PLU

Dr. Colleen Hacker is the Assistant Dean and Professor of Physical Education at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma.

TACOMA, Wash. - It was supposed to be a victorious day for the U.S. women's soccer team in China. But the world's No.1 ranked team lost badly to Brazil (4-0) in the semifinals. As they try to recover emotionally and prepare for Sunday's game against Norway (for the third place title) they are turning to a Tacoma professor and sports psychologist for help. 

Dr. Colleen Hacker is the Assistant Dean and Professor of Physical Education at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma. She was first hired by the U.S. women's soccer team to help players overcome the frustration of a semifinal loss to Norway in the 1995 Women's World Cup. Then coach Tony DiCicco gave her the title of "mental skills coach." Now she is once again helping the team recover from a big loss and refocus on what lies ahead. 

"My heart is just breaking for these players individually and as a team," Hacker said during a telephone interview Thursday. "It hurts badly, but they've got less than 72 hours to Norway. They have one day to deal with the loss and sadness, then it's gear-up time."   

Hacker won't second guess the Brazil match, or coach Greg Ryan's controversial decision to bench goalkeeper Hope Solo and bring in veteran Briana Scurry.

"I'll leave that to the pundits," says Hacker. "My focus is on going forward and winning Sunday."  

Solo hadn't given up a goal in nearly 300 minutes in the Women's World Cup, but Ryan apparently thought Scurry had quicker reflexes and was the better choice against fast-paced Brazilian strikers Marta and Cristiane.  

Hacker has been with the U.S. women's soccer team through victory and defeat. She is credited with helping the team recover from the 1995 upset to Norway and go on to secure victory over China to win the Olympic gold in 1996. She was with them when they became World Cup Champions in 1999. When coach Ryan called her this past January and invited her back, she accepted. But due to her teaching commitments, this time Hacker couldn't take off from work to be with the team day and night. Instead, Hacker's been making whirlwind trips while communicating with the women via e-mail and telephone from Tacoma.

Unbeaten in 51 straight games, the U.S. was seeking its third World Cup title. Now they will have to settle for third place - if they can beat Norway Sunday. Hacker says she plans to work with the players over the next few days on "focusing on what you can control -- your expectations, your level of play." She says: "Going forward what we need to do is to play excellent world level soccer." 

And whether they win or lose Sunday, Hacker is proud of the U.S. women's soccer team.

"These women are champions," she said. "You don't have to finish first to be champions!"