By GERRY deSIMAS, Jr.
Connecticut Sports Online
HARTFORD, July 27 -- Seven years ago when the U.S. women’s Olympic soccer team made its last appearance in Connecticut beating a young Canadian team 4-0 on a sun-drenched afternoon at New Britain’s Willow Brook Park.
Mia Hamm wasn’t impressed with her three-goal performance while Connecticut native Kristine Lilly made another of her now-record 275 appearances. Now, Hamm and Lilly are among the five veterans of the U.S. team in the twilight of their amazing careers.
Hamm, Lilly, Brandi Chastain, Joy Fawcett and captain Julie Foudy have been with the U.S. national team since 1991. They helped the U.S. win gold at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 and take second in Sydney in 2000. The five take a final shot at Olympic gold in Athens next month.
But not before they face China in the final tuneup at East Hartford’s Rentschler Field on August 1 at 3 p.m. (ESPN2). It may be one of the final chances for Connecticut soccer fans to see some of legends that helped catapult the Americans to a pair of World Cup championships (1991, 1999).
Tickets ($18 to $50) can be purchased at all area Ticketmaster outlets, including Filene’s Stores, by phone at 860-525-4500 in Hartford or 203-624-0333 or online through ussoccer.com.
Lilly, the Wilton resident who led her Wilton High team to three state championships in the 1980s, scored made her national team debut in 1987 against China and scored her first goal in that game. She holds the international record for most appearances (275) and has scored 95 goals and 77 assists – second only to Hamm.
Hamm, arguably the most famous women’s soccer player in U.S. history, scored a historic 150th career goal on July 21 against Australia. She is 43 goals ahead of the No. 2 all-time player.
The U.S. will also display some its accomplished younger stars. A 19-year-old forward Heather O’Reilly and 20-year-old midfielder Lindsay Tarpley are on the squad.
O’Reilly came off the bench for a pair of assists against Australia earlier this month while Tarpley is the second-leading scorer for the U.S. this year with seven goals. Tarpley has shown that she can score under pressure when she popped an overtime goal into the net to lead the U.S. past host Canada in the final of the FIFA U-19 women’s world championship in 2002.
The leading scorer for the Americans this year has been 5-foot-11 Abby Wambach, who has 13 goals including the clinching goal in a 3-1 win over Australia on July 21.
Former University of Massachusetts goalie Brianna Scurry, the starter for the 1999 World Cup champion, is expected to start in goal.
China will be a tough team to beat. The young team features veteran defenders Fan Yunjie and Wang Liping along with forward Zhang Ouying. Star forwards Qu Feifei and Teng Wei give China scoring threats while defender Lie Jie and midfielder Pu Wei look strong up the middle.
U.S. vs. China
n When: Sun. Aug. 1
n Time: 3 p.m.
n Site: Rentschler Field, East Hartford
n TV: ESPN2
Notables
n This is the fifth appearance for the U.S. women’s team in Connecticut. The previous four appearances where all at New Britain’s Willow Brook Park Stadium with the last appearance in 1997.
n The U.S. is 14-1-2 this year.
n The U.S. holds a 13-8-10 record with China including six meetings in championship games, including the 1999 World Cup final and 1996 Olympic gold medal game won by the Americans.
n The last game with China was a 0-0 tie in January at the Four Nations Tournament in Shenzhen, China. The U.S. won the tournament.
