1991 World Cup Champions Honored At Soccer Hall of Fame
October 16, 2001 | Women's Soccer
Oct. 16, 2001
ONEONTA, N.Y. - The National Soccer Hall of Fame awarded the prestigious National Soccer Medal of Honor to the 1991 World Champions US Women's National Team in ceremonies held October 8.
UNC head coach and several former members of the Tar Heel women's soccer team were among the honorees.
"We are recognizing a group of amazing individuals who collectively changed the course of women's soccer history," Will Lunn, President/CEO of the Hall of Fame stated. "This will be only the third time in twenty years that we have presented this honor. Hall of Fame National Board member Dr. Henry Kissinger first presented it to Alan Rothenberg for his work with US Soccer and the World Cup 1994, and it was awarded again to Soccer Hall of Famer Lamar Hunt for his pioneering leadership in the sport for over thirty years. Sepp Blatter, FIFA President, has said the future of soccer is feminine. Now we are recognizing the founders of that movement."
The list of luminaries from this team is legendary, headlined by two Hall of Famers, April Heinrichs (1998) and Carin Jennings Gabarra (2000). Several players on the '91 team are WUSA founding players: Michelle Akers, Brandi Chastain, Joy Fawcett, Julie Foudy, Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly and Carla Overbeck. The team staff is also legendary with Head Coach Anson Dorrance of the University of North Carolina and Assistant Coach Tony DiCicco, who went on to lead the 1999 squad to another FIFA World Championship.
Other 1991 World Champion team members were: Amy Allman, Tracey Bates, Debbie Belkin, Wendy Gebauer, Linda Hamilton, Mary Harvey, Lori Henry, Shannon Higgins Cirovski, Kim Maslin-Kammerdeiner, and Megan McCarthy.
The Soccer Hall of Fame was originally established in 1950 by the Philadelphia Old Timers Association to honor the sport's greatest contributors on and off the field. The Hall moved to Oneonta, New York in 1979 where the first interim museum opened in 1981. The new $7 million museum opened in 1999 on the Hall's 61 acre soccer campus to rave reviews. The highly interactive, youth oriented museum tells the story of soccer in the USA from the earliest games played on Boston Common to the latest scores and standings. Rare artifacts include the world's oldest soccer ball and the FIFA Women's World Cup Trophy. In addition to the Museum, the Hall of Fame complex boasts an interactive Kicks Game Zone, a pro shop, a gift shop, library, office and meeting facilities. The campus' four world class soccer fields were honored with the 2000 "Best in the Nation" award by the American Field Turf Managers Association. They have been host to international teams from the USA, Brazil, Russia, Mexico, New Zealand, Canada, Chile and Saudi Arabia as well as local collegiate and high school championships. The Hall of Fame also offers a summer long tournament series for premier and club teams in every age category.
For museum, tournament and celebrity appearance information visit the Hall of Fame on the web at WWW.SOCCERHALL.ORG. The Hall of Fame plans to add a year round indoor soccer arena and stadium in the future. For additional information contact Jack Huckel at the National Soccer Hall of Fame (607) 432-3351 ext. 209.