Adirondack Lynx

Lynx Players meet Carla Overbeck, listen to talk on role models

Former US National team captain was speaker for "National Girl's and Women in Sports" Day at Skidmore College

Friday, February 9, 2007
Saratoga Springs, NY

A number of players from the Lynx Soccer Academy, and Lynx WPSL team were in attendance to meet, and listen to, Carla Overbeck, the former captain of the US Women's National Soccer Team, speak at National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) recently.

Carla was the keynote speaker for the event held on the campus of Skidmore College. Overbeck, a United States National Soccer Hall of Fame member, and captain of both the 1996 gold-medal winning U.S. Women’s Olympic Team, and the 1999 Women’s World Cup Champion Team, has a long and illustrious history playing soccer for the her country at the international level.

Overbeck's fabulous career includes two FIFA World Championships, an Olympic Gold Medal, and four NCAA Division I Women's National Championships. Most famously, she was captain of the 1999 U. S. Women's National Team which defeated the China in the FIFA Women's World Cup Final held inside the massive Rose Bowl in front of almost 100,000 people while millions watched on international television in what was at the time the largest women's sporting event in history. She appeared in 168 games playing for the US National Team.

Adirondack Lynx players and students Marie Mutryn, Christina Boni, Devon Lutz, Lisa Tarquinio, Kylee Watt, Shannon Murphy, Whitney Frary, Courtney Gannon, Lindsay Bove and De Wachtel were in attendance as Overbeck talked about her own role models, one of whom was, surprisingly, Roger Staubach, former quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys. She chose him because she hails from Texas, and at the time there were so few female role models out there. Overbeck emphasized and wanted wanted young female players to understand that times have changed pretty dramatically. "There were no female role models back when I was growing up. Now with Title IX, all girls have better opportunities to pursue their dreams as they wish".

PJ Motsiff, manager of the Adirondack Lynx, noted the parallel of Carla's topic to the vision for the Lynx programs, "Carla Overbeck's visit to our area highlights the immediate need, and the kinds of things we want to regularly bring to all of our female soccer training and programs.

Carla Overbeck's visit to our area highlights the immediate need, and the kinds of things we want to regularly bring to all of our female soccer training and programs...”  - PJ Motsiff, Lynx Coach

Motsiff continued, "We constantly need to inspire our local female soccer talent to aim sky high with their goals and choose good role models. We need these girls to see that playing at the college, national, and international level is completely within their grasp if they are willing to put in the time and effort needed. We want them to meet top level players in person, and to see them playing on the field as often as possible so they can be a constant source of inspiration as the girls train in their clubs or with us."

As a Women's National Team (WNT) captain, Overbeck has one of the most impressive resumes in US women's soccer history. While Mia Hamm may get more media recognition because she scored the goals, remember that Overbeck was selected captain by her teammates and she ran a very tight defense that shut down many of the world's best scoring forwards.

She was always tough, steady and an emotional leader for the US team. She overcame both Graves Disease and major reparative knee surgery, not to mention becoming a mother, while playing at the highest level in the world. In a testament to her mental toughness, Overbeck played one of the best games of her career during the 1999 Women's World Cup Final against China. She drilled home a crucial and extremely high pressure first penalty kick in the shootout after the game ended tied. Carla was also a tremendously skilled player in the air while commanding the US defensive backfield.

As the US on-field leader, she was very flexible and comfortable playing with either three or four defenders in the back. This shows her versatility and ability to instantly adapt to opposing teams tactics. While rare to see, she was also exceptionally effective when on the attack and was always a key component on set plays, both on offense and defense for the US WNT. She retired from international competition following the 2000 Olympics.

The National Girl's and Women in Sports Day, now in its 21st year, is celebrated in all 50 states with community-based events, award ceremonies, and activities honoring the achievements and encouraging participation of girls and women in sports.

NGWSD was started in 1987 to remember Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman for her athletic achievements, and her work to assure equality for women's sports. Hyman died of Marfan's Syndrome in 1986 while competing in a volleyball tournament in Japan. NGWSD has evolved into a day to acknowledge the past and recognize current sports achievements, the positive influence of sports participation, and the continuing struggle for equality and access that girls and women face in sport.

Title XI is a federal statute prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender in federally funded schools. In its 35 years of existence it has really been the driving force behind the growth of girls and women's athletics in the United States.

"Carla is one of the best female role models we have in the United States", said Motsiff. "To this day she still maintains a very impressive work ethic among her peer group."

"We rarely get opportunities to see and talk at such a personal level with internationally known female role models like her way up here in upstate NY. It was great for these girls to know just how open the doors are for them because of Title XI, and because of players like Carla who blazed the soccer trail while always staying true to her own dreams and goals."

 

Related Links :

• Carla Overbeck's Soccer Career Highlights
• Women's Sports Foundation
• Carla at Duke University Women's Soccer
• Carla's National Soccer Hall of Fame Page
• Women's Soccer World
• Girls Soccer World
• Skidmore NGWSD Event Press Release