WUSA / FOREIGN PLAYERS Winding down in New York

BY DEAN CAPARAZ before committing to a long stay. 's Espeseth missed the '99 Women's in Chula Vista, Calif. World Cup after tearing her ACL and suf¬ crunching fering cartilage damage in her left knee he chance to play in the WUSA, while practicing with her Norwegian club, tackles and Ann even if just for one year, rejuve¬ Trondheims-Orn. The 5-6 defender recov¬ nated the careers of New York's ered in time to rejoin the national team one Kristin Aarones' T Norwegians. month before the start of the 2000 Olym¬ Gro Espeseth and Ann Kristin Aarones, who pics. goals used to made a habit of frustrating the United States for The cartilage injury still bothers her. The doc¬ much of the past decade, were part of the Nor¬ tor who performed her knee surgery advised her be headaches way team that knocked the United States out of to quit playing or choose between the national Sweden '95. team and the WUSA. for the United But when fellow Norwegians Dagny Mellgren "He said I would have too much trouble later (Boston), (Carolina) and Bente in my life if I don't quit now," Espeseth said. "But States. Now, Nordby (Carolina) left WUSA preseason training to play in this New York will year's , Espeseth and Aarones stayed behind. benefit from Both 28-year-olds, who met on 's under-16 national those talents, team in 1989, are retired from national team duty. for at least one They're excited to play pro¬ fessional ball. season. "There are many new things to think about, and we're living in a different country, but we're having great fun so far," Aarones said during the Power's spring training at the ARCO Olympic Training Cen¬ ter outside San Diego. Aarones quit the national team after Norway's fourth- place finish at USA '99 be¬ cause, she said, she was tired At left: Ann Kristin after a 10-year international ca¬ Aarones (right) reer, "and that was enough." hopes to head the The 5-foot-9 striker watched from a hotel room as Espeseth over its WUSA and Norway defeated the United competition, States for the gold including Carla medal at Sydney 2000. Overbeck's Carolina Talk with their New Courage. Inset: York teammates — in¬ Injuries will limit cluding U.S. Olympi¬ Gro Espeseth to one ans , season in America. and TONY QUINN/SOCCERPIXUSA — occa¬ I decided to play here for one more year, because sionally drifts to the I couldn't say no to this." Olympic final. SO FAR, SO GOOD. New York coach Pat "Tiffeny said to me Farmer has been satisfied with his Norwegians one day that she hasn't during preseason. Neither is completely healthy. overcome [the Olym¬ Espeseth has her sore knee and Aarones has suf¬

pic loss] yet," Espeseth TODD WARSHAW/ALLSPORT fered from flu-like symptoms. said. "We won the Farmer sees good things ahead for his veteran game, but sometimes it has to be us. And we were players. lucky. I know that." "You've got the captain of the gold-medal team CLUB OVER COUNTRY. Espeseth and — that ain't bad for leadership," he said. "And Aarones might need a little luck to win a WUSA Anke [Aarones] is going to come along as her championship before they return home. A linger¬ fitness improves and become more of a dynamic ing knee problem will likely force Espeseth to force then. I still think they can both play." retire from the game after one year here, and (Dean Caparaz is an associate editor at Soc¬ Aarones wants to see what happens this season cer America.)

www.socceramerica.com Soccer America 31 April 9, 2001 Because You're FANATIC!