Though the USWNT had captured the 1991 Women’s “World Championship” (not World Cup), FIFA did not begin approving full-length matches and full sanctioning until the 1995 WWC. [Read more…] about Aug. 1, 1996 – U.S. Women’s National Team first title in FIFA-sanctioned tournament – U.S. 2:1 China, Olympic Games, Athens, Ga. (Att.: 76,489)
Largest crowd (50,484) for women’s sporting event in New England as the U.S. and Italy won 1999 Women’s World Cup group play matches. [Read more…] about June 27, 1999 – U.S. 3:0 North Korea; Italy 2:0 Mexico, WWC at Foxboro Stadium (Att.: 50,484)
Gambian Charlie Thomas, a former Harvard star, scored the first goal off a Clair De Boer rebound for the Boston Astros. Itamar Alves broke a 1-1 halftime deadlock in 49th minute. Myles “Dusty” Richard (who went on to coach at The Brooks School, guiding players such as Charlie Davies and Mike Fucito), was the Astros’ only U.S.-born player, according to Bob Monahan in The Boston Globe. [Read more…] about June 24, 1972 – Boston Astros 5:1 Delaware Wings, ASL game at Everett Memorial Stadium (Att.: 800)
Michelle Akers-Stahl (20’, 78’) made the difference for the U.S. Linda Medalen (29’) equalized for Norway. There was increased drama in the deciding goal as Akers-Stahl scored two minutes before the final whistle – the length of games was shortened to 80 minutes, 10 minutes less than normal. [Read more…] about Nov. 30, 1991 – U.S. 2×1 Norway. First Women’s World Championship final, Guangzhou, China (Att.: 63,000)
Kristine Lilly (b. July 22, 1971 in New York City) made her international debut while a 16-year-old student at Wilton High School (she led Wilton to three Connecticut State championships) in 1987. Lilly became the youngest player to score a goal for the U.S. in a 1-1 draw with China at Punyu on Aug. 13, 1987 and the oldest in a 4-0 win over Germany in Cleveland on May 22, 2010. [Read more…] about Nov. 5, 2010 – Kristine Lilly plays 352nd and final international match
The UConn Huskies women’s team pulled off a stunning upset in Storrs, Conn., and the Maryland Bays won the APSL title in a soaking rainstorm in Boston. [Read more…] about Sept. 22, 1990 – UConn upsets North Carolina; APSL championship game at Nickerson Field
Kristine Lilly’s 63rd-minute goal off a feed from ex-UConn star Alexa Borisjuk extended the Boston Breakers’ home unbeaten streak. The Breakers (6-8-7, 25 points) finished in sixth place for the second successive season, but became the first WUSA team with an unbeaten (5-0-5) home mark. [Read more…] about Sept. 14, 2002 – Boston Breakers 1:0 Washington Freedom, Michelle Akers Testimonial, Nickerson Field (Att.: 10,279)
The first four-figure home crowds in U.S. Women’s National Team history witnessed previews of the inaugural Women’s World Championship final matchup. [Read more…] about Sept. 1, 1991 – U.S. 1:2 Norway, NE Sports Museum Challenge Cup at Tufts University Ellis Oval, Medford, Mass. (Att.: 4,752)
Foxboro Stadium (1971-2001) was designed for NFL games and had no soccer specifications. But the facility ended up with a strong soccer legacy, serving as home to two professional teams (New England Tea Men, New England Revolution); playing host to six 1994 World Cup matches; two MLS Cups (including the inaugural final in 1996); several internationals, including World Cup qualifiers; plus nine matches in the 1999 and 2003 Women’s World Cup; and the initial Women’s United Soccer Association final. [Read more…] about Aug. 25, 2001 – WUSA Founders Cup final at Foxboro Stadium. Bay Area CyberRays 3:3 Atlanta Beat (Att.: 21,078)
Norway had the edge on the U.S. in the New England Sports Museum Challenge Cup, winning both editions of the tournament. Mia Hamm scored for the U.S. Women’s National Team, then sustained a knee injury in the second game, two days later. [Read more…] about Aug. 14, 1992 – U.S. 1:3 Norway, New England Sports Museum Challenge Cup at Ellis Oval, Medford, Mass.