Tracy's Diary: Part One
June 25, 1999
Friday, June 18.....today is my birthday... I am 26. Wow! The team sang Happy Birthday to me at breakfast and again at dinner when they gave me a delicious cake. The team always celebrates birthdays when we are on the road. I am usually working camps during the summer and away from my family and husband, so today was a nice change to have all my team there for my birthday.
Today was our last practice before Opening Ceremonies! It was a light day for the field players, which meant less running and lots of finishing, so it wasn't really a light day for the goalkeepers. :-) The afternoon was the usual napping, movies, mall, etc.
After dinner we were treated to a private screening of the funniest skit we have ever seen. A few players and staff members had video taped their own spoof on the "Austin Powers" flick. It was better than the real movie...hilarious! I would tell you more about it ....but then I'd have to kill you.
Many of the parents, husbands, friends, and families arrived in NJ today. My Mom, Dad, and husband came by our hotel to visit with me on my birthday and throw me a mini birthday party in my room. It was fun.
During the World Cup we are going to stay at different hotels than our friends and families. This was a team decision to reduce distractions during this critical time. We miss our families, but we all agree that it is a sacrifice that we are willing to make if it will help us achieve our goal.
We got the word tonight that the stadium has sold out for the opener! That means 78,000-plus fans. That stadium will be rocking. We can't wait to play!
GAME DAY......this morning we ate and had some brief meetings. The mood is high energy -- ready to go, jittery....we have been giddy all morning, music blaring, and excited to go. Danielle Fotopoulos, my roommate, and I watched two specials on TV this morning...there was one on ESPN's Sports Center and then the Lifetime Special was shown on the Discovery Channel.
Just watching our teammates talk about the Olympics and watching the clips from the Gold Medal game were giving both of us chills. Most of us painted our nails red, white, and blue, and there was even a temporary dance party in the hallway. You would think we were U-14 club players at a weekend tournament! Some things never change no matter how old you get. Even at this level we still have fun, act stupid, and laugh all the time.
Our trek to the stadium took about 30 minutes. We had a police escort, which we needed because we hit a ton of traffic outside the stadium. We even had an extra bus that traveled behind our bus just in case ours broke down. These details that are important, but are strange to us because we have never had to deal with them before.
Pulling up to the stadium was great. The parking lots were full of fans tailgating and playing soccer. There was red, white and blue everywhere.
We had one last pre-game meeting and then we took the field for the first time to warm-up. Walking out of that tunnel was an experience I will never forget. Hearing the roar of the crowd and seeing a packed stadium gives you instant energy. When I stepped out on the pitch I felt like I could run forever. I didn't even feel like I had to warm up. It was such a boost, hard to fully describe.
After our brief warm up we returned to our locker room while the Opening Ceremonies commenced. I hear that the festivities were cool and that N'Sync mini concert was great. But we weren't able to see or hear any of it. We continued to run, juggle, and pass as much as we could in the confines of our locker room.
Finally it was 3pm -- game time! Both teams came out hard and looked a bit unsettled. We were a little off and seemed to be a bit nervous, and rightly so when you are playing your first game of the World Cup in front of 78,973 screaming fans! We survived a few early scares. I remember Bri making a couple of daring boxes up above the tall Danish forwards. And also Kate Sobrero making a couple of good last second sliding tackle/blocks that were critical.
As the game wore on, we got more into our rhythm and started possessing the ball more and creating some good chances. Then a nice long ball came across the field from Brandi Chastain, Mia settled it neatly, headed straight to goal and slammed home the first goal of the World Cup! She roofed it on the near post corner. The goalkeeper couldn't react fast enough. (I know the feeling all too well from playing against Mia, Mac, Millie, Parlow, Akers, and company everyday at practice).
We controlled play a lot more in the second half and generated even more dangerous chances. We knew we would score again it was just a matter of time. Then about mid way through the half Foudy scored on a goal that was strikingly similar to Mia's. And to top it all off in the final minutes of the game Lilly had a great individual effort dribbling across the 18 and cracking a great shot into the side-netting. It was fitting that she scored then too because she had just been fouled inside the box and deserved to be awarded a PK. It is just a tribute to the Lilly trademark work ethic. She just never stops. We left the field with one last lap -- cheering, clapping, and thanking the crowd for creating such an awesome atmosphere for us to play in. We weren't trying to take a 'victory lap' ... it was our way of saying thanks to 78,973 people, since we can't stay and sign autographs for all of them.
Side note: The reserve players take great pride in goal celebration. It has become a thing with us to create new and exciting celebrations. Today we had a huge 'mosh pit' after the first goal...we were ecstatic, jumping, screaming, hugging, and bouncing off each other. On the second goal we rushed the sideline to receive Foudy who ran over to us to give us her best "Austin Powers" pose. Yes, "Austin Powers" was the theme of the week it seems. And on the third goal we a had a dogpile. So at the next game be sure to check out the bench scene after a goal...you will be quite amused.
Next up, Nigeria, a.k.a. "The Golden Eagles". We suspect that they will be very fit, fast, and play with a ton of pride. This will be our first time ever playing an African nation. We are excited to play them and know they will be tough and looking to prove themselves against us. It will be a battle.