HEINRICHS NAMES MICHELLE FRENCH TO OLYMPIC ROSTER;
FORMER UNDER-21 CAPTAIN ADDS DEPTH IN MIDFIELD AND DEFENSE
2000 Olympics to Be First World Championship for Former Portland Star
CHICAGO (Monday, Aug. 28, 2000) - U.S. Women's National Team head coach April Heinrichs has named defender Michelle French to the Olympic roster to fill the spot vacated when legend Michelle Akers announced her retirement from international soccer last Thursday.
French, 22, was one of the four alternates named when the Olympic roster was announced on Aug. 10, and now moves onto the 18-player squad. The wonderfully skilful French is a four-year captain of the U.S. Under-21 National Team and helped lead the team to back-to-back Nordic Cup titles the last two summers. She has played on five consecutive Nordic Cup teams, also winning a championship in 1997, and has nine full caps with the national team, six coming this year. A left-footed player, she can play outside back, in the central defense or at flank midfield. Heinrichs named midfielder Aly Wagner to take French's place on the alternate list.
"Obviously, it's a completely unfortunate situation that Michelle was unable to play in the Olympics and I know that everyone will miss her a lot on and off the field," said French. "I really don't see myself as replacing her, because you can't replace one of best players ever. You never want anyone to get hurt, so I feel extremely fortunate to be getting this opportunity. I never stopped working hard just in case a miracle happened and I was selected, so I feel I'm ready to contribute and play any role that April asks of me. Really, I'm still numb. It's still hasn't sunk in. I didn't dream in a million years that I would be going to the Olympics."
U.S. National Team: A member of the 30-player roster for Olympic Residency Camp â*| Also named to the roster for 1999 Women's World Cup residency camp in Florida following a stellar senior season at Portland ... Played in one full international match for the USA in 1999 ... Called in to the full national team for the first time for the two matches against England on the 1997 Victory Tour presented by Nike, and earned her first cap against England in her home stadium at the University of Portland on May 11, 1997 ... A member of the U-21 National Team from 1994-2000 ... Captain of the 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 Nordic Cup teams, helping the U.S. to a championship in 1997 in Denmark while scoring two goals; to second place in 1998 in Holland; to another title in 1999 in Iceland and to a third championship in Germany this summer, playing a vital role in midfield as the USA defeated the hosts, 1-0. College/High School: A four-year starter for Portland, she finished her career by helping the Pilots to the 1998 NCAA Final Four ... A NSCAA First-Team All-American as a senior ... A MAC Award and Hermann Award finalist as senior ... Played in three NCAA Final Fours with UP, advancing to the championship in '95 ... A Soccer America Freshman All-American in '95 ... All-WCC honorable mention in 1995 and 1996 and All-WCC First-Team in 1997 and 1998 ... Moved from flank midfield to flank defender as a senior and had an outstanding season, earning herself a call-up to national team residency camp ... WCC Freshman of the Year in 1995 ... Started every game she played in her four years for the Pilots ... As a junior, her 14 assists were the second best season total ever to Shannon MacMillan ... Two-time Parade High School All-America at John F. Kennedy in Burien, Washington ... The leading scorer for the Lancers all four years, she won Washington high school state championships as a freshman and a senior ... Was team MVP all four years for JFK ... Scored 69 career goals in high school with 75 assists ... Also lettered in track & field, softball and basketball. Personal: Full name is Michelle Ann French ... Majored in Sociology at Portland. First Appearance: May 11, 1997 vs. England. First Goal: None.