League Notebook

1991 World Cup champions: A walk down memory lane

All but four members of the 1991 Women's World Cup championship team were in attendance. Karyn Lush

By Karyn Lush

ONEONTA, N.Y. -- The Washington Freedom and the Boston Breakers squared off in an exhibition match at the National Soccer Hall of Fame on Oct. 8 with the Freedom posting a 3-1 win on two goals by Roseli and one by Mia Hamm. As part of the festivities, the 1991 Women's World Cup champions -- a team that included the Hamm of the Freedom and Kristine Lilly of the Breakers, as well as San Diego's Joy Fawcett and Julie Foudy, the Bay Area's Brandi Chastain, and Carolina's Carla Overbeck -- were honored.

Attendance Report: On hand for the awarding of the Medal of Honor to the 1991 World Cup Championship team were team members Tracey Bates Leone, Joy Biefeld Fawcett, Brandi Chastain, Julie Foudy, Wendy Gebauer Paladino, Linda Hamilton, Mia Hamm, Mary Harvey, April Heinrichs, Lori Henry, Shannon Higgins Cirovski, Carin Jennings Gabarra, Kristine Lilly, Kim Maslin-Kammerdeiner, and Megan McCarthy plus head coach Anson Dorrance and assistants Tony DiCicco and Lauren Gregg. Unable to attend the ceremony due to prior commitments were Michelle Akers, Amy Allman Griffin, Debbie Belkin Radamacher, and Carla Werden Overbeck.

A Trip Down Memory Lane: Among the memories '91 captain April Heinrichs recalled while accepting the Medal of Honor were Wendy Gebauer forgetting her jersey at the '91 World Cup final, Brandi Chastain producing a large divot after whiffing on a sure goal against Taiwan, midnight knocks on hotel room doors in China after someone noticed the hotel had flooded when a flip-flop floated by, leaving pigs' heads in Dorrance's bathroom while in China, showering in the pool during World Cup qualifying in Haiti in 1991 because the electricity was rarely turned on, the U.S. squad throwing carnations to the Haitian fans as a sign of goodwill only to have the fans throw them back on the field, and the luxuries of Air Bulgaria where smoking was on the right and non-smoking was on the left.

Humble Attitude: Heinrichs also recounted a story of when Kristine Lilly went down with a hip flexor in one of the 1991 World Cup matches, Dorrance told Tracey Bates and Debbie Belkin to warm up. When they were ready to go, Dorrance chose to replace Lilly with Belkin. Feeling that her teammate deserved to play, Belkin whispered, "I'm sorry" to Bates before entering the match.

Never Forget: One of the '91 team's biggest fears, according to Heinrichs, is that today's players will lose touch with the national team's humble beginnings, which laid the foundation for USA mentality. The mental toughness of the squad was apparent in their motto toward fitness -- "You'll pass out before you die." Citing a Phil Jackson quote, "The team itself must be the leader of itself," Heinrichs explained that the '91 roster was full of quality leaders. Imploring today's players to maintain old school values, she concluded her acceptance speech: "Nothing came easy for the '91 team. Everything was earned."

The Proud Coach: Speaking after Heinrichs, Dorrance applauded the members of the '91 squad for feeling "passionately responsible for the game." He added that he could not be more proud of the legacy and the standards that the '91 team, the guardians of the American women's game, were leaving behind.

New Addition: The Hall of Fame unveiled the new WUSA exhibit after the induction ceremonies. The exhibit consists of replica lockers of Atlanta's Briana Scurry, Bay Area's Brandi Chastain, Boston's Kristine Lilly, Carolina's Carla Overbeck, New York's Tiffeny Milbrett, Philadelphia's Lorrie Fair, San Diego's Julie Foudy and Washington's Mia Hamm.

Weather report: On the morning of the Hall of Fame Game, snow covered cars and dusted the grass. During the match itself, flurries were seen floating through the air. With highs only in the mid-forties, many players donned gloves out on the field and Boston keeper Karina LeBlanc wore a winter hat.

In her own words: "It was a day to celebrate soccer," said Kristine Lilly. "They're honoring the '91 World Cup team that started this whole thing with women's soccer. It was great to see all my old teammates and friends. It was great that they had a game here to give the fans what soccer is now professionally. It was a good day all around."

(c)womenssoccer.com 2001