Geneva program welcomes soccer icon Foudy

Way back in 1997, the U.S. Women's Soccer Team played and defeated South Korea 6-1 at St. Charles East's Norris Stadium.

But the abiding moment from that game was the way the stars who had just won the 1996 Olympic title stayed afterward to sign autographs and mingle with the sellout crowd.

Friday, the crowd was much smaller, and the city was just to the south of Geneva, but Julie Foudy still made sure she made time to sign everything as she spoke to all levels of Geneva's girls soccer program.

And her message stretched beyond soccer.

"In my academies, I'm not just teaching them how to kick a ball or how to make a run or to bend a ball," Foudy said. "It's 'here's how you can take this great sport and use it to help you in life - and help others.' That's really been the gift."

Foudy is well acquainted with the Vikings program. She is good friends with the Lewicki family, whose daughter Emily plays is a Geneva senior soccer player. Foudy is in town this weekend for a soccer seminar and clinic.

In her brief talk to the Vikings, Foudy mentioned how she played volleyball, soccer and ran track in high school, and how that helped her avoid burning out in any sport, despite two World Cup titles and two Olympic gold medals. Her 271-match career with the U.S. Women's Team began while she was in high school.

"The Gold medals and World Cups are nice," Foudy said. "But that isn't what defined me or that team for all those years. It was all we were able to accomplish. So you carry that and you pass it on."

Geneva coach Megan Owens was pleased to hear Foudy speak. Owens played at Lyons Township, losing in her senior year in the 1997 title match to St. Charles.

"I just hope that it inspires them to push themselves each and every day to be the best that they can," Owens said. "Not just in sports, but to be a good leader on the field and to always be a good sport and to represent their program in the best possible manner."

Foudy remains connected to the women's game in the U.S. Her husband, Ian Sawyers, is the coach and general manager of Sky Blue FC, the New Jersey entry into Women's Professional Soccer. Foudy played in the last women's soccer league, which lasted from 2001-03 before going out of business. Chicago has an entry, the Red Stars, in the league, and the Vikings are going on May 10 to see the teams meet at Toyota Park.

"That is so huge, for these guys to see it up close," Foudy said. "Then the dream becomes more tangible."

Foudy said she has high hopes for WPS.

"I think we learned some lessons from the last league, what worked and what didn't work" she said. "This time, it's much smaller in terms of scope and timing."