Women's History Wednesday Profile: Briana Scurry
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Washington Spirit Opening Match (Photo: Erica McCaulley/EqualizerSoccer)
On Saturday, the NWSL celebrated the beginning of its fourth season. The first game of 2016 took place in Boyds, Maryland as the Washington Spirit hosted the Boston Breakers. The opening game of a 4th season marked a historic moment in domestic women’s soccer. No other American league has opened for business for more than three seasons.
Briana Scurry was selected to commemorate the occasion by participating in the ceremonial first kick. The soccer legend, who resides in the DMV area, was on hand to usher in a new chapter of women's professional soccer.
However, before the NWSL or the Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA), Scurry had already established herself as one of the best in the world. Until recently, Scurry was the commanding leader in appearances, wins and shutouts for the US Women’s National Team. The records she produces in her 14 year career have only recently been matched, and ultimately topped. Hope Solo is the only other goalkeeper to reach and surmount the accomplishments of Scurry. The two women are the only players in team history to appear over 55 times (194, 175), collect more than 32 wins (159,135) and post more than 25 shutouts (98,72). Although Hope stands alone as the records leader, it was Scurry that raised the bar.
High School Standout
Scurry grew up in Dayton, Ohio as the youngest of nine children. She was encouraged by her father to be competitive in everything. Scurry tried out for a boys soccer club when she was 12 years old. Her coach placed her between the pipes, assuming that is where she, as a girl, would be safest; the position stuck.
Scurry continued to play soccer, among other sports, through high school. She played four sports; softball, soccer, basketball and track. She helped Anoka High School win a State Championship in 1989. Scurry was named The next year, Scurry narrowed down her athletic commitments and focused on soccer as she began planning for college.
College Career
Briana went on to play for the UMass Amherst Minutewomen from 1990-1993. In her career, she notched 368 career saved (2nd overall), 27 shutouts (2nd overall), and a .56 Goals Against. However, her final season was likely her best. Scurry was named to the All Atlantic 10, the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and an All American in her senior season. She holds the all-time single season records in saves (124), shutouts (15) and Goals Against Average (.48).Furthermore, after the 1993 season, Scurry was named Missouri Athletic Club Adidas Goalkeeper of the Year, she was also added as a keeper for the US National Team.
US National Team
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Scurry’s ability to maintain her focus in times of tension and chaos propelled her to being the best goalkeeper of her time.
(Photo: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
Scurry is most well-known for her PK save minutes before the United States won the 1999 World Cup. Scurry denied China's third attempt launched by Liu Ying, and immediately stomped and waved her arms in triumph. “I didn’t look at any of the other kickers, but for some reason, when I was walking into the goal,” reflects Scurry for ussoccer.com, “I heard something in my head, ‘this is the one.’ It was just a feeling. Something just came over me, a sort of calmness. It was an instinctual thing, an intuitive thing.” That save set the stage for the infamous PK goal (and controversial celebration) by teammate Brandi Chastain to win the 1999 World Cup.
Although Scurry and her teammates, The 99ers, became celebrities in that moment, it is not the moment Scurry identifies as her best. In 2003, Scurry said that the semifinal game against Brazil stands out, “That was by far the best game I ever played in my life, hands down.”
Although Brazil lost 2-0, the US was outshot 13-10. “If I were to look back on all the saves I’ve made in my career, I probably had four of the most brilliant ones in that game … I felt like it was (central defender) Carla (Overbeck) and myself against the entire country of Brazil.” It was those moments, those late game, high intensity moments, that set Scurry aside and blazed the trail to becoming the most dominant goalkeeper in American history.
Tony DiCicco, Scurry’s former goaltending coach and head coach, stated two main reasons for her success, “She has special athletic ability to make extraordinary saves and, more importantly, the ability, as the tension in the game builds, to actually get calmer."
After 1999, Scurry admits that the fame of the World Cup led to a lack of focus, and ultimately a spot on the national team. For the 2000 Olympic games in Sydney, Scurry was on the bench. Whether due to her embarrassment, or the recollection of her father’s advice, “always be first”, Briana worked to claim what was once hers. By 2004, Scurry was back with the national team in preparation for the Olympics.
Before the Athens games, on Father’s Day, Earnest Scurry passed away. Scurry was home in Minnesota when her father passed, and by August, she was once again an Olympic gold medalist.
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In 2004, Scurry enjoys her second gold medal, while grieving the loss of her father.
(Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
In a 2014 interview with Sports Illustrated, Scurry recalls, "I played the best soccer I've ever played in my life. I was making these saves against Brazil [in the final] that were like The Matrix—I didn't know how I got there, but I got there. And I was on the podium just bawling because I knew my dad was with me. The peak of ecstasy and sadness at the same time."
By the 2004 Athens games, Scurry had manifested her father's words, she was the starting keeper with the national team. However, her ability to remain on top began to come into question as a fiery and skilled keeper was on her heels. That keeper was of course, Hope Solo.
Tensions came to a head when, despite starting all previous matches in the tournament, Solo was benched in favor of Scurry during the 2007 World Cup. The United States would lose to Brazil in the semifinals of the tournament, and Solo had strong opinions during a post-game interview.
WUSA & WPS
Throughout her career, Scurry was able to be a founding player in the WUSA and Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS). Scurry led the Atlanta Beat to the inaugural Founders Cup in 2001. Atlanta lost to the Bay Area CyberRays in a shootout. Atlanta would return to the Founders Cup Championship game in 2003, and fall to the Washington Freedom 2-1 in extra time. The WUSA folded in 2003, just before the World Cup. Scurry was named Goalkeeper of the Year in the final season.
By 2009, Briana again became a founding player for a domestic league. Scurry played for the Washington Freedom of the newly formed WPS. It was during her time with the Freedom that Scurry would suffer from a head injury that ultimately ended her career. In April of the 2010 season, Scurry went to play a ball and was met by a charging forward. Scurry made the save, but was thrown to the ground after the opposing player’s knee connected with Scurry’s head. Although Scurry finished the 1st half, she did not return for the 2nd half, or ever again. Upcoming keepers Erin McLeod and Ashlyn Harris led the team to a second playoff appearance.
Giving Back to the Soccer Community
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After the hit that ended her career, Scurry suffered from nagging headaches, poor balance, memory loss and depression. In 2013, Scurry had surgery to remove a small mass of damaged tissue from the back of her head. Neurologist Kevin Crutchfield performed the surgery that enabled Scurry to return to the energetic friend she once was.
By the next year, Scurry embarked on a new journey within the sport. The former World Cup champion testified before Congress on the seriousness of concussions in soccer. Scurry was among several athletes, experts, and victims gathered by Representative Henry Waxman to testify in front of the House of Representatives Energy Committee.
“I struggled with intense piercing headaches that were so bad that by the evening it was all I could do to not cry myself to sleep,” shared Scurry, “I recently moved to (Washington), D.C., to have bilateral occipital nerve surgery ... to eliminate severe headaches that plagued me daily. Fortunately, the surgery appears to have helped me, however I'm still being treated for symptoms such as lack of concentration, balance issues, memory loss, anxiety, and depression.”
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In addition to sharing her story, Scurry also raised awareness about the dangers for others playing the sport,“In September I was alarmed to learn that the number of reported concussions in soccer was second highest in the United States, with only American football having more cases.”
Research suggests that girls who play soccer are at higher risk of suffering from concussions, with contact being the leading cause of concussions, not heading. Scurry wants to see her sport become more humane, like mixed martial arts, “In mixed martial arts, if a fighter is hit and knocked out, the referee jumps in and immediately stops the fight. When that person wakes up, they wonder what happened ... MMA is more humane than soccer, and that needs to be changed.”
Briana has pushed for head gear to become mandated equipment, much like shin guards. Scurry also wants to see soccer adopt neutral doctors, and substitution regulations that would not penalize team’s that must make a substitution due to a head injury. Scurry never thinks about trading in her soccer experience, “Soccer has been very good to me. I made my livelihood from it. I played my passion every day. I had the gift of not only being successful when I played but inspiring millions of people—my teams have done that. I wouldn't trade that for the world.”
Now, Scurry has the chance to use her voice to illuminate ways the sports she loves can be thoughtful of the safety and long-term health of its players.