This Saturday, 320 of the world’s finest women soccer players
will converge on New Jersey’s Giants Stadium for the opening of the
third quadrennial Women’s World Cup. Among them will be two San Diego
stars; Escondido’s Shannon MacMillan and Chula Vista’s Linnea Quinones.
MacMillan, a veteran of the ‘96 Gold Medal
U.S. Olympic Team, will try and reprise the magic she created in Atlanta
where she scored two game-winning goals and led the United States to victory.
Quinones will capitalize on her dual citizenship status and be in the nets
for Mexico.
TheTricolores, as Mexico is known, will be making
its first ever appearance in the Women’s World Cup. As one of the
tournament’s weaker teams aligned in a group considered to be the strongest,
Mexico and Quinones in particular, will have their hands full.
Both MacMillan and Quinones are looking forward
to the challenge. The two players met at the Rose Bowl when their teams collided
on March 28. Each played a significant role in that game’s outcome.
While officially a 3-0 United States triumph, the game was also a moral victory
for Mexico, since they had lost their three previous match-ups with the United
States by a combined score of 30-0.
Mexico vastly
improved
It was MacMillan who sparked what had been a
frustrated U.S. attack late in the first half. With a brilliant cross from
the right corner on to the head of Julie Foudy, MacMillan gained an assist
on the first goal.
Quinones bravely withstood a 42 shot American
bombardment notching an incredible sixteen saves and eliciting the praise
of friend and foe alike.
“Linnea brings a lot of heart and soul to
her team,” says MacMillan. “She goes out there and battles every
time. Her leadership qualities will help carry them into the future. As a
whole, Mexico is getting better.”
The 22 day tournament will be the culmination
of years of competition and struggle, some of which was played out on the
same fields familiar to today’s San Diego county soccer moms (and
dad’s).
Little more than a year ago, the eighteen year
old Quinones was fending off shots on behalf of her high school team, the
Bonita Vista Barons.
Her coach at the time was Ron Pietila.
“Linny was a player who was always loyal, committed and focused. And
she wasn’t afraid of hard work. It seems almost surreal, the idea of
her playing before tens of thousands (as well as a national television
audience).” To her credit, Quinones took a break from her training schedule
to provide sideline moral support to her former Baron teammates during their
CIF playoff games. Those teammates will undoubtedly return the favor and
join others from her collegiate team, SDSU, as well as her old clubs, the
Rebels and the Nomads, in following her this summer.
Versatility key to McMillan,
US success
MacMillan, a two-time CIF Player of the
Year for San Pasqual High, played club soccer with Tom Schwartz first with
Pegasus, then later with the Nomads. Playing a major role in back to back
state championships (‘91-’92) it was apparent that “Mac”
as she is known on the national team, was destined for greatness. She has
fond memories of her stint with Schwartz. “Tom was one of the first
coaches who gave me my flair. He ingrained it in me that I was a take-on
artist and a goal scorer. He spent a lot of time showing me moves and me
with my shooting.”
“I started coaching her at age twelve with
Pegasus,” Schwartz said. “Right from the start she had an obvious
talent that I’d not seen before. She had the ability to score goals
at will in practice by hitting the ball hard and putting it in the right
place.” She parlayed her local club and high school career into a stellar
four year stint with the University of Portland.
In her senior year, she was awarded the Missouri
Athletic Club’s Collegiate Player of the Year as well as the equally
prestigious Hermann Trophy. But, despite all her success, it hasn’t
been an easy road for MacMillan. Injuries have at times, slowed her down.
But after each one she has regained her form as well as her place on the
national team. Versatility is one of the reasons.
Prior to the ‘96 Olympics, MacMillan was
asked to leave her comfort zone atop the U.S. attack and learn a new position;
right flank midfield. At first, it felt awkward for MacMillan, who as a striker
was one of the most prolific scorers in collegiate history. But with an
ever-present possibility of injuries and a roster limit of twenty, it is
crucial to have players who can contribute in more than one position.
MacMillan is one such player. She not only mastered
what was then a new position, she, perhaps more than anyone, was responsible
for America’s success in grabbing the sport’s first ever Olympic
Gold Medal.
“With Shannon out on the flank, it
gives us a player who is very comfortable in front of the goal,” says
her coach, Tony DiCicco. “She is someone who can provide wonderful flank
service and you can see how devastating her corner kicks can be. There is
also always the option of playing her on top.”
“I’m ready for whatever Tony needs,
whether we use a 4-3-3 or a 3-4-3” MacMillan confides, “ I’ll
play wherever he needs me whether it is for a full game, a full half or
whatever.”
Mexico has "everything to
gain"
Expectations for Quinones’ Mexican
team and MacMillan’s U.S. squad are completely different. Despite the
rapidly improving competition, the U.S. is favored to capture their second
World Championship on July 10 at the Rose Bowl. Mexico has no such hopes.
“Our coach, (former SD Socker, Leonardo Cuellar) tells us that we have
nothing to lose and everything to gain since nobody expects us to do well
this summer,” explains Quinones. “I just love to play the game
and couldn’t be more excited about playing great teams like Brazil and
Germany. Playing in the World Cup is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
The United States and Mexico open the tournament
with a double-header on June 19 at Giants Stadium. The U.S. plays Denmark
at noon on ABC and Mexico battles Brazil at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN. The U.S. then
departs for Chicago and on June 24 plays Nigeria at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Mexico’s June 24 game vs. Germany in Portland,
will be aired the following day at 12:30 A.M. on ESPN.
The U.S. and Mexico team up for another
double-header from Foxboro Mass. on June 27. The U.S. takes on Korea
at 4:00 p.m. on ESPN2. after Mexico faces Italy at 1:30. The Mexico-Italy
match-up will be shown on ESPN2 at 12:30 A.M. on June 28 (All times are PST).
