s gold medal match at the 1996 Olympics in Athens, GA.

That crowd was also the largest to witness a sporting event of any kind at Giants Stadium, and only the 80,000-plus crowd who came to see Pope John was larger in the history of the stadium.

San Jose drew 23,298 fans to see Group D top-seed China defeat Sweden 2-1 and Canada and Japan tie, 1-1. That set a Spartan Stadium record for women’s soccer, eclipsing the 17,358 that saw the USA beat England in 1997.

We have exceeded our greatest expectations," said Marla Messing, president of the Organizing Committee. "There is no doubt that a World Cup is going on and America is coming out."

The first-round doubleheader at Chicago’s Soldier Field on Thursday, featuring the USA against Nigeria and Brazil vs. Italy is sold out. The six non-USA dates for the balance of the first round are averaging nearly 22,000.

Attendance at Foxboro Stadium outside Boston was 14,872 for Norway vs. Russia, with 1,292 in walkup sales. On top of that the Red Sox were home, the U.S. Open was on TV and it was a nice day for a trip to the beach……Pele was on hand at Giants Stadium to see Brazil rout Mexico 7-1……Ghana went a player down when Barikisu Tettey-Quao received her second yellow card in the 25^th minute of play, but still managed a 1-1 draw with Australia…….Julie Murray, who scored Australia’s goal, lived in Northern Virginia for three years, where she started playing soccer as a nine-year old, as her father was a veterinarian attaché from 1979-82…….One of the best lines of World Cup coverage was by Mike Penner of the Los Angeles Times who wrote about Nigerian coach Ismaila Mabo’s assertion that his team didn’t believe in "negative football." Wrote Penner, with a backhand slap to the NFL Chicago Bears, "That should come as a pleasant departure for Soldier Field. Lots of negative football (is) played there every September, October, November and December."……U.S. assistant coaches Lauren Gregg and Jay Hoffman jumped onto a plane right after the USA’s win over Denmark and flew across the country to Pasadena to see their next opponent, Nigeria, beat North Korea 1-0…….If the USA gains a comfortable win over Nigeria in the second group game, look for Coach Tony DiCicco to rest some veterans, including Michelle Akers, against North Korea.

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East Rutherford, NJ, June 19 – What a day! What a start for the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup!

Mia Hamm and her teammates on the U.S. National Team knew it would be a special moment when they stepped onto the field at Giants Stadium in front of a sellout crowd of 78,972. They did not disappoint that crowd as they began their quest for the world championship of women’s soccer with a 3-0 victory over Denmark.

"The crowd was awesome, the noise was unbelievable," said Hamm. The attendance shattered the record for a women’s World Cup match and was the most ever to watch a women’s sporting event in the United States. It was also the largest crowd ever at Giants Stadium, which was once the home of the NASL New York Cosmos.

"I think we all had goose bumps when we stepped onto the field. How could you not have goose bumps when you see the stadium filled and people chanting ‘U-S-A, U-S-A?"

Hamm got the U.S. on the scoreboard in the 17^th minute. She took a cross from Brandi Chastain at the right side of Denmark’s penalty box, touched it once to her left and fired a volley past the goalkeeper Dorth Larsen for a 1-0 lead and her 110^th career goal.

Denmark, outshot 24-9 in the game, hung around for the rest of the half and most of the second. Julie Foudy gave the U.S. some breathing room with 17 minutes left as he took a cross from Hamm and slammed it home from eight yards out. It was her 31^st career international goal.

Kristine Lilly, dangerous all day, made it 3-0 in the final minute of play as she beat two defenders as she dribbled across the top of the box and fired back into the left corner for her 75^th career goal.

The victory was not unexpected and put the Americans on top of the Group A standings. Nigeria and North Korea, the other two teams in Group A, are scheduled to meet Sunday, June 20.

Coach Tony DiCicco went with his starting lineup for most of the game. He brought Shannon MacMillian on in the 82^nd minute for Tiffeny Milbrett, and Lorrie Fair, 20, the youngest member of the U.S. team, replaced Hamm with two minutes left in the game.

Travel plans have the U.S. team flying on the next day to the city where their next game will be played. The U.S. will meet Nigeria in Chicago on June 24, and completes group play at Foxboro Stadium outside Boston on June 27.

Brazil, unseeded in Group B, routed Mexico 7-1 in the second game of the doubleheader at Giants Stadium. Brazil got hat tricks from Sissi and Pretinha and held a 5-1 halftime lead.

China, favored by many to play the U.S. in the championship game, rallied for two goals to beat Sweden 2-1in the opening Group D game in San Jose, CA. In the second game of that doubleheader Canada and Japan played to a 1-1 Group C draw.

Hamm thought the crowd at the Meadowlands was "awesome." And what did her coach think about Mia?

"Mia was awesome," said DiCicco. "Just awesome."

It was that kind of day and that kind of start for World Cup ’99!

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ORLANDO, FL (Saturday, May 22, 1999) – The pressure of setting a world scoring record is off Mia Hamm and now it is time to get down to the business of winning a world championship.

The USA’s all-time leading scorer became the world’s all-time leading scorer when she slammed a shot through the legs of Brazilian keeper Didi in first-half injury time to spark a 3-0 victory over Brazil before a cheering crowd of 10,452 in Orlando.

The goal was the 108^th of Hamm’s career, breaking the previous world mark of 107 held by long-retired Elisabetta Vignotto of Italy. It resulted from a combination of five one-touch passes that put her around the defender on the right side. Didi’s line of vision was partially screened by the defender as Hamm fired from 10-yards out.

The U.S. bench emptied onto the field to congratulate Hamm while team captain Carla Overbeck retrieved the ball and presented it to her teammate of 11 years.

"It was special to get the record on such a great team goal," said Hamm, who played in her 172^nd international match. "We are really starting to feel the excitement building for the World Cup. We’re getting fitter, our confidence is growing and we are fine-tuning the small parts of our game."

Hamm’s goal came at a crucial time in the game as the scoreless first half was winding down to the final seconds. After the break Brazil remained in the game, displaying some magic in typical Brazilian style with short passes and clever touches on the ball. However, in the 72^nd minute the U.S. went up by two goals as a Tiffeny Milbrett cross found Kristine Lilly open in the middle. Lilly knocked it in off her knee into the right corner for her 72^nd career goal.

The final goal came with a bit of controversy. After a ball was kicked into the stands, the U.S. took a quick throw-in with the second ball just seconds before the first was thrown from the stands back onto the field, causing several Brazilian players to pause.

Just as a referee grabbed the ball and tossed it back to the sidelines, Brandi Chastain launched a cross to the far post, where Lilly headed it back into the middle to Milbrett, who slammed her shot into the net on a full volley from close range. The Brazilians protested vehemently and their objections finally bubbled over into Raquel’s ejection minutes later.

"Brazil is great athletically, very gifted with the ball and plays with a lot of bite," said U.S. coach Tony DiCicco, who went with his starters for the full 90 minutes for the first time in 106 international matches that he has coached. "As we expected, they are a great team, very sophisticated and capable of winning the women’s World Cup. We got a couple of breaks, like the last goal, but everyone knows that you have to play until the whistle blows."

After a week off, the U.S. will travel to the West Coast on June 1 to prepare for its final contests on the NIKE Road to Pasadena before beginning World Cup play on June 19 against Denmark at Giants Stadium. The U.S. will play a closed-door match against Australia on June 3 at the NIKE Campus in Beaverton, OR, and the June 6 "Send-Off" game against Canada at Civic Stadium in Portland. The game with Canada will be shown live on ABC at 11AM PT (2PM, ET).

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Chicago (May 17, 1999) – The 20 players who will represent the United States in the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup this summer have been named and there are no surprises on the roster.

"This is the best team the U.S. has ever put together," said National team Coach Tony DiCicco.

DiCicco has chosen a veteran team that includes six players who were members of the team that won the first-ever Women’s World Cup in China in 1991. All six, Carla Overbeck, Michelle Akers, Julie Foudy, Kristine Lilly, Joy Fawcett and Mia Hamm, were also members of the team that finished third in the 1995 World Cup in Sweden.

Brandi Chastain, who played on the team in ’91, but was not on the 1995 squad, will play in her second world Cup.

"The naming of this team was a three-year process," said DiCicco. "These players were tested and challenged and proved themselves in a process that started the day after the Olympics.

"For the young players that are making the World Cup team for the first time, they forced these veterans to reach new heights and helped make us the best possible team we can be. I’m proud of each and every one of them, and my thoughts go out to the players that were on the short side of our decisions. I know some of those players will be key to our future."

Among those left off were midfielder Ali Wagner of Santa Clara University and former UNC All-America goalkeeper Siri Mullinix. Both will play with the U21 team this summer.

Also not named was Debbie Keller, though that omission was not unanticipated. While she was one of the team's leading scorers in 1998, she was not invited to the residency camp in early 1999. She was called into camp for one week of training and evaluation, but did not earn a spot on the roster for any of the pre-Cup exhibition games.

Keller filed for arbitration to regain a spot on the roster claiming she was left out of residency camp because of the sexual harassment suit she and former UNC teammate Melissa Jennings filed last fall against UNC head coach Anson Dorrance. Dorrance is also a former U.S. Women’s National Coach.

The arbitration board found in favor of U.S. Soccer and found that there was no validity to her charges.

Eight players who are either current or former players at UNC Chapel Hill were named to the 20-player roster. No other collegiate program contributed more than one player to the World Cup roster.

Named to a World Cup roster for the first time is Lorrie Fair, Christie Pearce, Sara Whalen, Shannon MacMillan, Cindy Parlow, Danielle Fotopoulos, Tracy Ducar and Kate Sobrero.

This USA team features eight players who have played 115 or more international matches, but has an average age of 24.5 years. The U.S. team averages 87 international caps per player.

The U.S. opens World Cup play on June 19 against Denmark at Giants Stadium. Kickoff is 3:00 PM, ET, and the game will be seen live on ABC.

Goalkeepers: Briana Scurry, Saskia Webber, Tracy Ducar. Defenders: Lorrie Fair, Christie Pearce, Carla Overbeck, Brandi Chastain, Sara Whalen, Joy Fawcett, Kate Sobrero. Midfield: Tiffany Roberts, Michelle Akers, Julie Foudy, Kristine Lilly, Tisha Venturini. Forwards: Shannon MacMillan, Mia Hamm, Cindy Parlow, Tiffeny Milbrett, Danielle Fotopoulos.

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CHICAGO (Sunday, May 16, 1999) – Mia Hamm tied the all-time international goal-scoring record at 107 and the U.S. Women’s National team defeated Holland (3-0) for the second time in three days, behind a pair of goals by Brandi Chastain.

An estimated crowd of 20,000 at Soldier Field saw Hamm tie the world record for career goals, held by Italy’s Elisabetta Vignotto, who played in the 70s and 80s. Hamm got the USA’s second goal in the 53^rd minute of play in a game marred by physical play, much of which was directed at her. The Dutch received five yellow cards in the match.

Hamm scored her historic goal off a short pass from Cindy Parlow at the top of the penalty box. She dribbled to her left, rode through a Dutch tackle, fakes her shot once and then stroked a left-footed bullet off the underside of the crossbar from 16 yards out.

"Whenever the record comes, it will be special," said Hamm. "But as I’ve said for the last couple of weeks, I want it to come in a winning cause. If I score one next weekend against Brazil, that would be wonderful, but if it comes in the World Cup and we win, that’ll be great too."

Chastain’s two goals came from set plays. The first was after a deflection of a Tiffeny Milbrett free kick in the 14^th minute of the game, and the second was a spectacular header in the 81^st minute as she rose above two Dutch defenders to slam home a corner kick from Hamm. She also had a hat trick in the final minute of play as another header smacked off the crossbar.

Next up for the U.S. in its series of pre-World Cup games, is Brazil at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, FL, May 22.