WSW USA National Team News

June 28, 2001

USA arrives in Toronto to prepare for Independence Day series

The U.S. National Team arrived in Canada late yesterday. The only absence being the world's all-time caps leader, Kristine Lilly, who was finishing up the Kristine Lilly Soccer Academy, the soccer camp she runs every summer back in her hometown of Wilton, Conn. Lilly arrived on Wednesday night and will train with the USA in a rare evening training on Thursday night.

The U.S. squad has not played a domestic game since December 17, 2000, when they tied Japan, 1-1, in Phoenix, Arizona. Brandi Chastain scored for the USA. Although the USA and Canada have played each other 26 times, the Independence Day Series carries some added spark as the USA has failed to beat Canada in the last three meetings, including losses in the last two games, after having reeled off 21 consecutive wins from 1986-2000. The all-time record stands at 22-3-1 for the Americans.

Independence
The USA's match in Canada comes the day before Canada Day, which celebrates the events that occurred on July 1, 1867, when the British North America Act created the Canadian federal government. The match in Blaine comes one day before the USA's Independence Day. The USA has not faced Canada in Canada since May 22, 1995, a 2-1 U.S. win in a in a friendly before the 1995 Women's World Cup. Tiffeny Milbrett and Natalie Neaton scored for the USA. Milbrett is the only U.S. player who played in that match who is on the USA's roster for the Independence Day Series.

Passports?
Several U.S. players were briefly held up going through customs upon arrival in Toronto as Jaime Pagliarulo, Siri Mullinix and Brandi Chastain did not have their passports. After convincing the customs officials of their U.S. residency and the fact that they were there to play an international match against Canada, the three players were allowed into the country and joined their teammates, who were waiting outside with their bags.

Toronto
The Independence Day Series marks the first time that the majority of veteran national team players have been together since December of 2000. The long-time teammates were happy to be playing with each other instead of against each other for the first time in months. U.S. Head Coach April Heinrichs conducted her first training session on Wednesday morning on a bumpy and thick pitch at De La Salle School on a muggy Toronto morning. The sharpness of the players coming together during the WUSA season was evident in a crisp and intense training session that lasted an hour and 20 minutes. The U.S. team ended training with a finishing game featuring 4 v. 4 inside a large grid with each team having four players on the outside of the grid as passing and crossing options. The game was not decided until a somewhat controversial "golden goal" by Shannon MacMillan, who came off the end line to score the winner.

Foudy close to 200th cap

Team captain Julie Foudy will join one of the most exclusive clubs in international soccer if she plays in either of the two-game during the Independence Day Series. Foudy's next match will be her 200th game for the United States. She will join teammates Kristine Lilly (225) and Mia Hamm (216) as the only international soccer players, men or women, to have played 200 times for their country. Foudy debuted for the national team at the age of 17 on July 29, 1988 against France.

Parlow about to earn her 99th and 100th cap
Forward Cindy Parlow will become the youngest player in U.S. history to earn her 100th cap if she plays in both matches during the Independence Day Series. The 23-year-old Parlow debuted for the USA on Jan. 14, 1996, against Russia in a match played in Brazil and has since become the sixth leading goal scorer in U.S. history with 45 career goals. Parlow was the USA's leading scorer in 2000 with 19 goals and seven assists, including four hat tricks.

Canada's WUSA Link
Five on the Canadian National Team roster are currently playing professionally in the WUSA and will be familiar with their U.S. opponents. Sharolta Nonen, Amy Walsh and Charmaine Hooper are among Canada's top players and play for the Atlanta Beat. Karina LeBlanc of the Boston Breakers may start in goal and forward Silvana Burtini of the Carolina Courage could see action.

Age differences.
32-year old Brandi Chastain is the oldest player on the U.S. roster. The youngest player is 18-year-old Aleisha Cramer, who was also the third youngest player ever to appear for the full U.S. National Team when she played against Ukraine on Dec. 16, 1998, at 16 years, 141 days.

Young players
Jena Kluegel, will be a senior at North Carolina in the fall and a top candidate for college player of the year honors.

Reddick and Cramer will be sophomores this fall. Reddick helped lead UNC to the NCAA title last year, starting her only game in the national championship match and earning Defensive MVP of the Final Four. Cramer had a spectacular freshman year, earning First-Team All-American honors for the Cougars.

Heinrichs to scout final games of UEFA Championship in Germany

Head Coach April Heinrichs will travel to Germany after the Independence Day Series to watch the end of the 2001 European Women's Championships.

Injuries

The U.S. Squad arrived in good shape and Lorrie Fair trained this morning and will be available for selection.