July 1, 1999

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) - Tar Heels Lorrie Fair and Tiffany Roberts had their fun on the field in the first round of the Women's World Cup. As the Americans play in the second round tonight against Germany, they will go back to being cheerleaders.

You won't hear them complaining.

"We're in this together, and I know you hear that a lot, but it's true for this team," Fair said. "It's OK coming off the bench. Of course, I'm not used to it, but you accept the role given to you, whether it's a starter or a reserve or a cheerleader. You know a time will come when you'll be needed and you have to be ready. Until then, you do the best job you can."

Fair, an alternate in the 1996 Olympics, is a college star. She has one season of eligibility remaining at North Carolina, where she will be a favorite for the player of the year award after being a nominee in 1998.

When she looks at the talent surrounding her on the American team, she doesn't fret about riding the bench. When her opportunity comes, as it did in a first-round runaway against Nigeria, she jumps all over it.

"I thought I'd be nervous," she said of her World Cup debut, "but (assistant coach) Lauren Gregg said, You need to do this and do that' to be ready. So all the nerves went away even before I got on the field. It's like, You're in, now go and have fun.'

"We were having so much fun on the bench that it was almost as tiring as playing. Every time we scored, we'd be celebrating so much that we'd have to sit down and recover."

Roberts, who played the first 73 minutes against North Korea, is just 22. Despite her youth, she is in her sixth year of work with the national team, and, in 1995, started at right midfield. A backup now, Roberts has completed her college eligibility. Look for her to move back into the lineup heading toward the 2000 Olympics.

"When you are on the bench on this great a team, it's not a big deal," she said. "We all get our opportunities and we all have to stay sharp for those chances, and make something of them."

Tonight, they probably won't do much more than offer support for the regulars.

"If we're needed," Fair said, "we'll be there. Everybody knows that."