Terp Women's Soccer Coach Shannon Higgins-Cirovski Selected To National Soccer Hall of Fame
6/24/2002 8:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
June 24, 2002
ONEONTA, N.Y. - The National Soccer Hall of Fame announced today the selection of three champion midfielders slated for induction into the Hall of Fame in 2002. Current Maryland women's soccer head coach and 1991 Women's World Cup champion Shannon Higgins-Cirovski, former NASL/Cosmos star Vladislav "Bogie" Bogicevic and veterans U.S. men's captain Adolph Bachmeier will be inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, N.Y. on October 14, 2002.
"These great midfielders represent three distinct eras in U.S. soccer history," said National Soccer Hall of Fame President Will Lunn. "Bachmeier captained the U.S. during the difficult building period of the 1960's and 70's, Bogicevic was a star with the Cosmos of the North American Soccer League of the 1970's and 80's and Higgins was the standout midfielder for the U.S in the 1980's and early 90's and a key to the USA's victory at the first FIFA Women's World Championship in 1991. We look forward to welcoming them into the Hall of Fame and honoring their accomplishments."
Higgins-Cirovski, who starred collegiately at the University of North Carolina is just the third women to enter the Hall as a player (joining April Heinrichs and Carin Jennings-Gabarra) and is the youngest person to enter the hall at just 34 years old.
"This really puts what being a pioneer is, into perspective," said Higgins-Cirovski. "It is truly an amazing honor, obviously as you move past your playing days and reflect on them, they seem to move further away. It is so nice of the committee to recognize my accomplishments. To think of all of the players that I watched, such as Bogicevic and other Hall of Famers ... to be joining them is such an honor."
Higgins-Cirovski had a star-studded career at North Carolina. She helped the Tar Heels to four national championships (1986, '87, '88, and '89), scoring the game-winning goal in the final three titles. She posted an 89-0-6 record as a collegian and was named a two-time first team All-American in 1988 and '89. She was named national Player of the Year by Soccer America in 1988 and named consensus national player of the year in 1989. At the conclusion of her career at UNC, the playmaking midfielder had tallied 39 goals and 51 assists for 129 points in 94 matches.
She was the second-ever female recipient of the prestigious Hermann Trophy Award as the nation's top Division I women's soccer player in 1989 and also captured the Honda Award as the top female athlete in the nation after that season. She was honored with the first-ever Mary Garber Award given to the ACC's top female athlete. She is one of nine women's soccer players to have her number (No. 3) retired at North Carolina. She graduated from Chapel Hill in 1990.
Higgins-Cirovski played for the United States national team from 1987-91, as she helped the squad to the 1991 Women's World Cup title in China. Her free kick set up the first goal in the 2-1 championship victory over Norway in the '91 final. She retired from international play with 51 caps, second most of any player at that time.
She was named to Soccer America's Team of the Century, as one of the top 11 players to have impacted women's soccer in the 20th century. She was also honored as one of the ACC's best players at the league's celebration in 1999.
Higgins-Cirovski entered the coaching ranks in 1991 at George Washington University and led the Colonials for seven seasons. She led them to their only NCAA Tournament bid in 1996. She was named Atlantic-10 Coach of the Year in 1994. After coaching the United States U-18 team for a season, Higgins-Cirovski was hired as Maryland's women's head coach on Jan. 13, 1999. She joined her husband, Sasho, on the Maryland athletic staff, who has been the men's soccer coach since 1993. Higgins-Cirovski was named ACC Coach of the Year in her first season at Maryland and has the team to NCAA berths in 1999 and 2001.
The Cirovskis have two daughters, Hailey (8) and Karli (6) and are expecting a third daughter this July.
What they are saying:
North Carolina head coach and 1991 World Cup coach Anson Dorrance: "Obviously we felt it was only a matter of time until Shannon was elected to the Soccer Hall of Fame. When she played here at UNC she had one of the great soccer minds I've ever been around in the college game. She was an exceptional tactical player. Even more impressively she left her mark all over the 1991 World Cup Championship team. She was one of the great architects of that team's success."
U.S. Women's National Team Coach & '91 World Cup teammate April Heinrichs: Shannon was truly one of the great players of the 1991 team that won the World Cup. I'm thrilled for her to be named to the National Soccer Hall of Fame. She's very deserving of the recognition. She was one of the great center midfielders. She understood the game tactically and controlled the tempo, changing the point and helping us advance the ball up the field. It's a wonderful honor for her."
Maryland Athletics Director Deborah A. Yow: "Shannon is an extraordinary athlete and coach. Over time, she will add yet another accolade to her long list of achievements...Coach of the National Champion Maryland Terrapins."
Husband and Maryland men's soccer coach Sasho Cirovski: "What an incredible honor this is for Shannon. It is extremely well deserved. It's great to see the Soccer Hall of Fame remember and acknowledge her accomplishments at an early age before she retired to devote her time to her family and coaching career. I think I am the luckiest man on earth. She's a hall of fame wife, a hall of fame mother and now a soccer hall of famer."
