Tony Meola

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Meola of course is looking forward to a full year in a Wizards’ uniform. In 2001, he was injured and missed two and a half months because of a torn muscle in his stomach. Then, in 2002, he was called up as a representative for the U.S. World Cup team. So this year will be Meola’s first, he hopes, without any distractions.
As for Kansas City playing better than 2002, Meola hopes the Wizards don’t do what they did the past two years -- wait until the final month to qualify for the MLS post-season.
"There were a lot of peaks and valleys last year," Meola said. "Everyone is more interested in reversing that. We think we can be a good team, we got all the makings of a pretty good team."
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"We need to jump out early, get some points on the season," Meola said. "The first five games (three of five at home) is pretty important to us. We have to take advantage of those points."
"We want to get off to a good start, no question," Meola said. "The goal is to not be in the last month of the season fighting for a playoff spot. You spend so much energy fighting to get into the playoffs and then three days later, you’re in the playoffs.We don’t want to be in that position again."
Notes: The Kansas City-D.C.United game will be the third time in eight season the two teams squared off in the season opener.
D.C. will bring a lot of new faces to a squad that hasn’t been to post-season in three years. Midfielder Dema Kovalenko and forward Hristo Stoitchkov both come to the United from Chicago. They also picked up Under-23 National team standout Aleko Eskandarian in the MLSSuperDraft.
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http://www.mlsnet.com/about/rules/datastore/handball_garcia.mov
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Tony Meola |
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| Profile: Tony Meaola established himself as a star at the 1990 FIFA World Cup Italy™ and USA 94 with his high-flying heroics between the posts. He is one of the most athletically gifted keepers the world over, which works to mask problems judging crosses and playing the ball with his feet. Meola has spent the lion's share of his career in the United States with the New York/New Jersey MetroStars and the Kansas City Wizards. It was not until Meola started playing with the Wizards that his U.S. career took off again. Out of the pool from 1995 to 1999, Meola can be spectacular at times, but occasionally lets in soft goals. |
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GOALKEEPER Tony Meola Height: 6-1 (1.86 m). Weight: 205 (93 kg). Born: Feb. 21, 1969, in Belleville, New Jersey. Hometown: Kearny, New Jersey. College: University of Virginia. Club: Kansas City Wizards (MLS). |
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U.S. National Team Statistics 2001
Opponent Date GP GS MIN GF GA GAA Y R
China Jan 27 1 1 90 2 1 1.00 0 0
Colombia Feb 3 1 1 90 0 1 1.00 0 0
Brazil Mar 3 1 1 90 1 2 1.00 0 0
Total 3 3 270 3 4 1.33 0 0
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| National Team | |||||
| Year | Record | GP/GS | Min | GAA | SO |
| 1988 | 0-1-0 | 1/1 | 90 | 1.00 | 0 |
| 1989 | 4-0-2 | 7/6 | 585 | 0.15 | 5 |
| 1990 | 3-11-0 | 15/14 | 1,260 | 1.93 | 1 |
| 1991 | 7-4-5 | 16/16 | 1,440 | 0.81 | 6 |
| 1992 | 5-7-3 | 16/16 | 1,395 | 1.29 | 4 |
| 1993 | 7-7-3 | 18/18 | 1,588 | 1.36 | 7 |
| 1994 | 5-4-5 | 14/14 | 1,260 | 0.93 | 4 |
| 1999 | 1-1-1 | 3/3 | 196 | 0.46 | 2 |
| 2000 | 3-0-1 | 4/4 | 360 | 0.50 | 2 |
| 2001 | 1-2-0 | 3/3 | 270 | 1.33 | 0 |
| Total | 36-36-20 | 97/95 | 8,444 | 1.13 | 31 |
| Professional | |||||
| Year | Club | GP/GS | W | GAA | SO |
| 1996 | MetroStars (MLS) | 29/29 | 14-15 | 1.31 | 9 |
| 1997 | MetroStars (MLS) | 30/30 | 12-18 | 1.61 | 5 |
| 1998 | MetroStars (MLS) | 31/31 | 14-17 | 2.00 | 4 |
| 1999 | Kansas City Wizards (MLS) | 9/9 | 1-8 | 1.18 | 3 |
| 2000 | Kansas City Wizards (MLS) | 31/31 | 15-7-9 | 0.92 | 16 |
| Total (MLS) | 130/130 | 56-65-9 | 1.44 | 37 | |
| MLS Champion - 2000 | |||||
| College | |||||
| Year | Club | GP | Record | GAA | SO |
| 1988 | Univ. of Virginia | - | - | 0.31 | 11 |
| 1989 | Univ. of Virginia | - | - | 0.37 | 6 |
| Total | 33 | - | 0.34 | 17 | |
| NCAA Champion - 1989 | |||||
U.S. National Team: Returned to the National Team lineup in 1999 for the first time since the 1994 World Cup, immediately reestablishing himself in the international picture ... A two-time World Cup veteran (1990 and 1994), he served as the starting U.S. goalkeeper from 1989-94 ... His 90 caps rank him first all-time among U.S. goalkeepers heading into 2000 ... 1999: After more than four-and-a-half years away from the National Team, he returned to the lineup on Jan. 25 as the U.S. drew 0-0 against Bolivia ... Wore the captain's armband and registered a shutout as the U.S. defeated Germany, 3-0, on Feb. 6 in Jacksonville ... Suffered a mild concussion and needed stitches to mend a laceration to his mouth suffered in the Nike U.S. Cup '99 clash with Mexico ... 1994: Played every minute of all four games in the '94 World Cup, including a 2-1 victory over Colombia to advance to the second round ... 1993: Had seven shutouts for the USA, including a 2-0 win over England in the U.S. Cup ... 1990: At age 21, played every minute of all three games of the 1990 World Cup in Italy ... Started the last four CONCACAF World Cup qualifying games, including a 1-0 shutout of Trinidad & Tobago that earned the USA a spot in the 1990 World Cup ... Earned a shutout in his first international start, a 3-0 win over Peru on June 4, 1989 in the Marlboro Cup in New York ... First Appearance: June 10, 1988, vs. Ecuador ... First Shutout: June 4, 1989, vs. Peru.
Professional: Recognized as one of the top goalkeepers in Major League Soccer ... Is a three-time MLS All-Star ... 1999: Traded to the Kansas City Wizards prior to the season, but injured his knee before the team's opener, missing virtually the entire season ... Finished with just 9 games played, but managed to hold opponents to just 1.18 goals per game, despite going 1-8 on the year ... 1998: Had another solid year in MLS, finishing first in both minutes (2,790) and saves (164) in helping the MetroStars qualify for the playoffs for the second time in three years ... 1997: Finished second among MLS goalkeepers in minutes (2,683) and saves (147), while tying for third in shutouts (5)... 1996: Named the MetroStars Bic Tough Defender of the Year ... Led the league with nine shutouts and finished second with a 1.31 GAA ... Finished the season as Soccer America's top rated goalkeeper with a 6.31 rating (out of 10) ... 1995: Led the Long Island Rough Riders to USISL Select League title in 1995 ... Played for the APSL's Fort Lauderdale Strikers in 1991 ... Played 11 games with Brighton in England's Second Division in 1990 before being sold to Watford.
College: Won the 1989 Hermann Trophy and the 1989 Missouri Athletic Club award as the top collegiate soccer player in the country in his senior season at the University of Virginia... Was also named the 1989 Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year in '89 ... Was a first team All-American in 1988 and 1989 ... Led the Cavaliers to a NCAA co-championship (shared with Santa Clara) in 1989 ... Had 17 shutouts in 33 games at Virginia, allowing just 11 goals in 2,922 minutes ... A two-year letter winner for the Virginia baseball team, he was later drafted by the New York Yankees ... High School: Named an All-American goalkeeper by Parade Magazine while playing at Kearny High School ... Had 43 shutouts in three years as a goalkeeper, then scored 33 goals as a forward in his senior season ... Joined World Cup teammate John Harkes in helping Kearny to a 24-0 record and the New Jersey state title in 1986.
Personal: One of the most recognizable faces in U.S. Soccer history ... Had a tryout as a place kicker with the New York Jets of the National Football League following the '94 World Cup, surviving until the final cut ... Appeared in the off- Broadway comedy "Tony and Tina's Wedding" in 1995 ... Father Vincent, a local barber in Kearny, played professionally in Italy during the early 1960s ... Married to Colleen.
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