[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8378]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    CONGRATULATIONS TO THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. KAREN L. THURMAN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 4, 1999

  Mrs. THURMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the University of 
Florida Women's Soccer Team. The Gators brought home the 1998 NCAA 
Women's Soccer Championship in only their fourth year of existence. 
Women's soccer is a relatively new competitive sport. But you would 
never have known that looking at the way these women played on Sunday, 
December 6.
  That's the day these well-honed athletes will remember for the rest 
of their lives. They won the championship game against the University 
of North Carolina before a record crowd of more than 10,500 fans. The 
pressure was really on to beat the Tar Heels--well recognized for their 
70-match unbeaten streak and numerous NCAA tournament wins.
  Some people may have considered the Gators the new kids on the block. 
But they were out to prove themselves. And in doing so, the Gators 
became the youngest program this decade to win a title. The program was 
formed only four years ago by coach Becky Burleigh. She also made 
history. She became the first woman head coach to win an NCAA soccer 
championship.
  Following the winning game, the Palm Beach Post quoted Burleigh 
saying, ``I can't believe it.'' The coach's reaction clearly describes 
her excitement. But I would like to clarify the record. This talented 
woman knew all along her team could do it. When she started recruiting 
for the squad's first season, she told her young freshmen players they 
would go to the final Four by graduation. And that happened.
  Burleigh's fine eye for recruiting talent and her ability to mold and 
inspire took these women to the top. In January, Burleigh was named 
coach of the year by the National Soccer Coaches of America 
Association. Before that, the same association named her the coach of 
the year for the Southeast region. And I'm sure there's much more 
recognition coming her way and the Gators' way in the future.
  I want to congratulate Burleigh and her coaching team: Assistant 
Coaches Victor Campbell and Tiffany Thompson, Volunteer Coach Matthew 
Mitchell, Manager Scott Barbee, and Athletic Trainer Michael Duck.
  I also want to individually congratulate the entire team: Meredith 
Flaherty, who was named the tournament's Defensive Most Valuable 
Player, Danielle Fotopoulos, who was named the tournament's Offensive 
Most Valuable Player, Danielle Bass, Erin Baxter, Keisha Bell, Christie 
Brady, Jill DiBerardino, Kerri Doran, Erin Gilhart, Karyn Hall, 
Michelle Harris, Jordan Kellgren, Genie Leonard, Alexis MacKenzie, 
Kelly Maher, Heather Mitts, Adrianne Moreira, Lisa Olinyk, Angie Olson, 
Lynn Pattishall, Melissa Pini, Renee Reynolds, Andrea Sellers, Whitney 
Singer, Jill Stevens, Katie Tullis, Abby Wambach, Tracy Ward and Sarah 
Yohe.
  Go Gators!

                          ____________________