Her ability to score goals when it truly counted was world class. From 1995 to 1997, Venturini-Hoch played in 13 Women’s World Cup or Olympic matches and scored seven times.
"She was a player we would rely on to score in countless games," Gregg said. “She would go in and within 10 minutes, in whatever period of time she had, she was scoring for us. She figured out what the game needed from her and how to use her strengths so eloquently."
Her 47 career goals are still tied for 13th in U.S. history. She would play 134 total games for her country.
During those days, it was easy to get lost in the shuffle of some superstars on the team, which included Mia Hamm, Michelle Akers, Tiffeny Milbrett, Brandi Chastain, Briana Scurry and Kristine Lilly, among others.
"It says a lot about them as people that they're willing to put the team ahead of themselves and do whatever the team needed to be successful," Gregg said. "What separated that group of players they would do anything to support the success of that team and to instill inspiration for the next generation."
After scoring against Korea in the 1999 group stage, Venturini-Hoch didn't see the field again until the World Cup Final against China PR when she came on for Milbrett during overtime in the 115th minute of a scoreless draw.
Then came penalties.
Foudy was sixth in the shooting order, Venturini-Hoch would have been seventh.
"We were shaking in our boots, man, especially me because I am fresh. These guys played 120 minutes in 100-degree weather. I had just gotten in. I'm fresh, and I'm thinking, 'Oh, God, we've got to win it before it gets to me," she said with a laugh.
Venturini-Hoch got her wish. Scurry saved Liu Ying's shot and Chastain converted the Americans' final attempt to seal a 5-4 shootout win before a crowd of 90,185, a world record for a women's sporting event that stands to this day.
"We had a lot of pressure on us in that tournament as the home team," she said. "We were trying to sell our game. Leading up to the World Cup, we were always doing clinics, we always were signing autographs. We're like, 'Hey, come and watch us play.' We're going go these big stadiums. We didn’t know if people were going to show up, honest to God.”
"It's like we were the Beatles for three weeks, four weeks. Anywhere we went it was mayhem. It was just outrageous."
Venturini-Hoch credited the late head coach Tony DiCicco, Gregg and team psychologist Colleen Hacker for making sure the players did not lose focus during the amazing historic run.
"Tony, he was just so down to earth, he told us, 'Listen guys, you're just the same 20 yoyos that you've always been, We maintained our character throughout without letting it overtake us.”
