In 1999, I was 15 years old and had been playing soccer for a decade at that point in my life. As a kid and a teenager I was a complete soccer nut. I was playing on two select teams for my club JB Marine so at that point in my life, like today, soccer was just about everything to me.
The USA’s winning goal in the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup quarterfinal came off Shannon MacMillan’s first kick of the game, to her best friend, and forever sealed the pair together in U.S. history.
It was the summer before my sophomore year of high school in Trumbull, CT. It was the time in my career when I really enjoyed playing the game and tried to learn as much about it as I could. After our preseason captain’s practices, I would head home to watch the games.
After not playing in the first two matches of the 1999 Women’s World Cup, Tisha Venturini came off the bench to start the third group match and left her indelible mark on the tournament with two goals and one flip.
I have been so blessed with the love, passion and talent for the beautiful game of futebol or as the American say: soccer! This game is in my blood and deep into the core of who I am. I barely remember a time in my life where futebol was not a part of my everyday routine. My Father really wanted my brother to play the beautiful game but he couldn’t kick a ball across a room let alone across a field! I was discouraged by my family and told that this game is for boys not girls and I need to stop. Because I did not have a ball I would use my dolls heads as a ball or anything round and practice behind my family’s back. When my parents realized that my love for the game would not go away and my brother couldn’t play they decided to support me, never knowing how far the love for this game would take me.
I grew up in Arcadia, Calif., which is about a ten minute drive from the Pasadena Rose Bowl, where the ‘99 World Cup final between the U.S. Women’s National Team and the Chinese National team was held. In my eyes, because the World Cup was so close to home, girls from around the country were inspired to set goals and ultimately, to dream of one day playing for the U.S. National team. I was 12 years old at the time, and already had developed a passion for the game.