Members of the United States’ 1999 Women’s World Cup team believe their most significant achievement may have been the extent to which they motivated girls and young women. The Times-Dispatch tested this theory by asking eight current or former members of the women’s soccer community in Central Virginia about the impact the 1999 team had on their careers. And ultimately, their lives: Bridget Kinealy, a rising sophomore midfielder at the University of Richmond, recalls driving from St. Louis to Chicago with her parents and older sister for the U.S. game against Nigeria on June 24, 1999. “My sister braided my whole head on the way, putting red, white and blue beads at the end of each braid.“ The accomplishments of the U.S. team, Kinealy said, “gave 10-year-old girls the desire and ambition to fight for their wildest dreams.“ Today, Kinealy and her sister, Colleen, both play Division I soccer. “The World Cup team made our dreams and ambitions seem possible.“ Katie Tracy performed with distinction at James River High School and the University of Virginia and later competed professionally in the WUSA (which has since morphed into Women’s Professional Soccer). She said her professional experience “was a direct result of the’99 team’s success and popularity. As a result of Bri’s save, Lil’s header and Brandi taking off her shirt, I played professional soccer in New York City. I couldn’t have dreamed that up if you had asked me in the spring of’99.“ Mills Godwin coach Ali Toole, a former standout goalkeeper at Godwin and the University of Maryland, was preparing for her junior season at Maryland in the summer of’99. “It was a great feeling to be proud not only of our country but also of our sport and our gender.“ She said the event “made women’s soccer what it is today” and had “a lasting effect on me as a player and later as a coach.“ Kristen Lescaleet, a rising sophomore midfielder at UR, said the ascension of the U.S. team didn’t affect her desire “because the desire was already there. But it helped me work harder and gave me something to look forward to.“ Richmond Kickers Destiny player-coach Jen Woodie, a former all-CAA performer at VCU, said the message delivered by the U.S. World Cup team “helped mold me into the person I am today and I am still learning from it.“ She said she found it nothing short of inspiring “to see how passionate and driven that particular group of young women was. I was already soccer crazy, but after the World Cup, I set higher goals. I wanted to go places and I wanted to use soccer as my tool.“ Sarah Kate Noftsinger, a standout midfielder at Wake Forest who later played with and against many World Cup athletes in the WUSA, marveled at the repercussions created by the 1999 team. “Without them,“ she said, “women’s sports in this country wouldn’t be where they are today. Because of them, being an all-American girl suddenly became OK. Female role models became more abundant and accessible. The list just goes on and on.“ Said Noftsinger: Had it not been for the’99 team, “who knows when the next defining moment in women’s sports might have happened?“ Carter Blair, a rising senior defender at UR, called the’99 World Cup “a major turning point for the American public, which was finally made aware of the incredible women’s program we have here; and for me, personally. It gave me role models I could relate to and try to emulate in my game.“ Collegiate goalkeeper Allie Albright said she “will never forget meeting the World Cup team, shaking their hands and asking for autographs. Brandi Chastain autographed a No.6 jersey for me.“ Albright, who will join the UR program in the fall, said the World Cup team taught her an important lesson: “Dreams do come true.“—Vic Dorr Jr.

Highlights : Hamm, Foudy and Lilly score for U.S.
  Highlights : Milbrett (two goals) ignites runaway
  Highlights : Scurry logs another shutout
  Highlights : Chastain atones for own-goal
  Highlights : Akers helps U.S. stifle dangerous Brazilians
  Highlights : Scurry and Chastain shine in shootout

School: Collegiate
  Year: Senior
  Position: Goalkeeper
  The skinny: A six-year career as a starter in goal has come to an end. The Cougars were 105-14-4 during Albright’s stay in the net. Opponents scored just 20 goals this season against the state runner-up Cougars. Despite playing in pain after missing half of last season with hip surgery, she was named to the all-LIS and all-state teams. She will continue in soccer at the University of Richmond.

Landon Donovan remembers the first time he played the Brazilians, when his under-23 team trudged off the field, victims of a 7-0 thrashing. “I haven’t beaten Brazil on any level,“ the U.S. forward said. “It would be amazing to do it [today].“ Amazing, unbelievable, spectacular—any adjective would apply.

Calm and collected but explosive and energetic, the Mills Godwin girls soccer team is one win away from the history books. After a 2-1 victory yesterday against Frank Cox-Virginia Beach, the Eagles will face Chantilly today at 2 p.m., attempting to become the first Central Region team to claim a state title. Clover Hill’s 2003 squad is the only other team to reach the championship.

The Mills Godwin girls soccer team has found its strategy: wait until the last possible second to score the winning goal to render a comeback virtually impossible. The Eagles did it in a 2-1 win in sudden death in the Central Region semifinal Wednesday, and they did it again in last night’s 1-0 victory over Atlee in the region championship game.

The past Sunday’s front page of The New York Times featured a story about soccer. The subject was not the pros or the World Cup or some sort of college championship but, rather, a game between teams in uniforms red and black. The red side, the paper reported, looked scruffy and had players from Haiti, Togo, Mexico, Honduras, and Harlem. They represent a homeless shelter. The black side looked sleek; its members work for the Royal Bank of Canada, a major institution in the financial sector.

The Cosby and Midlothian softball teams were ready to play their showdown game for first place in the Dominion District right on time. One of the umpires was not. After he arrived 35 minutes late, he made a close call on the first batter at first base that went Cosby’s way. Little did anyone in attendance on a cool, gray late afternoon at Midlothian know how much things would go wrong for the Trojans, who began the game ranked No. 2 in The Times-Dispatch Top 10 and undefeated in the district.

Wednesday’s results Monacan————————————- 0 2—2  L.C. Bird————————————- 0 0—0
  M: Rogers 2 Saves: Gray (M) 5; Bradley (LCB) 15 Records: Monacan 3-3 Dominion, 4-3; L.C. Bird 0-6, 2-6 St. Gertrude————————————- 0 0—0

Wednesday’s results J.R. Tucker————————————- 1 2—3  Henrico————————————- 1 0—1
  JRT: Major 2, Roland H: Rohani-Shukla Saves: Hessberg (JRT) 5; Mitchell (H) 10 Records: J.R. Tucker 4-0; Henrico 2-4 Monacan————————————- 1 1—2

Angela Hucles and her teammates on the United States’ women’s national soccer team gave the almost-home-folks everything they wanted.

The reigning golden girls of international soccer will bring their 24-karat act to Richmond next month. United States Soccer and the Richmond Kickers organization yesterday confirmed that the U.S. women’s national team, which won its second consecutive Olympic gold medal at the Beijing Games, will play host to South Korea on Nov. 1 at University of Richmond Stadium at 6 p.m.

Bob Jenkins began visiting Striker Park in search of talent. Now, he’s there to develop it. No Map Quest necessary in this hook-up; Jenkins and the Richmond Strikers go way back. Jenkins, recently named director of coaching/player development, was a college coach when he began going to the West End club on recruiting missions. “I remember scouting the Jefferson Cup and other tournaments there—always such great players,“ said Jenkins, who was a University Virginia assistant under Bruce Arena from 1989-91 and coach at American 1992-99. He led American to the NCAA quarterfinals in ‘97.

Virginia Commonwealth University’s men’s soccer team scored a goal in the 34th minute and then relied on a stingy defense to defeat the University of Richmond 1-0 tonight. It was the first time the crosstown rivals had played since 2006, and the first time the VCU Rams’ men’s soccer team had beaten the UR Spiders since 2004. The lone goal came off a free kick from near the right sideline. VCU’s Gerson Dos Santos sent a long ball into the box, where freshman Michael Denkewitz headed it over UR goalkeeper Brock Tomlinson and into the goal.