Sports
Women's World Cup Success Inspires Local Soccer Players
A local player and coach talk about the United States National Team taking the field on Sunday hoping to claim the World Cup trophy.
On Sunday, the United States Women’s National Soccer team will again have an opportunity to be a part of history as the team plays Japan in the World Cup Final.
Pennie Fraczek, the assistant girls' soccer coach at , was at Gillette Stadium on Wednesday for the Manchester United versus New England Revolution game when they showed the women's World Cup highlights on the big screen.
“The place was absolutely packed. When they showed the goals from the game, everybody just went crazy,” Fraczek said. “It was awesome.”
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It's been more than a decade since Brandi Chastain ripped off her shirt as she slid onto the grass following a World Cup clinching goal versus China in 1999.
The month following the win, the Women’s National Team was idolized - showing up on every major talk show and magazine cover.
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They were a team of likable characters including Chastain, Michelle Akers and Mia Hamm.
That team put the sport of soccer back on the map in the United States.
During the past twelve years we have been teased by the women’s and men’s teams alike with their “close, but not close enough” feats in the last few World Cups.
But this year, in the quarterfinals against Brazil, “The Yanks” - as they are known on the International circuit - were down to the final minute when starting striker Abby Wambach headed a cross from teammate Megan Rapinoe into the back of the net to tie the game at two. The team won 5-3 in the shoot out to move on to the semifinals versus France.
For Regional senior and soccer player Joy Santarelli, it was the team's spirit and attitude that helped propel it past its World Cup opponents.
“To me ability and desire are very important to reach team and personal goals; The attitude and team spirit of the team means the most to me,” Santarelli said. “When you can create this on a team it opens the possibility to players not just playing their best but players trying to find their potential in key situations; USA's win over Brazil is great example of a team believing in one another.”
The United States bullied France in the final thirty minutes of the semifinal to move on to Sunday’s game with a 3-1 victory.
