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October 15, 2001

First Akers and now Gro Espeseth and Ann Kristin Aarones are hanging up their boots

Gro Espeseth and Ann Kristin Aarones today announced their retirement from soccer.

Gro Espeseth has had a chronic knee problem for some time and after receiving some blunt advice from her doctor, that included the threat of a knee replacement later in life if she continued to play soccer, she decided to retire. She was named to the 2001 WUSA Global-11 first team as she led a New York Power defense that was ranked third in the league. A stalwart of the Norewegian National Team for the last ten years she won a Silver Medal at the 1991 World Cup, a Gold at the 1995 World Cup, and a Gold Medal at the 2000Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

Ann Kristin Aarones was only able to play in fifteen games this year for the New York Power, startingin twelve of them. She missed the first five games due to an injured lower back/hamstring, but made an immediate impact scoring three goals in the first three games back. Aarones was among the most gifted strikers in the game and one of Norway's all time leading scorers. She played 111 games for her national side and scored 60 goals, playing in two World Cups, (1995, 1999) and the 1996 Olympic Games for Norway. Aarones was named to the MasterCard All-Star Team of the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup for her outstanding play. She won the Bronze Ball and Bronze Shoe award as the third leading scorer at the 1999 World Cup. She helped Norway win the 1995 World Cup, earning the Golden Shoe award as the top scorer.