2007年VOA标准英语-Soccer Veteran Leads Team USA

By Jim Stevenson
Washington
04 September 2007
 
The fifth FIFA Women's World Cup kicks off in China this month and one of the world's most prolific¹ soccer players is about to embark² on another World Cup campaign.  VOA's Jim Stevenson has more on U.S. women's national team veteran Kristine Lilly.

Kristine Lilly

When asked, the first players many women's soccer fans in the United States are likely to name are Americans Mia Hamm and Kristine Lilly.  Hamm retired³ after the 2003 Women's World Cup.  But Lilly is still making an impact on the field as she prepares for her fifth World Cup appearance.

The 36-year-old Lilly is the U.S. team captain.  She is the world's all-time appearance leader and is known as the "Iron Woman."  In 2000, Lilly became the first player in history - man or woman - to play in 200 career international games.  In 2006, she became the first - and perhaps the last player - to reach 300.

Lilly largely credits her physical fitness⁴ for her career's longevity⁵. "I think after a certain amount of time you learn what it takes to be a professional.  And you learn how to take care of your body.  You know what you need to do on and off the field to be ready.  And through the years I have learned that.  I have taken a lot of pride in my fitness to make sure I am always in shape.  And I think that is something that has helped me have a long career.  And it is still fun."

Kristine Lilly celebrates her goal during the first half of their soccer match against Finland, 25 Aug. 25 2007

Lilly is the second all-time leading scorer in U.S. and world history.  She is the all-time leader in time played with almost 27,000 minutes.  All of that experience is helping⁶ the younger players who are following her. "I try to, in some way, lead through my experience," she says. "I lead by example.  But also with my voice.  You just want to help them in any way.  You do not want to tell them too much because they have to learn some things [on their own].  But you just want to make sure and guide this team right now to come together in September and be the best we can be.  That is really my job to make sure we narrow it down a little bit."

Entering 2007, Kristine Lilly has competed in 85 percent of the games the U.S. women have ever played.

She has truly been a global player during her 20-year career, taking the field against 39 countries while scoring against 30 of them.  Lilly has played in 21 countries and has scored in 15, including Women's World Cup host China.

1 prolific   

adj.丰富的，大量的；多产的，富有创造力的

参考例句：

• She is a prolific writer of novels and short stories.她是一位多产的作家，写了很多小说和短篇故事。
• The last few pages of the document are prolific of mistakes.这个文件的最后几页错误很多。

2 embark   

vi.乘船，着手，从事，上飞机

参考例句：

• He is about to embark on a new business venture.他就要开始新的商业冒险活动。
• Many people embark for Europe at New York harbor.许多人在纽约港乘船去欧洲。

3 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

4 fitness   

n.适合，适当，健康，健身

参考例句：

• They're doing exercises to improve their fitness.他们为增强体质而做体操。
• No one questions her fitness for the job.没人怀疑她能胜任这项工作。

5 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。

6 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。