1985 United States women's national soccer team

The 1985 United States women's national soccer team was the first United States women's national soccer team to play international matches. The team played four matches in Jesolo, Italy, at the Mundialito tournament, losing three and drawing one of the matches.

Coaches

Name birthdate WNT coaching years University position career matches comments
Ryan, MikeMike Ryan February 14, 1935 1985 Head coach A steelworker and soccer coach in Seattle
Rogers, RogerRoger Rogers 1985 Assistant coach Founder, Women's Soccer World Magazine

Players

Name birthdate WNT team member years University position career caps (goals) comments
Michelle Akers February 1, 1966 1985–2000 Central Florida forward 153 (105) Against Denmark, scored first US international goal.[1]
Pam Baughman 1985 George Mason 0 (0)
Denise Bender 1985 Washington defender 4 (0) Team captain[2]
Denise Boyer-Merdich 1985–1987 Puget Sound midfielder 7 (l)
Tara Buckley 1985 Connecticut 2 (0)
Laurie Bylin 1985 4 (0)
Stacey Enos 1985–1986 North Carolina defender 10 (0)
Linda Gancitano 1985 Central Florida defender 2 (0) Substitute for Denise Bender in first international game; torn ACL in 1986 ended career[3]
Cindy Gordon 1985–1988 Western Washington midfielder 6 (0)
Ruth Harker 1985 Missouri – St. Louis goalkeeper 2 (0)
Tuca Healey 1985 California forward 3 (0)
Lori Henry March 20, 1966 1985–1991 North Carolina defender 39 (3)
Sharon McMurtry 1985–1986 Seattle midfielder 6 (0) U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year for 1985
Ann Orrison 1985–1986 Virginia defender 5 (0)
Emily Pickering 1985–1992 North Carolina midfielder 15 (2) Assist on first US international goal; scored second goal against Denmark[1]
Kathy Ridgewell 1985–1987 3 (0)
Kim Wyant 1985–1987, 1993 Central Florida goalkeeper 9 (0)[4]

Creation of the team

A national women's soccer team had been selected in 1982, 1983, and 1984 but never played together. Club teams had represented the United States in international tournaments, with the Dallas Sting winning the first title for the United States at a FIFA-sanctioned world tournament in 1984.[5] 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 1985 Olympic Sports Festival, the first time women's soccer was included among the events.[6] As the players sat on the field at the end of the festival, coach Mike Ryan selected a team of 17 players, all under 25 years of age. The team was issued men's practice uniforms and practiced for three days at the C.W. Post campus of Long Island University. Team members were each given a pair of cleats and $10 a day for food, and sewed the "USA" decal on the front of their shirts the night before flying to Italy.[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.[3]

All did not go well on the playing field for the American team. In their first match, on August 18, 1985, the Americans, accustomed 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.[9] Akers and Pickering missed that game because of injuries.[10] 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

Date Location Opponent Result U.S. scorers
August 18, 1985 Jesolo, Italy Italy Loss 0–1
August 21, 1985 Jesolo, Italy Denmark Tie 2–2 Akers, Pickering
August 23, 1985 Caorle, Italy England Loss 1–3 Akers
August 24, 1985 Jesolo, Italy Denmark Loss 0–1

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.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 "U.S. WNT Flashback – 20th Anniversary of First-Ever Match: Who Scored First?". U.S. Soccer Federation. 18 August 2005. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  2. ↑ "US Women Set to Face Mexico in San Diego". U.S. Soccer Federation. 26 March 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  3. 1 2 "U.S. WNT Flashback - 20th Anniversary of First-Ever Match: Linda Gancitano". U.S. Soccer Federation. 18 August 2005. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  4. ↑ "Kim Wyant - Women's Soccer (1982-85) - Class of 2010". University of Central Florida Athletics. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  5. ↑ Townsend, Brad (3 July 2015). "Where it all started: How Dallas-area Sting team paved the way for the United States’ Women’s World Cup team". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  6. ↑ "U.S. WNT Flashback - 20th Anniversary of First-Ever Match: Player Reflections". U.S. Soccer Federation. 18 August 2005. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  7. ↑ Griendlin, Bob (6 November 2000). "U.S. Soccer: The 17 women who blazed an amazing trail". Soccer America. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  8. ↑ "U.S. WNT Flashback - 20th Anniversary of First-Ever Match: Ooosa!". U.S. Soccer Federation. 18 August 2005. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  9. ↑ "ITALIA-USA" (in Italian). Italian Football Federation. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  10. ↑ "U.S. WNT First Games". U.S. Soccer Federation. 27 January 2005. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  11. ↑ "Women's Soccer History in the USA: An Overview". Retrieved 21 August 2016.
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