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 Carla
Werden Overbeck was one of the defensive mainstays of the U.S. women's
national team throughout the 1990s, and won many major honors during her
career at the top levels of American soccer.
Overbeck was perhaps best
known as the captain of the United States team that won the 1999 Women's
World Cup. In that World Cup, she was part of a formidable duo in the center
of the American defense, along with Joy Fawcett. Those two not only were
into their second decades as regulars in the American team, but drew
additional attention as the team's two "Soccer Moms," whose small children
came along with them as the team travelled.
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Personal Information |
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Class of 2006 |
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Born:
May 9, 1969 |
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Position:
Defender |
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Int'l
Caps: 168 |
Int'l
Goals: 7 |
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Overbeck played a key role
in stopping the dynamic Chinese attack in the championship game at the Rose
Bowl, and she also made the first penalty kick in the tiebreaker that
decided which captain would get to hoist the cup over her head.
That World Cup was only one
of a string of championships that Overbeck won at nearly early level at
which she ever played. She won the World Cup twice, in 1991 as well as in
1999 (she was one of six players who played in both finals). She won an
Olympic gold medal in 1996. She won a Women's United Soccer Association
championship in 2002 with the Carolina Courage (she didn't play in the
final, but her overtime goal in the semifinals boosted Carolina into the
title game). She won a W-League championship with the Raleigh Wings in 1998.
And she won four consecutive NCAA championships at the University of North
Carolina, where she was a three-time all-American, between 1986 and 1989.
During her national-team
career, Overbeck was particularly noted for her durability. Between 1993 and
1996, she played an astounding 63 consecutive games for the U.S. women's
national team. That streak began on Aug. 4, 1993 against New Zeland and
continued through the Olympic final against China on Aug. 1, 1996. The
streak ended only when Overbeck took time off from the national team after
that Olympic victory to have her first child. Within that streak, she had
another streak, of 3,547 consecutive minutes, more than 39 games.
Overbeck was the only player
who started all six United States games at the 1991 Women's World Cup (when
her name was Carla Werden and the tournament was called the Women's World
Championships), all six United States games at the 1995 Women's World Cup,
all five United States games at the 1996 Olympic Games and all six United
States games at the 1999 Women's World Cup. She was the national team's
regular captain beginning in the mid-1990s, and wore the armband at the 1995
Women's World Cup and the 1996 Olympic Games in addition to the 1999 Women's
World Cup.
Overbeck retired from the
national team in 2000 after having played 168 games for the United States.
She played three seasons in the Women's United Soccer Association, appearing
in 46 games in that league.
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