Fair Captains US WNT to Victory
September 9, 2002 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Philadelphia Charge News Release
Lorrie Fair not only became the second youngest player to earn 100 caps with the U.S. Women's National Team this past Sunday, but she also captained the team in its 8-2 romp of Scotland in Columbus, Ohio.
Fair, 24, began playing for the national team in 1996 at the age of 17. She appeared in her first game on February 4 of that year and later scored her first goal on May 30, 1998 against New Zealand. She was an alternate on the '96 Olympic team, the youngest member of the '99 World Cup winning squad and played 462 minutes with the 2000 Olympic team.
Only Atlanta's Cindy Parlow recorded 100 career caps with the national team at a younger age than Fair.
Charge defender Jenny Benson also reached a milestone on Sunday. Appearing in only her third WNT game, Benson earned her first start while also recording her first career international point with an assist in the second half that helped the U.S. go ahead for good.
Charge defender Heather Mitts also recorded a cap, coming on as a substitute in the second half for Kate Sobrero. Mitts, who is a native of Cincinnati, played in her third career game with the national team in front of friends and family.
Charge midfielder Stacey Tullock was called to the training camp leading up to the game, but didn't make the roster after suffering a minor knee injury.
Charge Ready for Rose Bowl
The Charge will be traveling this Thursday to Los Angeles, Calif., where they will be facing the San Diego Spirit in a friendly at the famed Rose Bowl. The game is part of an MLS-WUSA doubleheader that will also feature the LA Galaxy taking on the San Jose Earthquakes.
The game will be the first for a women's team at the Rose Bowl since the 1999 U.S. Women's National Team defeated China on penalty kicks to take the title. Lorrie Fair is the only current member of the Charge to have taken part in that game.
All-Star Fever
Charge players Marinette Pichon, Lorrie Fair, Jenny Benson, Melissa Moore and Jen Tietjen were all named as starters for the inaugural WUSA All-Star Game that will be held Saturday, September 21 at PGE Park in Portland, Oregon at 4:00 p.m. ET. Erica Iverson was named as a reserve on Monday, Sept. 9 to the North Team, which will be coached by the Charge's Mark Krikorian.
Pichon, the 2002 league MVP and Offensive Player of the Year, will start at forward, while Fair earns the start at midfield with Benson and Tietjen in defense. Moore gets the start in goal.
Sundhage Accepts Job in Boston
The Charge will take the field next season without one of the most respected coaches in the world, as former assistant coach Pia Sundhage accepted the head coaching position with the Boston Breakers on Thursday, September 5. Sundhage was an assistant for Mark Krikorian the first two seasons in Philadelphia, earning herself the reputation of being one of the premier defensive coaches in the league.
Under Sundhage's tutelage, the Charge allowed only 1.3 goals per game in the first season and a miniscule 1.01 gpg in the second year.
The Charge will face Sundhage and the Breakers at the annual WUSA Hall of Fame Game in Oneonta, NY on Monday, October 14. For tickets to the game contact the Hall of Fame at 607-432-3351 x. 203.
A Fresh Start
On Wednesday, Sept. 4, four Charge players were seen out and about at a number of elementary, middle and high schools in Philadelphia, encouraging students, parents and the community to get more involved in the education process.
The day kicked off with reigning WUSA MVP and Offensive Player of the Year Marinette Pichon and fellow forward Mandy Clemens taking part in a tour of 10 schools throughout the different districts in the city. Pichon and Clemens joined Philadelphia Mayor John Street, Gov. Mark Schweiker, State Education Secretary Charles Zogby and Philadelphia School District CEO Paul G. Vallas.
Later on in the afternoon, Charge midfielders Rebekah McDowell and Mary-Frances Monroe stopped by Mayfair Elementary School in the northeast to sign autographs and take pictures with students, parents and teachers during the school's Fresh Start program.
"It is great to see so many people at an event like this," McDowell said. "It's important for kids to be in school learning, but it is even more important for the students to know that they have the support of their parents and educators in the process."
Pichon also stopped by the elementary school after the tour was over, joining McDowell and Monroe in signing autographs.
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Women's United Soccer Association Stories from September 9, 2002
- MacMillan Named to WUSA All-Star Team - San Diego Spirit
- Fair Captains US WNT to Victory - Philadelphia Charge
- All-Star Reserves Announced - WUSA
- Charge's Iverson Named All-Star Reserve - Philadelphia Charge
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