In the effort to avoid confusion, Blues News wants to make it clear that in no way shape or form does the fact that this content is on the Blues Website infer that the U.S. National Team or it's Players endorse or recommend the Southern California Blues Soccer Club.
The soccer fields in San Diego just got a little
more golden. The gold-medal winning U.S. Women's Olympic Soccer Team
made it out to San Diego for a training camp from January 4-12, 1997
and played exhibition matches on January 11th and 12th at the ARCO Olympic
Training Center in Chula Vista.
USA Head Coach Tony DiCicco split his squad and played two matches on both Saturday and Sunday. The opponents were the U.S. Under-20 Women's National Team (also in camp in Chula Vista) and a team of Southern California All-Stars put together by Blues Staff Coach Tad Bobak. The SoCal All-Stars will feature numerous members of the Southern California Blues Women's Team and several members of the Blues Under-19 girl's team.
Nine of the 16 members of the 1996 Olympic Team were on hand to play including forwards Mia Hamm and Tiffeny Milbrett, midfielders Tisha Venturini, Julie Foudy Kristine Lilly and Shannon MacMillan, defenders Carla Overbeck and Brandi Chastain and goalkeeper Briana Scurry.
MacMillan and Milbrett scored in the Olympic Final at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga. as the USA defeated China, 2-1, to win the gold medal. Over 70,000 fans packed the stadium for the match, making it the largest crowd ever to watch a women's team sporting event.
The USA now sets it sights on the 1999 Women's World Cup which will be played in the United States and the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. Come cheer on the USA and take advantage of this rare opportunity to see the best players in the world close up, as well as some rising stars and the top college players from the 1996 season.
Blues players were Kris Bassler (UCSB), Christine Gluck (U18 Blues), Abby Gutowski (U17 Nomads), Amy Gutowski (USD), Amy Kroeger (Santa Clara), Karen Nance (UCSB), Heather Swanson (USD), and Michelle Voiland (Portland).
There was one game each day and although the Southern California Women's All Stars got hammered 4-0 on Saturday and 6-1 on Sunday, they did manage to give the National Team some live target practice.
All Star coaches Tad Bobak and Hugh Donald were disappointed with the overall results. However, they were somewhat pleased with Saturday's second half performance where they were able to keep the score 0-0; as well as Sunday's performance in which they were able to play a more rhythmical game and hold possession of the ball for longer periods during the game.
Those who went to the games in Chula Vista were treated to lots of great goals and prime time performances by members of the National Team. After the games members of the Blues youth teams stuck around with others in the crowd to get autographs and take pictures with their favorite players (photos below).
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 Under 12 Blues at Olympic
Training Center in Chula Vista with Larry's idol, U.S. Women's Team newcomer
Laurie Schwoy (UNC). (L to R) Alison Vislay, Stephanie Briner, Stacey
Lindstrom, Laurie Schwoy, Sheena Jarvis, Kaley Garza, Tessa Baker. |
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(Left) Same
group of girls with everyone's favorite, Julie Foudy. Alison Vislay
(right) just can't believe it! (Right) Foudy again,
this time with newest Blues player Tabitha "Rocket" Bunch (U10). |
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(Left)
Olympic Gold Medal Keeper Briana Scurry with the Blues. |
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(Left)
Under 12 girls again, this time with international super star Mia Hamm. |
