2007年VOA标准英语-Top-Ranked US Eyes Women's World Cup Soccer Tit

By Jim Stevenson
Washington
29 August 2007
 
Sixteen teams are preparing to compete next month in the FIFA Women's World Cup football [soccer] tournament in China.  One of them is the United States, which has been playing on home soil in a so-called "Send-Off Series" of friendly matches.  VOA's Jim Stevenson took in a couple of those games and has a report on the team currently ranked number one in the world.

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Part of the 2007 U.S. Women's Soccer team lines up during the playing of the National Anthem

The U.S. women's soccer program hit its stride in 1999 when it hosted and won the Women's World Cup.  The dramatic shootout victory over China in the final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California gave the women's game unprecedented² exposure.

Ahead of this year's World Cup tournament, the U.S. team has again worked its way to the top of the world rankings.  Only four players remain from the 1999 team, including 36-year-old captain Kristine Lilly, and victory this time will rest with several new faces.

Coach Greg Ryan

The U.S. women are coached by Greg Ryan.  He says this team is strong because of the great relationship between the veteran players and the younger ones.

"Once we step onto the field, our veterans look across at the young ones and say, 'Hey, that player can be just as good as me today.'  And so it is a real respect that has grown.  And the young players had to earn that.  And the veteran players had to help them attain³ that.  It could not be any better than it is,” he said.

Captain Kristine Lilly

Forward Kristine Lilly has played in every Women's World Cup since the quadrennial event began in 1991.  She credits much of her longevity⁴ on the field to the energy she gets from her newer teammates. "I get a lot of momentum⁵ from them,” she says, “because they have this look in their eye of, 'Oh, my God, here I am.'  You know, I have been around the block a little bit, so I probably do not have the same look.  But they remind me of how great this team is."

One of the newcomers to the U.S. team is 21-year-old defender⁶ Stephanie Lopez.  The high standards of the veterans have motivated her to play at their level.

Stephanie Lopez

"I definitely feel honored to be on the same team with them and playing on the field with them,” says Lopez. ”And it has been an amazing year and a half since I have been playing with them.  Just to get to know them and really feel like I am their teammate, that I can be out there with them.  And I can make an impact and help them out there on the field."

Coach Ryan has used more than 60 players during his two-year tenure⁷.  In the World Cup, the United States will face very different opponents in North Korea, Sweden and Nigeria.  Ryan plans to use his full roster⁸ to create different starting lineups for each game.

The United States begins its campaign on September 11th with a difficult Group-B encounter with North Korea in Chengdu.

1 anthem   

n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌

参考例句：

• All those present were standing solemnly when the national anthem was played.奏国歌时全场肃立。
• As he stood on the winner's rostrum,he sang the words of the national anthem.他站在冠军领奖台上，唱起了国歌。

2 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

3 attain   

vt.达到，获得，完成

参考例句：

• I used the scientific method to attain this end. 我用科学的方法来达到这一目的。
• His painstaking to attain his goal in life is praiseworthy. 他为实现人生目标所下的苦功是值得称赞的。

4 longevity   

n.长命；长寿

参考例句：

• Good habits promote longevity.良好的习惯能增长寿命。
• Human longevity runs in families.人类的长寿具有家族遗传性。

5 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

6 defender   

n.保卫者，拥护者，辩护人

参考例句：

• He shouldered off a defender and shot at goal.他用肩膀挡开防守队员，然后射门。
• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。

7 tenure   

n.终身职位；任期；(土地)保有权，保有期

参考例句：

• He remained popular throughout his tenure of the office of mayor.他在担任市长的整个任期内都深得民心。
• Land tenure is a leading political issue in many parts of the world.土地的保有权在世界很多地区是主要的政治问题。

8 roster   

n.值勤表，花名册

参考例句：

• The teacher checked the roster to see whom he would teach this year.老师查看花名册，想了解今年要教的学生。
• The next day he put himself first on the new roster for domestic chores.第二天，他把自己排在了新的家务值日表的第一位。