Shannon Higgins

Shannon was a midfielder who was one of the stars of the U.S. Women's National Team that won the FIFA Women's World Championship in 1991.

Shannon also played on four NCAA championship teams at the University of North Carolina. Higgins was one the playmakers of that 1991 U.S. women's team and started in five of the six games in the FIFA Women's World Championship, despite the fact that she was recovering from a stress fracture in her foot. The only match that Shannon did not play was the final first round match in which the United States' had already secured a place in the quarterfinals.

In the final, it was Higgins' free kick that Michelle Akers headed into the net for the United States' first goal in its 2-1 win over Norway in FIFA Women's World Championship held in China. Higgins retired as a player after that game with 51 full international appearances, in which she scored four goals. At the time, those 51 caps were second only to Carin Jennings among U.S. women.

At North Carolina, Higgins played primarily as a forward, and scored goals in the NCAA championship games in 1987, 1988 and 1989, including three in UNC's win over archrival North Carolina State in the '88 final. As a senior was honored with the women's Hermann Trophy winner in 1989. Today Shannon is the women's soccer coach at the University of Maryland.

Where Are They Now: Shannon, a member of the 1991 Women’s World Cup championship team, retired from soccer following this inaugural women’s tournament. more>

U.S. National Team Statistics