Legendary USWNT Goalkeeper Briana Scurry to Take First Kick at NWSL Season Opener
Former Women’s World Cup Champion Briana Scurry is set to take the opening kick at the 2016 NWSL season opener between the Washington Spirit and the Boston Breakers.
Briana Scurry, who will forever be remembered for her dramatic save during the penalty kick shootout at the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final, retired from professional soccer in 2010. Scurry was one of the founding players of the first women’s professional soccer league fifteen years ago — playing for the Atlanta Beat — and will kick off the fourth season of the successful NWSL.
Soccer News: Fifteen years and two days after Briana Scurry and Jim Gabarra helped launch the first professional women’s soccer league in U.S. history, both will take part in a new era of the sport as the Washington Spirit launch an unprecedented fourth season of professional women’s soccer this Saturday at the Maryland SoccerPlex (7 p.m. k/o).
Gabarra will once again preside over the home team on the sidelines, just he did in 2001 for WUSA’s Washington Freedom.
Scurry, a 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist and FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion, will perform the ceremonial kickoff immediately prior to the Washington Spirit taking on the Boston Breakers in the first of five scheduled National Women’s Soccer League games on opening weekend. As one of the founding players of the first women’s professional soccer league, Briana’s involvement will commemorate the momentous advancement of both the NWSL and the game of soccer for women.
“While reaching a fourth season of professional women’s soccer is a milestone, it is only just the beginning,” said Spirit owner Bill Lynch. “The NWSL is healthier than ever, with all eight original teams, two expansion teams, involvement from MLS ownership in three markets and future expansion plans. All are very positive signs that we’ve found the right business model.”
The Spirit have made the playoffs each of the past two seasons and have a strong core of veteran players, including reigning NWSL League MVP and Golden Boot (most goals scored) winner Crystal Dunn. They play a 10 game home season in the 10-team league, playing each team at home and away once, and facing regional rivals Sky Blue FC (New Jersey) twice at home and away. Saturday night’s game with Boston is the second time in team history they have been honored as part of the first game of the league season, but the first they will host.
The team ended reserved seating season ticket sales earlier this week, but will continue to sell the popular 10-game General Admission “Flex” plans as well as individually assigned seats to games all season while supplies last. The 2015 season included two sold out matches with two others near capacity of the 5000 capacity venue.
Source: Washington Spirit. Photo Credit: Chris Colvin/Washington Spirit
Related Article on Scurry’s retirement on U.S.Soccer
