The U.S. women’s national team will be a feature attraction at the 1997 U.S. Soccer Festival, which will be held Aug. 4-9 in Blaine, Minn. The festival, which is organized by the U.S. Amateur Soccer Association (USASA), was first staged last year in San Antonio after the U.S. Olympic Committee discontinued its U.S. Sports Festival in 1995. U.S. Soccer will be represented by the women’s national team, the girls U-17 national team, the men’s World University Games team (consisting mostly of players from the U-20 and U-23 national team pools), and the boys U-18 national team. The four U.S. sides will compete against four men’s and four women’s USASA regional select teams. Tickets are available at all Soccer Express stores in the Minneapolis area or by calling (612) 593-9192. During the week of the festival, tickets can also be purchased at the National Sports Center box office in Blaine. Following are the rosters for the four U.S. squads, and the tournament schedule.
U.S. Soccer Rosters
U.S. Women’s National Team
Goalkeepers — Tracy Ducar, Briana Scurry. Defenders — Brandi Chastain, Joy Fawcett, Holly Manthei, Christie Pearce, Thori Staples, Sara Whalen. Midfielders — Bryn Blalack, Kristi Devert, Julie Foudy, Jena Kluegal, Kristine Lilly, Tisha Venturini. Forwards — Michelle Akers, Mia Hamm, Angela Hucles, Kristine Keely. Head Coach: Tony DiCicco.U.S. Men’s World University Games Team
Goalkeepers — Matt Jordan, Andy Kirk. Defenders — Matt Chulis, Leo Cullen, Chris Houser, Richard Kotschau, Scott Vermillion. Midfielders — Lazo Alavanja, Andrew Gregor, Ben Olsen, Caleb Porter, Tanner Rupp, Johnny Torres. Forwards — Cesidio Colasante, Chris Klein, Clint Mathis, Brian West, Josh Wolff. Head Coach: John Ellinger.U.S. Boys U-18 National Team
Goalkeeper — Nick Rimando. Defenders — Carlos Bocanegra, Walter Carmargo, Steve Cherundolo, Michael Feller, Nick Garcia, Lee Morrisson, McKinley Tennyson. Midfielders — Kei Carroll, Matt Goldsmith, Mark Hogenhout, Caleb Norkus, Rusty Pierce, Shaun Tsakiris. Forwards — Christopher Albright, Isaias Bardales, Patrick Halter, Ryan Mack. Head Coach: Mitch Murray.U.S. Girls U-17 National Team
Goalkeepers — Jenni Branam, Sani Post. Defenders — Denielle Borgman, Tara Comfort, Anna Kraus, Jamie Parker, Lindsay Smart, Brooke Stastny. Midfielders — Lori Lindsey, Nancy Mikacencic, Danielle Slaton, Alyson Wagner, Kelley Worden. Forwards — Elizabeth Ball, Laura Gaworecki, Kelly Rheem, Mary-Frances Monroe, Abby Wambach. Head Coach: April Heinrichs.1997 U.S. Soccer Festival Schedule
Note: all times are Central.| Date | Time | Match | Teams |
| Aug. 4 | 6:30 p.m. | Men (Game #1) | U-18 national team vs. West (Region IV) |
| Aug. 4 | 8:30 p.m. | Men (Game #2) | World Univ. Games team vs. South (Region III) |
| Aug. 5 | 3:30 p.m. | Women (Game #3) | West (Region IV) vs. U-17 national team |
| Aug. 5 | 4:30 p.m. | Women (Game #4) | Midwest (Region II) vs. South (Region III) |
| Aug. 5 | 5:30 p.m. | Men (Game #5) | East (Region I) vs. West (Region IV) |
| Aug. 5 | 6:30 p.m. | Men (Game #6) | World Univ. Games team vs. Midwest (Region II) |
| Aug. 5 | 8:30 p.m. | Women (Game #7) | Women’s national team vs. East (Region I) |
| Aug. 6 | 3:30 p.m. | Men (Game #8) | South (Region III) vs. Midwest (Region II) |
| Aug. 6 | 4:30 p.m. | Women (Game #9) | Winner Game #3 vs. Loser Game #4 |
| Aug. 6 | 5:30 p.m. | Women (Game #10) | Loser Game #7 vs. Loser Game #3 |
| Aug. 6 | 6:30 p.m. | Men (Game #11) | East (Region I) vs. U-18 national team |
| Aug. 6 | 8:30 p.m. | Women (Game #12) | Winner Game #7 vs. Winner Game #4 |
| Aug. 7 | 6:30 p.m. | Men (Game #13) | U-18 national team vs. South (Region III) |
| Aug. 7 | 8:30 p.m. | Men (Game #14) | World Univ. Games team vs. West (Region IV) |
| Aug. 8 | 4:30 p.m. | Women (Game #15) | Loser Game #7 vs. Loser Game # |
| Aug. 8 | 5:30 p.m. | Women (Game #16) | Loser Game #3 vs. Loser Game #12 |
| Aug. 8 | 6:30 p.m. | Men (Game #17) | East (Region I) vs. Midwest (Region II) |
| Aug. 8 | 8:30 p.m. | Women (Game #18) | Championship match (Winner Game #12 vs. Winner Game #9) |
| Aug. 9 | 5:00 p.m. | Men (Game #19) | Fifth-place match |
| Aug. 9 | 5:00 p.m. | Men (Game #20) | Third-place match |
| Aug. 9 | 7:00 p.m. | Men (Game #21) | Championship match |
| Aug. 9 | 9:00 p.m. | Women (Game #22) | Women’s national team vs. U.S. Soccer Festival All-Stars |