INJURY STRIKES LORRIE FAIR ON NATIONAL TEAM

SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS INJURY STRIKES LORRIE FAIR ON NATIONAL TEAM DATE: Saturday, January 20, 1996

IT HASN'T been the wonderful start Lorrie Fair anticipated with the U.S. women's national soccer team.

Fair, who has given up her final semester at Los Altos to train with the national team in Florida, was unable to accompany the team to Brazil last week for a tournament after straining the medial collateral ligament in her right knee during her second day in camp.

''I don't know how I got injured,'' said Fair, an all-Central Coast Section first team midfielder at Los Altos last season. ''I arrived in Florida on Jan. 3, trained twice the following day, and I couldn't bend my knee the next morning. '

'I've been undergoing therapy, and the knee is beginning to come around. I was given the OK to return to training this week. I'll be ready to play when the team returns from Brazil for games (in Florida) against Norway (Feb. 2, 4) and Denmark (Feb. 10).''

Fair, whose twin sister, Ronnie, plays for Los Altos, is living in an apartment and will remain in Florida and train with the national team until this summer, or as long as she remains on the roster. She is trying for a spot on the team's 16-player Olympics roster.

As for her academics, Fair said she needs only units in English and civics to receive her degree. ''I'm working it out to complete my credits in those subjects while I'm here,'' said Fair, who will enter North Carolina in August on a soccer scholarship.

''This is like a dream for me here,'' she said. ''All I do is eat, sleep and play soccer.''