At the Crossroads

Soccer Digest, Feb, 2001 by John Philip Wyllie

As women's soccer prepares for its first-ever professional league, Shannon MacMillan prepares to be one of the sport's newest stars

HAVING CONTRIBUTED TO America's past two Olympic teams, and the history making 1999 Women's World Cup squad, Shannon MacMillan now finds her career at a crossroads. In the past year, she has exchanged her role as the consummate national team supersub for a spot as a frequent starter--albeit that meant a switch for the former striker to the less glamorous position of right midfield.

MacMillan foresees even more changes as the long-awaited WUSA kicks off in April. As the remaining holdovers from the first Women's World Cup head into the twilight of their careers, MacMillan will be counted on to fill the leadership void. As a bridge from the team's glorious past to its uncertain future, her role will be to maintain the squad's stability as the next generation of players are gradually integrated into its ranks.

The triumphs that MacMillan has enjoyed in her seven years on the U.S. national team are all the more remarkable considering that her formative years were anything but easy. Growing up in Escondido, California in San Diego's North County, MacMillan had a stormy relationship with her parents. Soccer became a frequent escape from her unhappy home life. "I grew up playing at the indoor/outdoor soccer park in Poway," says MacMillan. "My club coach, Tom Schwartz, owned the park. I played for hours on the little pee-wee, three-court field back when I could run all day. When I was on the field I was free. Nothing else, no matter what was happening, affected me. Soccer was my release. It also paid for my college education."

Just as she was beginning what would become a magnificent University of Portland career, tragedy struck. Not once, but twice. Within a year's time, MacMillan lost two of her closest high school friends in separate fatal incidents.

By this time, MacMillan's relationship with her parents was virtually non-existent. Instead she relied on the support of friends and others around her to help her make it through. MacMillan quickly fell in love with both the city of Portland and the University. She has often credited her coach at Portland, Clive Charles, as being one of the most influential people in her life. MacMillan repaid Charles' faith in her by honing herself into a four-time All-American. In the process, she teamed up with future national-teamer Tiffeny Milbrett for three of those years to form a devastating one-two punch for the Pilots. MacMillan capped her 87-goal career by garnering Missouri Athletic Club and Hermann Trophy honors in her senior year.

By this time, MacMillan had completed her first stint on the national team (1993-94) and had made an impression with her blistering shot, speed, and nose for the goal. She was brought along slowly as a reserve striker behind the seemingly impenetrable lineup of Michelle Akers, Carin Gabarra, and Mia Hamm. Although she played in only seven games, MacMillan netted five goals during her first two years with the team. Injury precluded her participation on the 1995 bronze-medal World Cup team. When coach Tony DiCicco offered her another opportunity in early 1996, it was as a right flank midfielder. Upon hearing DiCicco's plans to convert her, a life-long striker, into a midfielder, MacMillan wasn't pleased. "I'm a glory hound," she admits. "I want my name in the newspaper for scoring goals. Go back and run my butt off? No thank you."

While not pleased at first to be making the change, MacMillan resigned herself to the task with her characteristic Bulldog determination. At first, her defensive skills left much to be desired, but using her iron will and honor-student intelligence, she gradually became more comfortable with the position.

"I really learned a lot," says MacMillan. "I had Kristine Lilly on the left, the best flank midfielder in the world. Who better to learn from? I enjoy playing the position now, but you wouldn't have heard that from me a couple of years ago. As long as I'm out there playing [that's what is important]."

Playing time however, even with a new position, became a problem. Tony DiCicco's preference for a 4-3-3 alignment relegated MacMillan to the bench. Only when he shifted to a 3-4-3 was there room for MacMillan in the starting lineup. But rather than mope, she decided to make every opportunity count. And so began her role as Shannon MacMillan, Supersub.

With a history of scoring key goals in critical situations, MacMillan did what came naturally in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Coming off the bench, MacMillan notched a team-best three goals. Two of these turned out to be game-winners, against Sweden and Norway. It was the golden goal against Norway that allowed the U.S. to reach the Finals where it ultimately edged China.

Three years later when the U.S. hosted the Women's World Cup, MacMillan was still a non-starter, but more and more people were wondering why--including herself. At the time, both she and DiCicco were being queried on a daily basis as to her starting status. The way she handled the situation speaks volumes about her as a team player and as a person.