The 1985 United States women's national soccer team was the first USWNT to play international matches. The team played four matches in Jesolo, Italy, at the Mundialito tournament, losing three and drawing one of the matches.

Coaches

NamebirthdateWNT coaching yearsUniversitypositioncareer matchescomments
Mike RyanFebruary 14, 19351985Head coachA steelworker and soccer coach in Seattle
Roger Rogers1985Assistant coachFounder, Women's Soccer World Magazine

Players

NameBirthdateWNT team member yearsUniversityPositionCareer caps (goals)Notes
Michelle AkersFebruary 1, 19661985–2000Central Floridaforward153 (105)Against Denmark, scored first US international goal.[1]
Pam Baughman CornellOctober 25, 19621985George Mason4 (1)
Denise BenderJuly 29, 19591985Washingtondefender4 (0)Team captain[2]
Denise Boyer-MerdichJune 8, 19621985–1987Puget Soundmidfielder7 (l)
Tara BuckleyNovember 1, 19621985Connecticut2 (0)
Lori BylinOctober 8, 19641985Puget Sound4 (0)
Stacey EnosFebruary 4, 19641985–1986North Carolinadefender10 (0)
Linda GancitanoJanuary 24, 19621985Central Floridadefender2 (0)Substitute for Denise Bender in first international game; torn ACL in 1986 ended career[3]
Cindy GordonNovember 14, 19621985–1988Western Washingtonmidfielder6 (0)
Ruth HarkerJune 28, 19631985Missouri – St. Louisgoalkeeper2 (0)
Tuca HealeySeptember 20, 19621985Californiaforward3 (0)
Lori HenryMarch 20, 19661985–1991North Carolinadefender39 (3)
Sharon McMurtryOctober 31, 19601985–1986Seattlemidfielder6 (0)inaugural U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year in 1985
Ann OrrisonJune 29, 19611985–1986Virginiadefender5 (0)
Emily PickeringFebruary 1, 19631985–1992North Carolinamidfielder15 (2)Assist on first US international goal; scored second goal against Denmark[1]
Kathy RidgewellMay 18, 19651985–1987Western Washington3 (0)
Kim WyantFebruary 11, 19641985–1987, 1993Central Floridagoalkeeper9 (0)[4]

Creation of the team

A national women's soccer team had been selected in 1982, 1983, and 1984 but never played together. Club teams had represented the United States in international tournaments, with the Dallas Sting winning the first title for the United States at a FIFA-sanctioned world tournament in 1984.[5] With interest growing in women's soccer, about 70 women, mostly players on University teams, were invited to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to participate in the 1985 Olympic Sports Festival, the first time women's soccer was included among the events.[6] As the players sat on the field at the end of the festival, coach Mike Ryan selected a team of 17 players, all under 25 years of age to play in a tournament in Jesolo, Italy. The team was issued men's practice uniforms and practiced for three days at the C.W. Post campus of Long Island University. Team members were each given a pair of cleats and $10 a day for food, and sewed the "USA" decal on the front of their shirts the night before flying to Italy.[7]

The tournament in Jesolo

The Italians greeted the American team enthusiastically and chanted "Ooosa!" (USA), a pre-game chant that the U.S. team adopted for itself.[8] The U.S. team responded by leading a cheer for the Italian team during a game. The Americans were the guests of honor at a rock concert and Michelle Akers, Emily Pickering, and Linda Gancitano were invited to model clothing for a photo shoot. The Americans were unaccustomed to the large and enthusiastic crowds, numbering several thousand people, attending the games.[3]

All did not go well on the playing field for the American team. In their first match, on August 18, 1985, the Americans, accustomed to a polite women's game as it was then in the United States, were out-played by an experienced and physical Italian team and lost 1–0. Carolina Morace struck the Italians' winning goal.[9] Akers and Pickering missed that game because of injuries.[10] On August 21, the U.S. team found their footing and tied Denmark 2-2, with Akers and Pickering scoring goals. They then lost to England and to Denmark in a rematch.

Results

Date Location Opponent Result U.S. scorers
August 18, 1985 Jesolo, Italy Italy Loss 0–1
August 21, 1985 Jesolo, Italy Denmark Tie 2–2 Akers, Pickering
August 23, 1985 Caorle, Italy England Loss 1–3 Akers
August 24, 1985 Jesolo, Italy Denmark Loss 0–1

Aftermath

The team disbanded after the Jesolo tournament. A national team with several new players and a new coach, Anson Dorrance, reassembled in 1986 to play again in Jesolo and at the national soccer complex in Blaine, Minnesota. The team record was better in 1986, with five wins and two losses.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 "U.S. WNT Flashback – 20th Anniversary of First-Ever Match: Who Scored First?". U.S. Soccer Federation. August 18, 2005. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  2. ↑ "US Women Set to Face Mexico in San Diego". U.S. Soccer Federation. March 26, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  3. 1 2 "U.S. WNT Flashback - 20th Anniversary of First-Ever Match: Linda Gancitano". U.S. Soccer Federation. August 18, 2005. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Kim Wyant - Women's Soccer (1982-85) - Class of 2010". University of Central Florida Athletics. Archived from the original on September 14, 2016. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  5. ↑ Townsend, Brad (July 3, 2015). "Where it all started: How Dallas-area Sting team paved the way for the United States' Women's World Cup team". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  6. ↑ "U.S. WNT Flashback - 20th Anniversary of First-Ever Match: Player Reflections". U.S. Soccer Federation. August 18, 2005. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  7. ↑ Griendlin, Bob (November 6, 2000). "U.S. Soccer: The 17 women who blazed an amazing trail". Soccer America. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  8. ↑ "U.S. WNT Flashback - 20th Anniversary of First-Ever Match: Ooosa!". U.S. Soccer Federation. August 18, 2005. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  9. ↑ "ITALIA-USA" (in Italian). Italian Football Federation. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  10. ↑ "U.S. WNT First Games". U.S. Soccer Federation. January 27, 2005. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Women's Soccer History in the USA: An Overview". Archived from the original on September 18, 2016. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
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