Soccer

Olympics:

1996 Summer Olympics: Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.

  • 1st Olympics for Women’s Soccer
  • Tish (Venturini) Hoch scored the first goal of Olympic competition
  • U.S.A. Gold Medal
  • China Silver Medal
  • Norway Bronze Medal
  • August 1st, 76,481 fans watch as the U.S.A. defeated China 2-1 in Athens, Georgia
  • Tiffeny Millbrett scored the winning goal for the U.S.

 

2000 Summer Olympics: Sydney, Australia

  • Norway Gold Medal
  • U.S.A. Silver Medal
  • Germany Bronze Medal
  • September 28th, 22,848 fans watched Norway defeat U.S.A in overtime 3–2 in Sydney, Australia
  • Dagny Mellgrem scored the winning goal for Norway

 

2004 Summer Olympics: Athens, Greece

  • U.S.A Gold Medal
  • Brazil Silver Medal
  • Germany Bronze Medal
  • August 26th 10,416 fans watched the U.S. beat Brazil 2–1 in overtime at Karaskaki Stadium in Athens, Greece
  • Abby Wambach scored the winning goal for the U.S.

 

World Cup:

1991 World Cup: China

  • U.S.A. Champions
  • Norway runner up
  • Sweden 3rd place
  • November 30th U.S.A. beat Norway 2–1 in Final
  • Michelle Akers scores winning goal
  • 65,000 fans watched at Guangzhou Tianhe Stadium

 

1995 World Cup: Sweden

  • Norway Champions
  • Germany runner up
  • U.S.A. 3rd place
  • June 18th, Norway beat Germany 2–0 in Final
  • 17,000 fans watched

 

1999 World Cup: U.S.A

  • U.S.A. Champions
  • China runner up
  • Brazil 3rd place
  • July 10th, U.S.A. beat China 5–4 in penalty kicks
  • 90,185 fans watched at the Rose bowl in Pasadena, Ca.
  • Kristine Lilly heads the ball of the line to keep the U.S. alive.
  • Carla Overbeck, Joy Fawcett, Kristine Lilly, Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain took the penalty kicks
  • Brandi Chastain scored the last penalty kick to win.

 

2003 World Cup: U.S.A. (S.A.R.S. China was host)

  • Germany Champions
  • Sweden runner up
  • U.S.A. 3rd place
  • October 12th, Germany beat Sweden in overtime 2–1
  • Maren Meinert and Nia Kuenzer score for Germany
  • Hanna Ljungberg scores for Sweden
  • Game was at the Home Depot Center in Carson Ca.
  • attendance at this game was 26,137

 

2007 World Cup: China

  • Germany Champions
  • Brazil runner up
  • U.S.A 3rd place
  • September 30th, Germany defeats Brazil 2–0 in Shanghai China.
  • Birgit Prinz and Simone Laudehr scored the goals.
  • Game was played at Shanghai Hongkou Football Stadium in Shanghai China.
  • attendance at this game was 31,000

 

Full Bio

U.S. National Team: Retired on Jan. 5, 2011, as the world’s all‑time appearance leader with 352 caps … Hung up her boots at age 39 as perhaps the game’s most accomplished player and certainly one of the most successful and decorated female athletes in United States history … Scored 130 goals in her career, second only to Mia Hamm in U.S. history … She played in five FIFA Women’s World Cups (the only woman to do so) and three Olympic Games, helping the USA win four of those tournaments, finishing second once and third three times … Lilly scored in every world championship tournament she played, except her first, the 1991 FIFA Women’s World Cup when she was 20 years old … She is the only player to appear for the United States in four different decades and is both the youngest and oldest player to ever score a goal for the USA … Lilly debuted for the USA in just the 16th match ever played by the U.S. women on Aug. 3, 1987, at the age of 16 years, 12 days, making her the second youngest player ever to don a U.S. jersey behind Mia Hamm … She is also the oldest player ever to earn a cap by more than three years over long-time teammate Joy Fawcett … She captained the U.S. Women’s National Team from 2005-2007 … From 1991 through 2007, Lilly played more than 1,200 minutes for the National Team except for 2001 when the USA played 10 matches, 2005 when the USA played nine … Streak ended when she got pregnant in 2008 … Prior to the 2008 Olympics, Lilly played in every match the U.S. Women’s National Team ever played in Women’s World Cup and Olympic competition, starting all but one … In 2006, she became the first and maybe the last player to hit 300 caps, earning her 300th against Norway at the Four Nations Tournament in China in a game in which she scored and had an assist … In 2000, she became the first player in history, man or woman, to play in 200 career internationals when she played against Canada in the championship of the Nike U.S Women’s Cup on May 7 in Portland, Ore. … The second all‑time leading scorer in U.S. and world history and the all-time leader in minutes played … Through the end of 2007, before she got pregnant, she had played in 85% of the games the U.S. women have ever played … Entering 2010, she has still played in 76% of the matches the USA has ever playedEven more amazingly, throughout her career, she had started in 330 of her 352 games, meaning she came off the bench just 22 times in her 25-year career, seven of those coming in 2010 … She played 28,700 minutes in her national team career, which is over 460 hours spent on the soccer field for the USA… Her 105 career assists are second only to Mia Hamm … During her career, Lilly 1) played against 39 different countries, 2) scored against 30 different countries, 3) played in 21 countries and 4) scored in 16 countries … Her 130th and final goal came fittingly against Germany on May 22, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio

2010: Played in 10 matches, starting three, and scored one goal with two assists … Played in three matches at the CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament, starting one …

2009: Did not play a match for the U.S. WNT …

2008: The world’s all-time appearance leader, she has stepped away from soccer to have a baby daughter, Sidney, who was born on her birthday on July 22, 2008 … She captained the U.S. Women’s National Team from 2005-2007 … The only player in history to play in five FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments … Not counting 2001 when the USA played 10 matches, 2005 when the USA played nine, and 2008, when she was pregnant, Lilly played more than 1,200 minutes for the National Team every year since 1991 … She appeared for the United States in three different decades … She scored in every world championship tournament she has played, except the 1991 Women’s World Cup when she was 20 … Prior to the 2008 Olympics, Lilly played in every match the U.S. Women’s National Team ever played in Women’s World Cup and Olympic competition, starting all but one … In 2006, she became the first and maybe the last player to hit 300 caps, earning her 300th against Norway at the Four Nations Tournament in China in a game in which she scored and had an assist … In 2000, she became the first player in history, man or woman, to play in 200 career internationals when she played against Canada in the championship of the Nike U.S Women’s Cup on May 7 in Portland, Ore. … The second all-time leading scorer in U.S. and world history and the all-time leader in minutes played … Through the end of 2007, before she got pregnant, she had played in 85% of the games the U.S. women have ever played … Entering 2009, she has still played in 78% of the matches the USA has ever played … Even more amazingly, through the end of 2008, she had started in 327 of her 342 games, meaning she has come off the bench just 15 times in her 23-year career … She played more than 28,000 minutes in her national team career, which is over 460 hours spent on the soccer field for the USA… Her 103 career assists are second only to Mia Hamm … At the end of 2007 before she got pregnant, Lilly has also 1) played against 39 different countries, 2) scored against 30 different countries, 3) played in 21 countries and 4) scored in 15 countries … 2008: After having her baby in July, she returned to the U.S. team in December play in the final two matches of the year, coming off the bench in two victories over China …

2007: Finished second on the team in scoring with 12 goals and first with eight assists … Started 20 of the 21 games she played … Started all six matches in the Women’s World Cup, playing all but eight minutes of the tournament … Scored one goal in the WWC, against England in the quarterfinal, and had three assists … Scored the winning goal in the Algarve Cup championship game against Denmark … Scored a brilliant free-kick just 58 seconds into the 2-0 win over Brazil at Giants Stadium … Was honored in her home state on July 14 as the Governor proclaimed it “Kristine Lilly Day” and she assisted on the USA’s lone goal in the 1-0 win over Norway in East Hartford … Also scored against China, Mexico, Canada and Japan … Was named to the short list for FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year and finished seventh in the voting …

2006: Finished second in the voting for FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year … Started 19 of her 20 matches, scoring 13 career goals, her second-best ever total in a calendar year … She was named the U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year for the second year in a row and third time in her career … Led the team to the Four Nations Championship in China, scoring three goals and earning her 300th career cap against Norway on January 18, 2006 … Started all four games at the Algarve Cup, scoring two goals, the first of which moved her into sole possession of second place on the world’s all-time international scoring list for female players with her 108th career goal … Had spectacular tournaments at the Peace Queen Cup in South Korea, scoring three goals to take tournament MVP honors, and at the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup, where she scored the wining goal on a last minute PK in overtime to defeat Canada for the regional title, and was also named MVP of that tournament …

2005: Voted U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year, her second such honor, after also winning in 1993 … Started all eight games in which she played, scoring four goals with three assists … Captained the USA in all four games at the Algarve Cup, scoring two goals, both against Denmark, the second coming directly off a corner kick …

2004: Become the fifth player in world history to score 100 international goals when she tallied against New Zealand on Oct. 3 in Portland, Oregon … Scored three goals at the 2004 Olympics, all crucial in consecutive games against Australia, Japan and Germany … Also had the game-winning assist to Abby Wambach in the Olympic gold medal game, driving in a corner kick from the left side … Started all 28 games in which she played, scoring eight goals with eight assists while playing over 2,000 minutes in a year for the third time in her career … Finished fifth in the voting for FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year …

2003: Started 18 of the 19 games in which she played and was third on the team in minutes played with 1,410, making it 11 out of the last 12 years that she had played at least 1,100 minutes for the USA … Scored three goals with three assists, including two spectacular goals in the 2003 Women’s World Cup, one to open the tournament against Sweden and one against Canada in the third-place match … Started all six games in the Women’s World Cup, missing just 45 minutes of action …

2002: Started all 16 matches in which she played and was third on the team in minutes with 1,292 … Her nine assists were second on the team …Scored what could have been goal of the year on a brilliant volley against Costa Rica at the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup, helping the USA qualify for the 2003 Women’s World Cup …

2001: Played in just three matches for the USA due to a limited schedule, starting two of the games …

2000: Played in 34 matches, starting 30, and was second on the team in minutes played with 2,668 … Scored six goals with five assists, including a goal against Nigeria in the Olympics

1999: Played every minute of all six games to help the USA win the 1999 Women’s World Cup, scoring two goals with one assist … Scored the clinching goal against Denmark in the 3-0 opening game victory in front of her hometown crowd at Giants Stadium … Made one of the biggest plays in U.S. history when she cleared a Chinese header off the goal line with her head in sudden death overtime of the final … Nailed the crucial third penalty kick against China in the final to put the USA ahead after China had failed to score on their third attempt … Had her best scoring year ever in 1999 with 20 goals and eight assists (second on the team), becoming just the fourth player in history to score 20 goals in a year … Led the team in minutes played in 1999 with 2,397 … Was named the MVP of Nike U.S. Women’s Cup ’99 after being named to the All-Tournament Team at the ’95, ’96 and ’97 events …

1998: Became the most capped player in the history of the world on May 21, 1998, in Kobe, Japan, when she played in her 152nd game to pass Norway’s Heidi Stoere … In 1998, she set the U.S. record for consecutive games started with 62 … Long known as the best flank midfielder in the world, she also saw considerable action at forward in 1998 … Was a member of the gold medal-winning team at the 1998 Goodwill Games …

1996: Was a member of the gold medal-winning team at the 1996 Olympics … Played every minute of the USA’s five matches at the ’96 Olympics … Created the first goal in the gold medal game with a cross from the left flank …

1995: Her three goals at the 1995 Women’s World Championship in Sweden tied for the team lead with Tisha Venturini and Tiffeny Milbrett …

Pre-1993: Named U.S. Soccer’s 1993 Chevy Female Athlete of the Year … As a 20-year-old, she was a member of the team that won the title at the first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup in China in 1991 … First Appearance: Aug. 3, 1987, vs. China … First Goal: Aug. 13, 1987, vs. China.

College/High School: Named to Soccer America’s College Team of the Decade for the 1990s … Winner of the 1991 Hermann Trophy and a finalist in 1992 … Also won the 1991 Missouri Athletic Club Player of the Year Award … As a senior, she was UNC’s Athlete of the Year … A four-time First-Team NSCAA All-American, she was also a four-time First-Team All-ACC and All-South selection (1989-1992) … Had her UNC jersey number 15 retired in 1994 … Twice named the Offensive MVP of the NCAA Championship (’89, ’90), she helped lead the UNC to four NCAA titles from 1989-1992 … Completed her collegiate career with 78 goals and 41 assists … In 1991, she was a finalist for the Broderick Award as the outstanding female athlete in all of college sports, and was the second-leading scorer in the nation behind teammate Mia Hamm with 15 goals and four assists … Captained Wilton High School her junior and senior years, leading the team to state title as a freshman, sophomore and senior.

Professional/Club: Allocated to the Boston Breakers for the inaugural WPS season in 2009 … One of two players (Angela Hucles) to play for the Breakers in the WUSA and WPS … Was a founding player in the WUSA for the Boston Breakers and served as team captain … 2003: Started all 19 games in which she played, scoring three goals with four assists and was named First-Team All-WUSA for the third consecutive year, the only player so honored in the history of the league … Helped the Breakers to the playoffs for the first time … Led the league in fouls suffered with 54 … Voted as a starter to the WUSA All-Star Team … 2002: Started all 19 matches that she played for the Breakers, scoring eight goals with 13 assists … Finished tied for fourth in the WUSA in scoring and tied for second in assists … Was named First-Team All-WUSA … Named as a starter to the WUSA North All-Star Team … 2001: Played every minute in all 21 matches for the Boston Breakers … Scored three goals and led the WUSA with 11 assists … Was second in the league in shots with 76 … Was named to the All-WUSA First Team … Etc.: Played for KIF Orebro in the Swedish First Division for two months in the Spring of 2005 … Played in 1994 for Tyreso Football Club in Sweden along with U.S. National Team teammates Michelle Akers, Julie Foudy and Mary Harvey … Played professional indoor soccer with the Washington Warthogs in the Continental Indoor Soccer League during the 1995 season … Played four matches with the Delaware Genies of the W-League during the summer of 1998, scoring five goals with two assists … Played youth club with the Wilton Wonders.

Personal: Full name is Kristine Lilly Heavey … Got engaged to David Heavey on January 24, 2006, the day after returning from the Four Nations Tournament in China, and was married on October 20 of 2006 … Heavey is a firefighter in Brookline, Mass., at Station No. 6 … Daughter Sidney was born on July 22, 2008 … Graduated from UNC with a degree in Communications … Her hometown of Wilton, Conn., dedicated a day to her and honored her with a parade after she won the 1996 gold medal … When she returned to her home state play for the USA on July 14 of 2007, the governor of Connecticut proclaimed it “Kristine Lilly Day” … Road sign entering her town reads, “Welcome to Wilton — Hometown of Kristine Lilly, Olympic gold medalist” … After winning the gold at the 2004 Olympics, Wilton named a street after her near her high school – Kristine Lilly Way … Runs the Kristine Lilly Soccer Academy every summer in Wilton and Massachusetts and hopes to expand throughout New England … The Wilton High School soccer field was named after her following the 1999 Women’s World Cup victory … Enjoys music, reading, movies and shopping … Has the cutest golden retriever in the world, named Scribner, after the street on which she grew up … Has run several road races, including her first 5K at the end of 2003, in which she ran a 20:48 (beating one of her best friends, Jodi Sorrells, by 15 seconds) … Also ran a half-marathon in Atlanta in 2000 with her other best friend Elizabeth DeRosa … In December of 2004, she climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, the tallest peak in Africa, with Jodi and her husband Steven, but came up short of reaching the 19,340-foot summit by about 1,000 feet … Called her ascent “one of the most amazing experiences of my life” … Is a super-aunt of her brother Scott’s five kids… Is on the board of a nonprofit organization called Clifford’s Gift that helps raise money for the homeless … Has a website at www.kristinelilly13.com.

 

Photo Credit: Linda Cattone

Photo Credit: Linda Cuttone

 

“Representing my country in the World Cup and the Olympics was an honor and one that I will cherish.”