1985 United States women's national soccer team

The 1985 United States women's national soccer Team played four matches in Jesolo, Italy, at the Mundialito tournament. The team lost three matches and tied one. This was the first United States women's national soccer team playing its first international matches.

Coaches

Players

Creation of the team

A national women's soccer team had been selected in 1982, 1983, and 1984 but never played together. In 1985, with interest growing in women's soccer, about 70 women, mostly players on University teams, were invited to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to participate in the Olympic Sports Festival, the first time women's soccer was included among the events.^[6] At the end of the festival, as the players sat on the field, a team of 17 players was selected by Mike Ryan. All of the players were under 25 years of age. The team practiced for three days at the C.W. Post campus of Long Island University. They were issued men's practice uniforms. They sewed the "USA" decal on the front of their shirts the night before they flew to Italy. Team members were each given a pair of cleats and $10 a day for food.^[7]

The tournament

The Italians greeted the American team enthusiastically and chanted "Ooosa!" (USA), a pre-game chant that the U.S. team adopted for itself.^[8] The U.S. team responded by leading a cheer for the Italian team during a game. The Americans were the guests of honor at a rock concert and Michelle Akers, Emily Pickering, and Linda Gancitano were invited to model clothing for a photo shoot. The Americans were unaccustomed to the large and enthusiastic crowds, numbering several thousand people, attending the games.^[9]

All did not go well on the playing field for the American team. In their first match, on August 18, 1985, the Americans, used to a polite women's game as it was then in the United States, were out-played by an experienced and physical Italian team and lost 1-0. Carolina Morace struck the Italians' winning goal.^[10] Akers and Pickering missed that game because of injuries.^[11] On August 21, the U.S. team found their footing and tied Denmark, 2-2 with Akers and Pickering scoring goals. They then lost to England and to Denmark in a rematch.

Results

Aftermath

The team disbanded after the Jesolo tournament. A national team with several new players and a new coach, Anson Dorrance, reassembled in 1986 to play again in Jesolo and at the national soccer complex in Blaine, Minnesota. The team record was better in 1986 with five wins and two losses.^[12]

References