Aug. 2, 2009
FOLLOWED HER PASSION
Fawcett joins other 91ers in Hall

ONEONTA, NY---Joy Fawcett followed a number of her Women’s National Team mates into the Soccer Hall of Fame with her induction Sunday, calling the honor incredibly humbling.

Fawcett, who played on the National team from1991 through 2004 won two World Cups, in 1991 and 1999 and also has won two Olympic gold medals with the team in 1996 and 2004.

“Wow! What an amazing honor – for the voters to believe that I belong in this select group is truly humbling,” said Fawcett who was honored along with fellow inductee Jeff Agoss and former New York Times writer Alex Yannis who receive the Colin Jose Media Award.

Fawcett thanked her friends and family for their “…constant and unwavering support through the years that helped me get through the challenging times and made the success sweeter.” She said, “I‘d like to recognize my teammates and coaches, the bonds between us brought meaning to the journey – the experiences that we shared and the challenges we overcame forged many amazing relationships.”

A pioneer on and off the field, Fawcett became the epitome of the “soccer mom” continuing to play at the highest levels of the game after giving birth to each of her three daughters who began accompanying her with the team.

“After 1994 and the birth of my first child, U.S. Soccer could have said ‘No’ to a newborn traveling with the team,” said Fawcett. “But they did the incredible thing in supporting me as a new mother and allowing me to realize my dream.” She made the observation that having children with the team helped create balance and humanity among the players and that it made the team stronger on and off the field. Fawcett concluded her address with this advice: “Follow your passion, work hard and be a good person. If you do, good things will happen and opportunities will come your way.”