Former Massachussetts star Briana Scurry has established herself as the top U.S. goalie and as one of the best in the world.
How badly do you want to play Norway again? How about Denmark, which beat you the last time you played? And China, Group C’s other powerhouse team?
The coaches give a diplomatic response, as do most of the players.
Briana Scurry gives a straight answer.
“I’m definitely looking forward to playing [them],” said the U.S. women’s starting goalkeeper, who faced Denmark in a 2-0 U.S. loss last March. “Denmark is pretty much payback — they caught us at a good time…. I think we can do well against them.
“Actually, I’d like to get a little piece of Norway. They’re the only team who’s beaten us more than we’ve beaten them. They beat us this year [in the Algarve Cup] when they got lucky on those two PKs there.”
Scurry has a right to be confident. The national team’s regular starter in goal for more than a year now, the former Massachusetts all-America went into the World Cup with 13 shutouts in 22 appearances.
She got a shutout (5-0) in her first start against host Portugal in the 1994 Algarve Cup and gradually solidified her hold on the starting spot.
A quick keeper whose talent extended to track and basketball in high school, Scurry emerged from a stable of goalies that included 1991 Women’s World Championship starter Mary Harvey, Saskia Webber and Jen Mead.
“Briana Scurry could easily be the best goalkeeper in the world right now,” says former U.S. coach Anson Dorrance.
Scurry says that competition in the U.S. women’s Florida training camp was tough, as it was for the other positions. But then as the youngest of nine kids, and given her collegiate experience, it was old hat to her.
At UMass, Scurry split time with Skye Eddy before the latter transferred to George Mason, and both went on to have all-America senior seasons.
“[The competition is] healthy,” Scurry said. “Since the team has been named, it’s been better. I have had no problems with Saskia or Mary. Compared with what I’ve been through at UMass with Skye Eddy, it’s a picnic.”
As the U.S. starter, Scurry will probably be in goal the whole World Cup for the U.S., which used Harvey in every minute of action in ’91. DiCicco, an assistant coach back then, says that barring injury or other unforeseen problems, he will likely do the same this time.
Stepping up
And while she didn’t have too much work against inferior competition on the recent Road to Sweden series, Scurry should see her share of action in the World Cup. The U.S. has a very good defense, but with the national team normally employing three defenders — Carla Overbeck, Joy Fawcett and Linda Hamilton —
Scurry has to deal with the occasional breakaway.
But, again, she’s used to it, having played with three in the back at UMass.
“Every now and then the [opposing] team will get a break,” said Scurry, who went to the 1993 NCAA final four with the Minutewomen. “That’s because our team [the U.S.] is so offensive-minded. Every now and then, there’ll be a breakdown and someone will get a counter.”
Scurry recently had a 381-minute scoreless streak snapped by Brazil in a 4-1 U.S. win. That goal came after the U.S. defense couldn’t win a header, and midfielder Sissi beat the U.S. players to the ball and fired a rocket past Scurry into the upper right corner of the goal.
“The goal that Brazil scored — it had nothing to do with Brazil,” said Scurry. “It had everything to do with a ball bouncing the wrong way. That’s when I have to step up, but she cracked it right by me… We’re not so high on ourselves that we don’t think we can’t be scored on.”
Scurry credits DiCicco, a noted goalkeeper instructor, with improving the overall team defense as well as goalkeeping.
“He’s brought a new perspective on defense,” she said. “Not to take away anything the team had in terms of defensive presence with Anson in the past. For example, the forwards are playing more defensively. That can only help. None of the offensive attack has been taken away.”
She plans on being the last line in that defense for at least another year or two. Playing in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta will be another big thrill for Scurry, but after that, she says, she’ll evaluate a future that includes eventually going to law school.
Until then, Scurry will be minding the U.S. net.
“No one can beat this team when this team is on,” she said. “It’s scary. We can pretty much dismantle any team in the world when we’re on. I don’t know what other country can say that.”
by Soccer America Associate Editor Dean Caparaz