Scholastic News Online: Print Version


      Top News


      U.S. Takes 3rd Place in 3-1 Win Over Canada
      By Michael Lewis 

       
      The U.S. national team closed out a disappointing Women's World Cup with a 
      3-1 bittersweet triumph over Canada on Saturday. 
      It was bitter because the Americans did not participate in Sunday's final 
      that pitted favored Germany against Sweden. It was sweet because they 
      claimed third-place in a hotly contested confrontation against a 
      much-improved Canadian side that appears ready to give the U.S. a run for 
      its money in future years.
      Each of the three U.S. goals represented some sort of milestone before a 
      crowd of 25,253 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.
      Kristine Lilly's 23-yard strike in the 22nd minute broke a scoreless 
      streak of 178 minutes dating back to the quarterfinals. Shannon Boxx's 
      header from point-blank range that broke a 1-1 deadlock in the 51st minute 
      was the Americans' 1,000th goal. And Tiffeny Milbrett's seven-yarder in 
      the 80th minute was the 99th of her career.
      Coach April Heinrichs' thoughts harkened back to the opener, when defender 
      Brandi Chastain was lost with a broken bone in her foot.
      "I'm prepared to admit now that the tournament's over, that the loss of 
      Brandi Chastain was critical to us," He