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Local girls get kick out of Cup Photo by Ray Pettengell Jamie MacLauchlan juggles a soccer ball with friends Ashley Miner, left, and Colleen Salisbury. Play of U.S. women dazzles Rogue Valley players By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy -- two of the stars of the U.S. women's World Cup soccer team -- have become idols and role models for young girl soccer players in the Rogue Valley. Hamm and Foudy are two of the major reasons why the U.S. team is favored to make the World Cup finals July 10 at Pasadena, Calif. In the stands that day, hoping to be chanting "USA, USA" as the U.S. team piles up goals in the gold-medal match, will be North Medford High senior Jamie MacLauchlan and former Black Tornado star Lu Crenshaw. "I have a lot of interest in the World Cup right now because I'm going to be there for the semifinal and final games and for the closing ceremonies," says MacLauchlan. "I just hope the U.S. can make the finals. I can't wait to get down there and see the finals in person. "Our country has really gotten into soccer a lot more, like the Europeans do. It will be fun to be there." MacLauchlan, an aggressive forward for the Black Tornado, says she'll be comparing the style of play World Cup teams use with her own. "I know they play very fast," she says. "I wish we could play that fast on our team. But at least when you see the best players playing that way, it motivates you to want to try to play more like they do. I know we'll try to play faster now." North Medford girls soccer coach Dick Darcy says interest in U.S. women's soccer has peaked during the World Cup. Games in Portland last Tuesday and Wednesday helped add to the interest in World Cup play in Oregon, says Darcy. "I know the girls are excited and talking about it," says Darcy. "They like to see the level of competition to help them understand how hard they need to work to possibly get to a level similar to that one day. "What they're seeing is a physical, very competitive brand of soccer being played. That's good for them to see. It helps them see the difference in the way they play and the way the game is played at the top level." Michael Dunn, coach of the Blackhawks Rogue Valley Soccer Club girls U-15 Premier League team and head girls varsity coach for St. Mary's High, says many local girls are watching World Cup games on television. "Interest here is tremendous," says Dunn. "It picked up when the U.S. women won the World Cup in 1991. Then, we won the bronze medal in the 1995 World Cup and the women took the Olympic gold medal in the 1996 Olympics. "These players, like Mia Hamm and Debbie Foudy, are like celebrities to young players." Ashley Miner, a 15-year-old right outside halfback for the Blackhawks, says she watched with interest on television as the U.S. team riddled Nigeria, 7-1, on Thursday night. "I'm glad we smashed them," says Miner, who will be a sophomore at North Medford High and a varsity soccer player in the fall. "It's fun to see. Our team does such a good job of passing the ball and spreading the field. They seem to know where the other players are going to be all the time." Darcy says the fact that some of the big World Cup matches will be played around the Fourth of July holiday adds to the spirit of nationalism U.S. soccer fans feel are feeling. Darcy remembers 1995, when the U.S. made it to the semifinals before losing to Norway and settling for the bronze medal. "There was a sense of pride in the stands for our country that day," he said. "It was fun to see and be a part of it." Julie Elbon, 14, a forward for the Blackhawks, says Hamm is an inspiration to her, a player she would like to emulate. "She plays the same position (forward) that I do," says Elbon. "I like to see the different kinds of moves she uses. "They control the ball and pass it a lot better than we do. I can see I'm not a physical enough player by watching them. I've been going in and lifting weights at North to get stronger." Colleen Salisbury, a left forward for the Blackhawks, says she's watched every game of the World Cup that has been televised on ESPN. "I appreciate them showing these teams on television so we can see how good they are," says Salisbury, who will be a sophomore at South Medford High. "I especially like watching Brazil and the U.S. team, which is my favorite, of course. "I like how our team plays offense. They are entertaining to watch because they score so many goals and pass the ball so well. "My goal is to play in the World Cup some day," says Salisbury. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.