Hope Solo Replaced by Briana Scurry

Was USA Women's Soccer Team Coach, Greg Ryan, Justified in Pulling His Starting Goalie?

Going into America's semifinal game against Brazil, Team USA had posted 3 consecutive wins versus Sweden, Nigeria, and England. These 3 wins were all shutouts posted by goaltender Hope Solo. Hope Solo had played over 300 consecutive minutes without allowing a goal. Then, came Brazil. Coach Greg Ryan decided to pull his goalie in favor of her backup Briana Scurry. Briana Scurry, age 36, was 12-0-0 versus Brazil with a very good goals against margin. Unfortunately for Team USA she would not stay perfect against Brazil. Allowing 4 goals Briana Scurry, and Team USA, simply crumbled before viewer's eyes. It seems there were a few factor that encouraged this poor displayed and a few seemed to relate to the goalie situation.

The first reason against the goalie change is simply this, after not allowing a goal for over 300 minutes how can a coach pull a goalie in favor of his backup who hasn't played a full game in over three months? Is it a legit switch? Greg Ryan citied that Scurry had better reflexes and quickness. During the game however, often times she looked rusty and out of place. We will never know how Solo would have performed, but we can wonder.

The second reason against the goalie change is team chemistry. The first goal scored against Scurry was an own goal that should not have happened. There was an obvious lack of communication between goalie and defensive player. Also, it seemed as though the whole team was sluggish. Could this relate to the switch that took place 24 hours before the game occurred?

The third reason that seemed to deal Team USA it's finally blow was a red card. Shannon Boxx was whistled for a red card, but when replays showed that Boxx had not tripped up Brazil's player, many were outraged. Playing a woman down was certainly costly and added to the pressure of already being two goals down.